Beefcake

Starring:Macivor, Peace, Mazeika, Godsman
Studio: Strand Releasing
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Canadian filmmaker Thom Fitzgerald made his name on the gay film scene with his dramatic fantasia The Hanging Garden, but with Beefcake he captures a more lightheartedly dreamy tone: The film takes its lead from Valentine Hooven's lip-smackingly compulsive coffee table tome of the same name. We're offered a teasing, pseudo-history of mid-century pop male photography, featuring quaint muscle-mag shots and nude "studies" of, among others, a hungrily seductive young Joe Dallesandro (before he made his name in underground Andy Warhol flicks like Flesh). Dallesandro's here to talk, along with other "models" who mostly supply commentary on Bob Mizer, the enterprising founder of the Athletic Model Guild. Fitzgerald blends the real-life documentary material into his fictional confection concerning a sexy bumpkin who falls into Mizer's AMG set-up (it produced America's first closeted gay erotica publication, passing itself off as an innocently obsessive guide to health and fitness). The campy original story--the hero's Valley of the Dolls-inspired name is Neil O'Hara--is a bit dumb, actually, mostly because it's not even half as interesting as the real deal. Lots of innocently nude frolicking doesn't hurt, though, and the film engages when it manages to be as naively sweet and erotic as Mizer's bygone magazines. --Steve Wiecking
Description
"Beefcake," Thom Fitzgerald's (The Hanging Garden) provocative blending of fiction and documentary, tells the story of Bob Mizer, the pioneering founder of the Athletic Model Guild, a company which produced still photographs and short films extolling the beauty and chiseled physiques of men. The fiction story follows photographer and enterprising businessman Mizer, who teamed up with his mother in 1945 to film his beefy star-wannabes around his sun-drenched pool. It is here that Neil, a naive, right-off-the-bus teen is lured into using his handsome looks to become a model. The wide-eyed Neil soon learns about the world of sex and prostitution. But a police raid and ensuing criminal trial soon threaten both of the men's worlds. Interspersed with the story are rare archival footage and interviews with former co-workers, customers and models.

Beefcake
Average customer rating:

Say Cheesy

Fun look at a forgotten time in gay America

Interesting movie

- Some Like it HOT!

Please Pass the Beef

Beefcake
Starring: Joe Dallesandro , Gary Herman , Gerald James , Jack La Lanne , and Buddy Love
Manufacturer: Strand Releasing
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
General | History | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
Gay & Lesbian | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
Gay & Lesbian | By Genre | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
Canada | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
General | Gay & Lesbian | Genres | DVD | Video
( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Used DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
Canada | By Country | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
Gay & Lesbian | By Genre | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
Biography | By Theme | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
Gay & Lesbian | By Genre | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Another Gay Movie

Head On

Dante's Cove

Hustler White (Adult)

Shortbus (Unrated Edition)

ASIN: B0000541AD
Release Date: 2001-01-23

Amazon.com

Canadian filmmaker Thom Fitzgerald made his name on the gay film scene with his dramatic fantasia The Hanging Garden, but with Beefcake he captures a more lightheartedly dreamy tone: The film takes its lead from Valentine Hooven's lip-smackingly compulsive coffee table tome of the same name. We're offered a teasing, pseudo-history of mid-century pop male photography, featuring quaint muscle-mag shots and nude "studies" of, among others, a hungrily seductive young Joe Dallesandro (before he made his name in underground Andy Warhol flicks like Flesh). Dallesandro's here to talk, along with other "models" who mostly supply commentary on Bob Mizer, the enterprising founder of the Athletic Model Guild. Fitzgerald blends the real-life documentary material into his fictional confection concerning a sexy bumpkin who falls into Mizer's AMG set-up (it produced America's first closeted gay erotica publication, passing itself off as an innocently obsessive guide to health and fitness). The campy original story--the hero's Valley of the Dolls-inspired name is Neil O'Hara--is a bit dumb, actually, mostly because it's not even half as interesting as the real deal. Lots of innocently nude frolicking doesn't hurt, though, and the film engages when it manages to be as naively sweet and erotic as Mizer's bygone magazines. --Steve Wiecking

Description

"Beefcake," Thom Fitzgerald's (The Hanging Garden) provocative blending of fiction and documentary, tells the story of Bob Mizer, the pioneering founder of the Athletic Model Guild, a company which produced still photographs and short films extolling the beauty and chiseled physiques of men. The fiction story follows photographer and enterprising businessman Mizer, who teamed up with his mother in 1945 to film his beefy star-wannabes around his sun-drenched pool. It is here that Neil, a naive, right-off-the-bus teen is lured into using his handsome looks to become a model. The wide-eyed Neil soon learns about the world of sex and prostitution. But a police raid and ensuing criminal trial soon threaten both of the men's worlds. Interspersed with the story are rare archival footage and interviews with former co-workers, customers and models.

Customer Reviews:

Say Cheesy.......2006-12-17

"BEEFCAKE"

Say Cheese

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

Thom Fitzgerald, the director of "The Hanging Garden" and "3 Needles" gives us "Beefcake" which could have been a wonderful movie but falls short of the mark. The movie is supposed to tell us about "beefcake" magazines, male physique publications of the 1950s, long before the widespread advent of porn. The movie focuses on Bob Mixer who was one of the most known photographers of the male form. Mixer was largely responsible for much of the oiled body, posing strap photography that gay men ate up (because they had nothing else). Now we look at the genre and laugh. Mixer ran the Athletic Model Guild which was a Hollywood agency for body builders until people with high and mighty consciousness and censorious minds shut it down because they believed it was a front for male prostitution. What Fitzgerald set out to do was t give us a comedy about Mixer and the men that posed but what he gave us is a stew in which he integrated documentary footage with live interviews and it is a mess (but an enjoyable mess). The best parts of the movie are the interviews and the theatricals of the story line falls short in comparison.
Fitzgerald's portrayal of Mixer is as a nerdy example of manhood. He constantly rants and raves about the necessity of his models being clean-cut and asexual, boys next door type yet buff and oiled (?????????). On the documentary side those interviewed are introduced as if they are contestants on a TV quiz show and I think that what was meant to be serious is taken as a joke. The models in the movie come nowhere near the original real thing with the exception of the strikingly beautiful ex-Warhol star, Joe Dallesandro who rises above the muck to be the star of the film.
"Beefcake" is a slick attempt at being slick. What results is 90 minutes of campy humor and lines that were not meant to be funny manage to get guffaws. I think the main fault with the picture is that it just doesn't know what it is supposed to be--a biopic? a mockumentary? a comedy? or a drama? The subject of the film, man's physique magazines, could have been a great framework with which to present a really good movie falls flat on every thing it tries to do. The fact that Mixer was in the closet could have made a great subplot. I have read that after filming began, the director changed its direction and this is what probably caused the disaster that resulted. Yet there is a message here and it concerns bigotry and shows how society suppresses what it doesn't understand. Thus is the reality of life and it went on in the fifties and is still going on today. Fitzgerald could have played that aspect up but he chose not to moralize. Instead he relied on his imagination to make this movie and some of it just did not work. With its faults there is a lot of energy in "Beefcake" and as bad as it was, I had fun watching it.

Fun look at a forgotten time in gay America.......2006-10-15

Beefcake is a bright fun movie, that looks at the beginings of the modern
gay porn era.
The movie focuses on Bob Mizer and his Athletic Model Guild Studio.
Started at first as a modeling agency for male physique models.
The enterprizing Mizer soon discover that his photos of the handsome semi-nude men were more in demand than the models themselves!
Thus began an industry based the (gay) erotisim of physical male beauty.
You might say that Mizer is the father of the modern gay male magazine. and that Physique Pictorial (his magazine) is the precusor of such modern 'zines as Unzipped, XY, DNA, Blue, Advocate Men (and its various off-shoots)and many others.
The movie begins in a courtroom with Mizer on trial on charges of disseminating obscene material through the US mail. As well as charges that his bussiness was engaged in male prostition as well. (While convicted of the former. He is aquited of the latter.)
The rest of the film is played out through the eyes of a young man named Neil O'Hara (ie.Neely O'Hara from Valley of The Dolls) who becomes one of Mizer's models.
He is there at the begining of AMG. And is there as Mizer and his
studio begins its slide downward from tasteful male nude photogaphy, to distateful lewd pictures,(ie full-frontal nudity).
Beefcake is not to be taken as a serious documentry or bio on Bob Mizer.
For that, read the book on which the movie is taken from "Beefcake" by Valintine F. Hooven.
It is a humorous look at how the modern gay male magazine began.

Interesting movie.......2006-08-09

As a fan of original beekcake movies and pictures I though this was an interesting behind the sceen look. Lot's of great looking men in the movie and some nice frontal nudity.

- Some Like it HOT! .......2006-07-17

Wow I was born 35 years late - the 50's look so "innocent" compared to the 00's "in your face" flagrance. I liked this movie - Tons of Hot Guys basking poolside or posing for the camera, campy `50's intros & jingles with interesting commentaries from the people who were there and an interesting story of the male physique, how to flaunt it and the Dangers of Obsessing Over It.

Campy, Fun, Hot & Sweaty! Some Like it Hot!

Please Pass the Beef.......2003-09-14

First of all, for those of you out who like straight-forward plot lines with twists and turns throughout, object to male nudity and get bored if something doesn't blow up in the first 15 minutes - then do not watch this movie.

Description

This DVD features the Phallus in Wonderland music and stor yline including Crack in the Egg, Gor-Gor, Have You Seen Me, & more plus a cameo by Gibby from the Butthole S urfers. Special DVD features include option to play songs o nly, instant scene access, and images of cast.

Customer Reviews:

GWAR IS WAY WAY BETTER THAN THIS GAY EMO CRAP.......2005-01-05

I am so glad there is a band like this they really rock and i really hate emo so this movie is awesome

anyone who doesnt like gwar can [...] it becuz they are emo [...] and have no taste in musik all they do is [...] throw them in the slave pit

Music good, production values low.......2004-12-10

I first heard about GWAR a decade or so ago from a friend of mine who considered them an amazing phenomenon. Since I'm quite selective about the heavier types of music that I listen to, I didn't follow up on his advice to check them out. Over the years, I would occasionally hear some arcane reference to this group, but still never got around to giving them a listen. A recent rental excursion--not one of my world famous expeditions but darn close--saw me stumbling over a disc for "Phallus in Wonderland." Sounds interesting, I thought, and then I saw the GWAR tag and decided to finally see what this band looked and sounded like. Uh, wow...I think. There really aren't many words to describe a band that arrives on stage dressed up as gruesome looking monsters in enormous foam rubber suits. The band members have names like Balsac The Jaws of Death, Beefcake The Mighty, Flattus Maximus, Gusher Jizmax, Oderus Urungus, and Slymenstra Hymen. Just so you know, that last band member is the sole woman in the group. At least GWAR is an equal opportunity employer. "Phallus in Wonderland," directed by Judas Bullhorn (!) and Distortion Wells (!!), also introduces us to band manager Sleazy P. Martini. If all of this nonsense isn't enough to grab your attention, wait until you watch the disc.

"Phallus in Wonderland" breaks down into two parts. The first, and probably the most important part, is the music. Lots of GWAR songs here to sink your teeth into, including "Crack in the Egg," "Have You Seen Me," "The Road Behind," "Gor-Gor," "Ham on the Bone," and "The Morality Squad." Most of these tunes aren't bad at all, and they also aren't as heavy as you would think. One song, "The Road Behind," mocks Guns 'n Roses by having one of the band members decked out in attire (including a bandana) highly evocative of lead singer Axl Rose. Another music video spotlights kids rebelling against the hegemony of their parents in particularly brutal fashion. One video shows the scurrilous effects of consumerism in the form of a nauseating cereal commercial. As you can guess, the thematic tone of the songs is typical for this type of band: they blast religion, heap scorn on rampant consumerism (even as the band members profit from it), excoriate moral crusades, mock war, and criticize the legal system. In other words, the lyrics contain nothing you haven't heard before from countless other bands that think they corner the market on satire and social criticism. What's different with "Phallus in Wonderland" is the presentation--you've never seen criticism delivered this way before.

The second part of the DVD tells a story about GWAR arriving in America to stomp out moral crusaders. According to the tale, the United States government seized the Cuttlefish--actually a body part of one of the male band members--in order to launch an obscenity investigation. The prosecutor for the case is one Edna Granbo, an elderly, shrill lady whose penchant for fighting the culture wars knows no bounds. With the help of several authoritarian figures, including a superhero like figure referred to as Corporal Punishment, Granbo plans on destroying the destructive influence of bands like GWAR for all time with the help of her vaunted Morality Squad. This organization also receives assistance from Father Bohab, a religious crusader on a mission to quash rock music. Predictably, the members of GWAR express extreme anger at the behavior of the government/moral crusade alliance. They fly into the country from their base in Antarctica (!) to retrieve the Cuttlefish, and in the process battle the forces of Granbo and Bohab. During the course of the video, we see the courtroom trial of the Cuttlefish, watch GWAR engage in pitched combat with The Morality Squad, and witness the dinosaur Gor-Gor lay waste to a large metropolis.

I'll give GWAR credit; they made a DVD that isn't easy to forget. Although the production values are often laughable due to their crudeness, the imagery is so disgusting that it leaves an impression anyway. All sorts of nasty behaviors are on full display, none of which I can describe in detail on a public forum. In particular, the revelations about Father Bohab's true character almost made me turn this thing off. I initially thought that since all of the characters are puppets or people dressed in what are essentially puppet outfits, it wouldn't be disturbing. Wrong. Jim Henson must be rolling over in his grave regarding the antics depicted in this video. Think a low rent version of Peter Jackson's "Meet the Feebles" and you'll have some idea of what you'll see in "Phallus in Wonderland." If GWAR's stage shows are anything remotely similar to what I saw on this DVD, heaven help us. You would be lucky to get out of the concert hall with your life!

A question I asked after watching "Phallus in Wonderland" is whether I would go out and buy one of GWAR's albums. Well, I haven't, but probably not because of the low production values of this video. In fact, as far as the music went I generally liked what I heard. At least their songs don't consist of inarticulate screeching and roaring set against an impenetrable wall of sludge--I easily understood most of the lyrics here. My problem is that I'm simply getting too old for this stuff. I may check out a few other GWAR DVDs if I run across them in the future, but in the interim I'll stick to listening to decidedly mellower music.

wonderdfully wonderfull.......2003-06-07

one of the funniest bloodiest movies ive seen. the [aweful] special effects made it o so great. the story was just so stupid that i couldnt stop laughing. ive watched it over n over again an its still just so funny yes. for the true gwar fan

Nominated for a Grammy..........2002-05-02

I have owned this beauty for a while and recently read it was nominated for a Grammy as best LP music video in 1990. Although the video is short and the extras few, the DVD is a great buy. Grambo captured the "Cuttlefish of Cthulu" and GWAR wants it back. They fight the clergy, the goverment, and health care communities to get the Cuttlefish back. Watch as Sleazy P and GWAR unleash their horror on capitalistic society. Hopefully we can except more DVD releases from these masters of live performances. I have only seen them once a few years back (due to the long drive I must make) but hopefully Dave Brookie and the boys (and girl) will come to kill us soon.

GWAR-PHALLUS IN WONDERLAND.......2002-04-15

This makes a refreshing change from the norm. in music dvds. More a piece of performance art than a rock show. Not for the squeemish, or overley self-righteous types (or most of your family for that matter). Take it for what it is, (vile, disgusting, and tasteless) and it is a truly inspiring, creative show. They write all of their own stuff, unlike most mindless, mushy, money-making garbage in the charts these days. These creatures take risks and truly suffer for their art...now it's your turn... You have been warned!

Average customer rating:

Pro Wrestling's Legends

Manufacturer: Fogware
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

Who paved the way for todays wrestler's? What did they have to do in order to earn themselves respect and the title of a 'Legend'. Six of Pro Wrestling's legends are highlighted in this action packed DVD featuring the most exhilarating matches of their lives! Watch how they fought their way to the top, and how they stay there to this day - findout why they're still making an impact in the ring of Pro Wrestling's world!

Average customer rating:

Say Cheesy
Fun look at a forgotten time in gay America
Interesting movie
- Some Like it HOT!
Please Pass the Beef

Beefcake [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Another Gay Movie
Head On
Dante's Cove
Hustler White (Adult)
Shortbus (Unrated Edition)

ASIN: B00014W9VI

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Say Cheesy.......2006-12-17

Fun look at a forgotten time in gay America.......2006-10-15

Interesting movie.......2006-08-09

As a fan of original beekcake movies and pictures I though this was an interesting behind the sceen look. Lot's of great looking men in the movie and some nice frontal nudity.

- Some Like it HOT! .......2006-07-17

Please Pass the Beef.......2003-09-14

Product Description

Heiko Kallbach, the Berlin IFBB Professional bodybuilder demonstrates his personal training style in his first film: A complete 5 day workout in full intensity. Moreover, he gives general advice on training methods and nutrition. Experience Heiko in a private atmosphere and amongst his fans. The program is rounded off by live peformances. DVD extras: Heiko at FIBO, photo gallery. Approximately 125 + 30 minutes in bonus features.

Average customer rating:

The Title Says It All

Beefcake in the Kitchen
Starring: Jaye P. Morgan
Manufacturer: Bss Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0006Z2NHW
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Customer Reviews:

The Title Says It All.......2005-11-18

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but the title says it all. Eight buffed and nearly naked men-- they wear only chef hats, kerchiefs around their necks and short red aprons-- named Victor Brookes, Edmund Druilhet, Gavin Hamilton, Jason Holt, Dominic Palmieri, John Robb, Tom Robbins and Zachery Weathers assist one Jaye P. Morgan in her Southern California kitchen to prepare Capelli D'Angelo Checca, Scallops and Maui Onions, Cornish Game Hen, Fresh Fruit Tart, Baked Salmon and Pasta and Caviar.

The usual sexual innuendos you would expect to hear when men walk around with their butts hanging out are made-- comments about baskets, "sweet cheeks," "virgin" olive oil, "double exposure," etc., although one would have thought that at least one of these assorted sillies would have made a pun on "buns."

What is even more surprising is that the recipes appear to be good ones and you can pick up a cooking point or two if you are so inclined-- how to scald and peel a tomato, how to roll out pastry dough-- Edmund is quite good at this task-- and how to avoid breaking dry pasta, for instance.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Antonio Gaudi

Thrills, Spills and Chills

Lawman (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Heaven Sent

Spitfire