Schwarzenegger Review Season: Hercules in New York Blu-ray Mediabook

"Everybody needs to start somewhere, right? Hercules in New York marks twenty two year old Arnold Schwarzenegger's film debut as the muscle bound hero. He is credited here as Arnold Strong due to his name being too long and foreign for Americans at the time. It was also an attempt to match with star Arnold Stang's name."

"German Mediabook front."

The Plot:

Hercules is fed up of being in Olympus with his father Zeus and with the other Gods. He wants to go to earth and experience something different. When an argument breaks out Zeus throws a lightning bolt at Hercules and sends him down to earth as requested. On his way down a hilariously bad scene where Hercules waves to a woman on a passenger plane ensues. (Trust me it is bad.) Hercules then gets picked up by a boat and they head inward to New York City. 

Due to Hercules coming from the heavens and Schwarzenegger's broken English at the time, he is unable to communicate very well  which leads to many moments of miscommunication and just downright awkward moments. From there on antics ensue where Hercules leaves the boat and fights off waves of angry men. He then meets a small man named Pretzie. He becomes Hercules' guide through the city and eventually turns Hercules into a professional wrestler due to his physique and some persuasion on Pretzie's part. I have to mention this unintentional hilarious moment. During when Hercules runs away from the men with Pretzie at the docks there is an awful bit of dialogue made funnier with Schwarzenegger's thick accent at the time. The video is below.

During all of these antics Zeus is keeping a close eye on what Hercules is doing and thinks Hercules is making the God's look bad. So he decides to send Mercury down to earth to persuade Hercules to come back. When all attempts fail to bring Hercules back Zeus tells Nemesis to send him to the "infernals of Pluto". Though Juno instead persuades Nemesis to poison Hercules which will strip him of his powers. Hercules then loses his powers just as he is in competition at a strong man event. He fails to lift the weights and Hercules' manager who is tied to the mafia becomes very upset. A huge brawl breaks out and just as Hercules tries to tip huge containers, his powers are restored by Zeus and he condemns Nemesis for her actions.

"My Olympia strikes a pose..."

Hercules then decides to go back to the Heavens as he realizes he has been disobedient to his father Zeus. Strangely he says his last words to Pretzie through a radio and it is obviously not Arnie's voice but the one used for the dub. The film originally had Arnold dubbed on release due to Arnold's thick Austrian accent. The film then ends with Zeus leaving the heavens and going to earth himself.


 

"German Mediabook back."

I also have to point out this so bad it's good fight with the "bear". It has to be seen to be believed.

  

Extras;

A 45 minute documentary unrelated to the film. It goes into Schwarzenegger's domination of Hollywood and rise to fame. A trailer and behind the scenes photos are included too. It would have been fun to have seen Arnold's reaction to this film many years later. though it has been said he has distanced himself from it. We can only wonder why...

2/5 

Picture Quality;

The Blu-ray brings this film to life in true 1080p. The best I have ever seen it and head and shoulders above any of the budget release DVDs released. Compression can be bad at times but other than that the picture has great grain structure and clear picture quality for a late 60s low budget film.

3.5/5 

Audio Quality;

We are graced with two audio options both DTS HD audio 2.0. The original audio track with Schwarzenegger's voice which has great depth and sounds very clear. The other is the original dubbed version which is muffled and has a high pitched noise throughout. I recommend watching it with Schwarzenegger's voice but both options are hilarious.

3/5

This film has been marketed with many different names throughout the years one which I find funny is "Hercules goes bananas". It also has had many great pieces of artwork done to sell itself to the consumer. Many misleading. If you are going in and expecting it to be like Schwarzenegger's Conan epic then you will very disappointed. But if you are looking for a so bad its good film then this film is for you because it works on so many levels. A film guaranteed to make you laugh. I can only recommend it for this quality as it fails at everything else and missing is Arnold's on screen signature charisma and charm which would later be highlighted in 1982's Conan the Barbarian.

 Recommended.