Before he was a global icon, Arnold Schwarzenegger played a god in New York
In short: In 1970, a 22-year-old bodybuilder named Arnold Schwarzenegger made his acting debut in a low-budget fantasy comedy. Filmed on location in New York City without permits, the production relied on a dubbed voice and a creative stage name to launch the career of a future Hollywood superstar.
Produced on a modest budget of $300,000, Hercules in New York follows the titular hero as he leaves Olympus to experience life on Earth. After arriving in New York City, the divine protagonist navigates human society, befriends a pretzel vendor named Pretzie, and eventually finds success as a professional wrestler. The plot involves divine interference from Zeus, Juno, and Nemesis, culminating in a struggle against gangsters before the hero returns to the heavens.
The film served as the directorial debut for Arthur Allan Seidelman, who transitioned from theatre to film for this project. Because the production lacked permits, the crew filmed scenes such as an elaborate chariot chase in real city locations. Arnold Schwarzenegger, then a competitive bodybuilder living in Los Angeles, secured the role after encouragement from his friend Reg Park. To accommodate his thick Austrian accent, his lines were dubbed by an uncredited voice actor, though later home video releases have offered tracks featuring Schwarzenegger’s original voice.
During the production, Schwarzenegger was credited as 'Arnold Strong Mr. Universe' to avoid confusion with comedian Arnold Stang and to capitalize on his recent bodybuilding victories. The film was later released under the title Hercules Goes Bananas. Despite its historical significance as a debut, the movie has received generally negative critical reception, holding a 14% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 23 out of 100 on Metacritic.
The legacy of this independent production persists in unexpected ways. In 2006, the rights to the film were auctioned on eBay with a minimum bid of $550,000. While the film remains a curiosity of 1970s cinema, it stands as a testament to the early ambition of its lead actor, who was balancing his burgeoning film career with rigorous training for professional bodybuilding championships at the time.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Hercules in New York
- Also: Wikidata — Hercules in New York · CC0
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-hercules-in-new-york.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
