The Wrestler (1974)

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Movie
Original title The wrestler
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1974
length 94 minutes
Rod
Director Jim Westerman
script Eugene Gump
production WR Frank ,
Verne Gagne
music William Loose
camera Gil Hubbs
cut Neal Chastain
occupation

The Wrestler is an American independent film directed by Jim Westermann . The film was produced by WR Frank and the wrestler and lead actor Verne Gagne . The film drama takes place in a wrestling milieu and is about a promoter.

action

Wrestling promoter Frank Bass has signed top wrestler Mike Bullard, the current world champion . But Mike is getting on in years and it is getting harder and harder to find suitable opponents for him. And right now, when various promoters are coming together to hold a kind of " Super Bowl " of wrestling. In addition, Mike's wife Betty is no longer enthusiastic about her husband's career and urges him to hang up his ring boots.

So it was a good thing that Frank was introduced to the young British talent Billy Taylor. But somehow the local mafia got wind of it and put Frank under pressure too. Frank is always rescued by his two wrestlers The Crusher and The Bruiser, but the fear remains. It is also not advantageous that there was a death in the ring recently.

Frank slowly begins to arrange the fight. He lets Billy compete against Nick Bockwinkel in a sparring match and introduces Billy and Mike to each other. Mike trains the young wrestler in his house and shows him off to his wrestling class. In the end the fight is on.

However, on the day of the main fight, the mob ambushes Frank and his secretary / lover Debbie. They beat up Frank and want to put pressure on Mike to make him lose. But once again Frank The Buiser and The Crusher come to the rescue, throwing the gangsters out of the locker room. The fight can begin. After a few actions, things don't look so good for Mike at first, but he can finally use his finishing move , the infamous dropkick off the ropes.

background

The film was made on a budget of $ 450,000 and was based on an idea by Gagne. The then 47-year-old wrestler and promoter also took over the financing and accordingly had himself written as the main role in the film. The film features a number of the best-known wrestling stars of the 1970s who were signed to Verne Gagne's Promotion American Wrestling Association (AWA) at the time, including Don Muraco , Danny Hodge , superstar Billy Graham , Hard Boiled Haggerty , Dusty Rhodes , Ric Flair (called “Rick Flair” at the beginning of his career and in the credits), Larry Henning , Ken Patera and Dory Funk, Jr. Promoters Vincent J. McMahon (father of Vince McMahon ), Eddie Graham and Wally Karbo also play in the film itself.

The film was first shown on February 19, 1974 in Minneapolis , Minnesota , where the AWA was based. Channel 11 held a gala for the premiere. The film was a huge hit especially locally, grossing around $ 2 million.

In 2012, three years before Gagne's death, the film was screened in Minneapolis as part of the release of The Wrestler - Fame, Love, Pain . Gagne, who had been suffering from dementia for a while , appeared there one last time together with his son Greg Gagne in public.

Reviews

In its day, the film was received relatively well. There weren't many wrestling films apart from the Lucha films of the 1960s / 1970s, so Gagne broke new ground. Kayfabe was still intact at the time , so the look behind the scenes was reminiscent of the work of a boxing promoter.

Marc Thibideau, however, panned the film in an issue of Wrestling Monthly magazine. Above all, he criticized the plot and the shallow script. The film was praised by Andy Bator, who described the film as "good clean fun". Both praised the work of the wrestlers, some of whom also had a lot of acting talent. Billy Robinson in particular received praise.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c Graydon Royce: Verne Gagne returns to screen in 'The Wrestler'. Star Tribune , January 26, 2012, accessed December 21, 2017 .
  2. ↑ J. Onwuka: Movie Review: The Wrestler (1974) vs. The Wrestler (2008). 411Mania, May 12, 2016, accessed December 21, 2017 .
  3. ^ Bob Kapur: Asner & Gagne Recall The Wrestler. Slam! Sports , accessed December 21, 2017 .