Mister Universe

Long before he was Ben Casey, Vince Edwards dyed his hair platinum blonde, pumped iron and turned himself into quite the handsome little bodybuilding studboy. Taking note of his "natural" attributes, this little serio-comedy/gangster film takes place in a gym where down on his luck promoter Jack Carson takes a Mr. Universe contestant (Vince Edwards) and turns him into a professional wrestler (in the best tradition of Gorgeous George). Burt Lahr and Janis Paige do their best to pump life into this low budget retread and former champion Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom is thrown into the mix to give the situation some credibility. It just goes to show that the film business ain't all diamonds and caviar when you see the likes of Robert Alda and the normally great Jack Carson literally throwing their respective careers away with this $1.98 production.

There is a classic sequence showing an actual Mr. Universe pageant circa 1950. The bathing suits alone are worth the price of admission and of course there's always a possibility that the brilliantine in Mr. Edwards hair will take over the camera and set, just like the Blob, and obliterate all concerned.

Seriously, watch this film if you want to see 50's beefcake or how low a low budget movie can get.