Beefcake (1998)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Thom Fitzgerald

Writer:

Thom Fitzgerald (writer)

Release Date:

14 October 1999 (Singapore)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

This film looks at the 1950's muscle men's magazines and the representative industry that were popular supposedly as health and fitness magazines...

Plot Keywords:

Homosexual | 1950s | Homosexuality | Semi Documentary | Model

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Daniel MacIvor	...	Bob Mizer
Joshua Peace	...	Neil E. O'Hara (as Josh Peace)
Jack Griffin Mazeika	...	Red (as J. Griffin Mazeika)
Carroll Godsman	...	Delia Mizer
Jonathan Torrens	...	David
Thomas Cawood	...	Mizer's Attorney
Jaime Robertson	...	Prosecuting Attorney
Dick Sircom	...	Judge
Thom Fitzgerald	...	LaFleur's Attorney
Orest Ulan		(as Orest E Ulan)
Glen Deveau	...	Soldier Just Off the Bus
Marla McLean	...	Cabaret Singer
Daniel McLaren
Bernard Robichaud	...	Jukie
Marc St. Onge
Steve MacLaughlin	...	LaFleur (as Steven Mac Laughlin)
Andy Smith	...	Arthur Bob
James Mac Swain	...	Mr. Summers (Max of Hollywood)
Michael Weir
Marc Le Blanc
Timothy Phillips	...	Bob Mizer (age 12)
Jonathan Langlois-Sadubin	...	Neil's Brother
Lucy Decoutere	...	Champ's Wife
Renee Penney	...	Court Stenographer (as Renée Penney)
Joe Dacey
Megan Richards	...	Doris' Date
Liz Anderson	...	Doris
Sarah Dunsworth	...	Blonde Kitten
Kathy Pederson	...	Brunette Kitten
Mark Burt
Brian Breau
Mitchell Landzaat	...	Arresting Officer
Stephen Arnold	...	Newsstand Clerk
Jane Kansas	...	Neil's Mother
Wayne Bedwell
Reuben Lee Aulos
Larry Dunn
Bobby Lawrance
Dick Scholer	...	Satyr with Panpipes
Brad Allen
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luc Bouille
Adam Cuvilier
Joe Dallesandro	...	Himself
Dreux Ellis
Phil Greyson	...	Goin' my way guy...
Anthony Helpard
Valentine Hooven	...	Himself
Raymond Kettless	...	Rudolph
Jack LaLanne	...	Himself
Jim Lassiter	...	Himself
Joe Leitel	...	Himself
Ann Marra	...	Happy Reader
Dave Martin	...	Himself
Robert Henry Mizer	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Bob Mizer)
Darren Nauss
Jeffery Pocock	...	Ramon
D'Arcy Poultney	...	Joe Mizer
Shaun D. Richardson	...	Chuck (as Shaun Richardson)
Tom Romard	...	Indignant Man
Wayne Stanley	...	Himself
Russ Warner	...	Himself

Directed by
Thom Fitzgerald

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Thom Fitzgerald		writer

Produced by
Barbara Badessi	....	associate producer
Marc Betsworth	....	associate producer
Dreux Ellis	....	associate producer
Thom Fitzgerald	....	producer
Shandi Mitchell	....	producer
Michael Schaefer	....	assistant producer

Original Music by
John Roby

Cinematography by
Tom Harting

Film Editing by
Susan Shanks
Michael Weir

Casting by
Michael Weir

Production Design by
D'Arcy Poultney

Art Direction by
Jennifer Stewart

Costume Design by
James A. Worthen

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kayla Popp	....	second assistant director
Jason Shipley	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Alastair Gray	....	sound editor
Craig Mann	....	re-recording assistant
Brian Power	....	adr recordist
Lou Solakofski	....	sound re-recording mixer
Virginia Storey	....	foley artist
Orest Sushko	....	sound re-recording mixer
Clive Turner	....	sound effects editor
Randy Wilson	....	adr mixer
Randy Wilson	....	foley recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Baxter	....	dolly grip (as Christopher Baxter)

Music Department
Keith Power	....	musician

Other crew
Margaret Harrison	....	assistant production coordinator

Production Companies

• Alliance Independent Films
• Channel Four Films
• Emotion Pictures
• La Sept-Arte
• Mikado Films
• Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation
• Odeon Films
• Téléfilm Canada

Distributors

• Cult Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Homescreen (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Strand Releasing

Runtime:

Netherlands:93 min | USA:97 min

Country:

Canada | UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | UK:18 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Alliance Independent Films

Quotes:

Bob Mizer: Sun, schmun. This scoundrel's on some kind of a drug trip.
[Looks at David]
Bob Mizer: You. I warned you. We do not slap wrists here at AMG. I want you to take your weed-head friend here, and I want you to scram. I mean it!
[David picks up his friend]
Bob Mizer: And don't come back! Ever!
[looks down at their naked behinds as they walk out]
Bob Mizer: Not until you've learned your lesson!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "John Waters Presents Movies That Will Corrupt You: Beefcake (#1.7)" (????)

Soundtrack:

Beyond te Valley of the Beefcakes

Interesting docudrama

The makers of this film set a bit of a challenge for themselves. How to make an interesting movie about the world of magazine photography. The subject in this case is one that hasn't been comprehensively covered before: male physique photography. Generally speaking, in 30s the emphasis was on art, in the 40s on fitness, in the 50s on sensuality, and in the 60s on sexuality. The film explores all aspects of this industry by focusing on a few of the top photographers and their models. Surprisingly, not all participants had the same ideas or experiences about their work, nor the same recollections. In fact, these folk seemed to rather enjoy their work, which did emphasize a healthy, fit body. The relationships of the models emerges as congenial and brotherly, and the photographic activity as engaging. As in any "entertainment type industry" there were some over-the-top kibitzing, which in some cases digressed into rather kinky goings on. Still, the makers of this film manage to remain light hearted about most of it, while allowing some top models and fitness stars to share their memories in short commentary episodes.

For those who were not into this area, they could simply not buy the magazines nor be concerned about the whole matter. For those who found this an area of interest, they were free to make their own choices. What caused problems were conflict with the law, which itself may be controversial. These clashes are also presented here in enactments. It was interesting to see Joe D'Allesandro, well remembered from some of Andy Warhol's films, being interviewed--and what a candid, down to earth personality he is.

The fellows, though, come across as having a good time. While it may not be the most ambitious of professions, modeling at least keeps one off the streets -- that is, almost everyone.