GOODE STUFF: HERCULES IN TIMES SQUARE by Dave Goode

If you're of a certain age then the first place you may have seen Arnold Schwarzenegger was in a Joe Weider bodybuilding advertisement found in a comic book. The one where Arnold's flexing his right bicep while holding Joe's beautiful wife Betty aloft with his left arm. In my mind it was Betty Weider appearing in these ads and the covers of her husband's magazines in a bathing suit with various musclemen that really inspired teen-aged boys to take up bodybuilding. In any case Arnold is billed in this ad as not only a Mr.Universe winner. But as a movie and television star as well. Even though the only movie he had starred in up to this point was HERCULES IN NEW YORK (1969). I remember going with a couple of buddies to a Saturday matinee to catch this flick.

And truthfully I wasn't disappointed in this low - budget comedy that had the Central Park Gardens standing in for Mount Olympus. At least I thought it was a comedy. Something like THE 3 STOOGES MEET HERCULES (1962). But at twelve I doubt I was going to be too disappointed. Produced by Aubrey Wisberg who also wrote the story and directed by Arthur Alan Seidelman the story sort of plays like a Silver Age Marvel comic book. Hercules is exiled to Earth from Olympus by his father Zeus. The story also features a plot twist that should be familiar to readers of the Mighty Thor. Zeus takes away his son's strength at a most inopportune time. Something similar happens to Dan Vadis in THE TRIUMPH OF HERCULES (1964). There's another story line in this flick that's pretty funny. But also made total sense to me. Needing to make cash Herc signs a contract to become a pro wrestler.

The movie is fun. But aside from the budget the weakest thing about this flick is Schwarzenegger, billed here as Arnold Strong, as Hercules. Of course he has great physical presence. But at this point in his career he's no actor. Too be fair it is his first movie. He will get better.

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