This script is quirky, but logical, though the emotions are sort of detached here. It is definitely in the era of casual relationships. Goals are more than a little muddled here.Jeff Bridges plays a young Mogul, Craig Blake who has inherited a fortune from his parents who were both killed in a tragic plane crash. He has a mansion with 50 year butler (Catman Scruthers) who does not understand the young mans goals. Eventually he decides to quit and take what is rightfully his from the mansion he has served for so long.Bridges meanwhile is involved by his parents connections into a real estate scheme in which he must get a health club/spa closed so he can use the property in a different venture. This leads him to a club with a weight lifter Joe Santo (Arnold Schwarzenegger in his first role), a talented woman karate instructor, Anita, and Mary Tate Farnsworth (Sally Field) who is Santos (Arnolds) girlfriend. In an unusual twist Santos does not seem to mind that she has a torrid fling with Blake.The R-Rating back when this was made has plenty to do with Fields major and attractive show of skin including some bedroom scenes and a sequence on a stairway with Bridges where her young firm body is definitely a hot item. Fannie Flagg plays Amy, an older more mature and less luscious item. Joanna Cassidy is Zoe, another woman whose interested in the happenings. Ed Begley Jr. is Lester who is also interested in Mary Tate (Field).While the main plot is straightforward, there are times in which the events and the characters become muddled and the real goals of the other folks in this sometimes seem to have been aimlessly thrown into the mix. Of course, I think that I have enough spoilers here though now that IMDb no longer answers to it's contributors via message boards, well I'd rather play it safe.This movie has a unique set of credits in that there is always action in the back ground of them. Whether or not I am happy with the conclusion, well it is less clear. Arnold's accent is not real big in the first role as his dialogue in this one is very limited.

This movie doesn't really make a lot of sense...But Jeff Bridges and Sally Field still give it their all and act pretty well with a silly story.It's also fun to see a bunch of people (Robert Englund, Arnold, Ed Begley etc) who went on to decent and/or great things.Plus Sally Field looks pretty hot in the film...All in all, it is weird but it manages to stay together until the end.Most of its value is as a super-early Schwarzenegger film and a bit of a glimpse into 70s bodybuilding culture.And yeah, Sally Field doesn't wear much...

UNITED ARTISTS Corporation Presents STAY HUNGRY, an Outov Production, Directed by Bob Raphelson, Written by Charles Gaines(also Novel)and Bob Raphelson. With Jeff Bridges, Sally Field, Arnold Schwarzennager, Robert Englund, Hellena Kallianiotes, R.G. Armstrong, Roger E. Mosley, Woodrow Parfrey, Scatman Crothers, Fannie Flagg, Joe Spinnell, Ed Begeley, Joanna Cassidy................The emergence of Competitive Bodybuilding as a main-stream Sports Competition and Spectacle has been largely credited to "the Governator" and his appearance in 1977's PUMPING IRON. Doubtless that this is a correct assumption, but is there any thing else out there, something obvious, that we are overlooking? Well the previous year we saw a United Artists release of Co-Writer-Director Bob Raphelson's STAY HUNGRY(UA, '76). It had a great cast of character actors that made for a smooth, coherent Farce-Drama-Comedy that had competitive Bodybuilding as its central theme. Starring the future super-successful Trio of Jeff Bridges, Sally Field and Arnold Schwarzenagger.But rather than concentrating on the Physical Culture aspects of the story, our screenplay investigates some of our other virtues and vices which are universal to all mankind. And that's not to say that the background and peripheral happenings are documented. The out and out living agony of the daily grind is touched on. This alone is great evidence that these guys train as hard or harder than any athletes, period.* However, the storyline investigates all of the Human Virtues and Vices that we see in every other walk of life. We examine loyalty, betrayal, love, Sex, envy, selflessness, desire and fulfillment. Whereras we have a Bodybuilding Story, it is much more.The story implores us to maintain our enthusiasm, to take what life offers, no matter if it concerns Biceps, Definition, Separation, Bulk, Vascularity etc., etc...And as a final thought, Miss Sally Field speaks very fondly about her participation in STAY HUNGRY. She recalled in some interview that it was her role as Mary Tate Farnsworth that led to acceptance and opened the door to better things. At that time, there was a certain stigma about Television Acting, especially Sitcom players. They were considered to be on a "lower wrung" of the ladder and not taken so seriously. But, after this film, she did so much movie work and won a couple o' Oscars in the process.** If there is a message, here, it may well be, as the Sneakers Commercial says, "Just Do It!" Or, maybe we should take the advice of The Bard of Avon, Mr. William Shakespeare when he said, "Above all to thine own self, be true!"*** Now this is certainly a case for 'being one's self! And let's have less of "putting on the Dog." And we remember that a young Roger Ebert was really enthusiastic about this, long before he discovered 'Thumbs'! NOTE: * There is no mention of Anabolic Steroids in the story, not that they weren't there. Laws regulating there usage came along later.NOTE** And Confidentially, Sally, that full length Nude Shot you did didn't hurt, either! (Woo, woo, woo, woo!) NOTE:*** We always have recommended reading Shakespeare. Personally, I always get all of his new books, as soon as they come out!

Schwarzenegger plays the role of a body builder competing in a mr. universe competition to make enough money to pay back those that paid for him to come to America--i'm sure that was a tough role for him to prepare. jeff bridges is a rich young man in love with sally field who is a maniacal, spontanious, spitfire lover. bridges character is in a business that's trying to buy a city strip to build a mall. the movie is about the development of this character into the man he wants to be. he needs to choose between being a rich working stiff, as he is born to be, or regular working man. it's worth seeing, just don't expect much out of it. i would suggest renting it; it probably isn't one anybody wants to see over and over again. the highlight for me is seeing arnold schwartzenegger play the violin. it looks like he's really playing, but there's no way to know for sure. either way, it sounded great!