Beefcake (1998)

Directed by

Thom Fitzgerald

Genre

biographical film, LGBTQ-related film

Country

Canada

Runtime

1h 37m

Rating

5.3 of 10 from 25 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

This is a docudrama about the muscle magazines from the mid 20th century. It recreates scenes from the Athletic Model Guild and mixes in interviews with real models and photographers.

nostalgicplayfulretroaffectionatecandidbittersweetcampyreflective

What happens

Beefcake (1999) is a docudrama homage to the muscle magazines of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s—in particular, Physique Pictorial magazine, published quarterly by Bob Mizer of the Athletic Model Guild. It was inspired by a picture book by F. Valentine Hooven III (published by Taschen) and was directed by Thom Fitzgerald. The film stars Daniel MacIvor, Carroll Godsman, Jack Griffin Mazieka, Jonathan Torrens, and Joshua Peace in pastiche recreations of life at the Athletic Model Guild, mixed with interviews with models and photographers whose work actually appeared in the early magazines, including Jack LaLanne and Joe Dallesandro. The film was shot in Nova Scotia. Beefcake was a follow-up to The Hanging Garden, also produced by Thom Fitzgerald. Beefcake premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1999 and was released by Strand Releasing in the United States; it was nominated for three Genie Awards. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

More like this

• The Grace of God (1998)
• Revoir Julie (1998)
• Out in the Ring (2022)
• It's Your Turn, Laura Cadieux (1998)
• Beautopia (1998)
• Some Even Fall in Love (1980)
• Amazones d'Hier, Lesbiennes d'Aujourd'hui (1982)
• 2 Seconds (1998)