Beefcake (film)
Encyclopedia
Beefcake is a docu-drama homage to the muscle magazines of the 1940s, '50s, and '60s—in particular, Physique Pictorial magazine, published 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
.
Beefcake premiered at the Sundance Film Festival
in 1999 and was released by Strand Releasing
in the USA; it was nominated for three Genie Awards.
Athletic Model Guild
The Athletic Model Guild, or AMG, was founded by gay pornography pioneer Bob Mizer in December 1945. During those post-war years, United States censorship laws allowed women, but not men, to appear in various states of undress in what were referred to, with a wink, as “art” photographs. Mizer began...
. It was inspired by a picture book by F. Valentine Hooven III (published by Taschen
Taschen
Taschen is an art book publisher founded in 1980 by Benedikt Taschen in Cologne, Germany. It began as Taschen Comics publishing Benedikt's extensive comic collection...
) and was directed by Thom Fitzgerald
Thom Fitzgerald
Thomas "Thom" Fitzgerald is an award winning American-Canadian film director as well live theater director.-Life:Fitzgerald was born and raised in New Rochelle, New York. His parents divorced when he was five years old. He moved with his mother and brother, Timothy Jr., to Bergenfield, New Jersey,...
.
The film stars Daniel MacIvor
Daniel MacIvor
Daniel MacIvor is a Canadian actor, playwright, theatre director and film director. He was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia and educated at Dalhousie University in Halifax, and then at George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario....
, Carroll Godsman, Jack Griffin Mazieka, Jonathan Torrens
Jonathan Torrens
Jonathan Ormond Torrens is a Canadian actor and television personality best known for his co-hosting of Street Cents, his talk show Jonovision, and his role as "J-Roc" in the popular Canadian mockumentary Trailer Park Boys...
, and Joshua Peace
Joshua Peace
Joshua Peace also known as Josh Peace is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his roles on Devil as Detective Markowitz and in the films Cube Zero, You Might as Well Live and Survival of the Dead.-Filmography:*Unlucky as Bob...
in pastiche recreations of life at the Athletic Model Guild
Athletic Model Guild
The Athletic Model Guild, or AMG, was founded by gay pornography pioneer Bob Mizer in December 1945. During those post-war years, United States censorship laws allowed women, but not men, to appear in various states of undress in what were referred to, with a wink, as “art” photographs. Mizer began...
, mixed with interviews with models and photographers whose work actually appeared in the early magazines, including Jack LaLanne
Jack LaLanne
Francois Henri "Jack" LaLanne was an American fitness, exercise, and nutritional expert and motivational speaker who is sometimes called "the godfather of fitness" and the "first fitness superhero." He described himself as being a "sugarholic" and a "junk food junkie" until he was 15...
and Joe Dallesandro
Joe Dallesandro
Joseph Angelo D'Allesandro , better known as Joe Dallesandro, is an American actor, and Warhol superstar. Although he never became a mainstream film star, Dallesandro is generally considered to be the most famous male sex symbol of American underground films of the 20th century, as well as a sex...
.
Beefcake premiered at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
in 1999 and was released by Strand Releasing
Strand Releasing
Strand Releasing is a theatrical distribution company founded in 1989 and is based in Culver City, California. The company has distributed over 300 auteur driven titles from acclaimed international and American directors such as Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Gregg Araki, Francois Ozon, Jean Luc...
in the USA; it was nominated for three Genie Awards.
Cast
- Daniel MacIvorDaniel MacIvorDaniel MacIvor is a Canadian actor, playwright, theatre director and film director. He was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia and educated at Dalhousie University in Halifax, and then at George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario....
... Bob Mizer - Joshua PeaceJoshua PeaceJoshua Peace also known as Josh Peace is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his roles on Devil as Detective Markowitz and in the films Cube Zero, You Might as Well Live and Survival of the Dead.-Filmography:*Unlucky as Bob...
... Neil E. O'Hara - Jack Griffin Mazeika ... Red
- Carroll Godsman ... Delia Mizer
- Jonathan TorrensJonathan TorrensJonathan Ormond Torrens is a Canadian actor and television personality best known for his co-hosting of Street Cents, his talk show Jonovision, and his role as "J-Roc" in the popular Canadian mockumentary Trailer Park Boys...
... David - Thomas Cawood ... Mizer's Attorney
- Jaime Robertson ... Prosecuting Attorney
- Dick Sircom ... Judge
- Thom FitzgeraldThom FitzgeraldThomas "Thom" Fitzgerald is an award winning American-Canadian film director as well live theater director.-Life:Fitzgerald was born and raised in New Rochelle, New York. His parents divorced when he was five years old. He moved with his mother and brother, Timothy Jr., to Bergenfield, New Jersey,...
... LaFleur's Attorney