Beefcake (1998)

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

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:

Mr. World

This film's beauty is more than skin deep.

Beefcake is a fascinating docu-drama about a unique chapter in the history of the Gay liberation movement in the United States. It's a pity this film hasn't received a wider distribution here (if any at all). The MPAA guidelines, no doubt, would require quite a bit of editing to get it under the NC17 barrier. But nudity in the film, however, far from creating a salicious aura, actually conveys a sense of innocence and freshness to most of the dramatic scenes.

The interview materials, in need of some tighter editing, did drag at times, though they were, for the most part, interesting and informative. This is more than made up for in the dramatic scenes. The actors convey both the excitement of this emerging masculine/Gay "scene" and the tragedy of the legal persecution suffered by the people who promoted it.

By all means, see this movie if you get a chance. It's well acted (Josh Peace is a stand out), well directed and a fitting chronicle of one part of pre-Stonewall history.