After many centuries, Hercules gets bored living in Olympus (the home of the great Greek gods) and decides to move to... New York. But obviously, it is not easy for a man who lived in ancient Greece to get used to modern life. So, things get a little tricky, especially when Zeus sends a few gods to bring his semi-god son back to mount Olympus. Written by
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Finntroll from Turku, Finland
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This may on one hand actually well be the worst movie I've seen, on regular movie basis that is, because on the other hand it's also the funniest movie I've stumbled across since I saw "Monty Python and the quest for the holy grail".
I've always thought Arnold Schwarzenegger has been wooden in his acting, but none of his other movies even come close to the extreme amount of talent vacuum he possesses in this movie. I had a really hard time understanding whether he was supposed to resemble a retard or a tree, either way he did a fine job, since it all seemed perfectly natural. For him, that is. The character Hercules is anyway the most testosterone-filled man caught on camera. This guy has a constant urge of ripping off his shirt everytime he either has to do something or everytime he's bored. He even has the great ability of killing actors dressed as bears by lifting them up in the air and throwing them around, destroying cabs because he's angry and impressing ladies by ripping off his shirt in front of them. Now that's at least three dimensions! In one character! Kudos to the excellent scriptwriters who managed to write this amazing piece of art during their part-time job at Dairy Queen! Long live the underdog!
Then we have main supporting character Arnold Stang, an actor which has exactly two different looks: one of utter confusion, probably because he's wondering about what the hell he's doing in the movie in the first place and one look of not so utter confusion, which he often uses when Hercules flexes his muscles for him.
Besides these two main actors we have Zeus, played by someone named Ernest Graves, a man who does a great job of looking mad in every scene. Zeus meets a woman and becomes mad. Zeus talks to Hercules and gets... mad! Zeus get to know something about sabotage and he get's, wait, I got it on my tongue. Oh yeah now I know it, mad!
Then we have lots of characters played by actors I have no reason whatsoever of giving away the names of. But as far as characters go, the goddess of beauty is a really pug-ugly woman/dog/gorilla with a stuffed bra and all, Pluto has the incredible ability of turning out all the lights in a plastic version of New York, Atlas and Samson helps Hercules by throwing punches a few meters in front of bad guys, probably to stun them with their utter uselessness or possibly showing off their godly talents that doesn't even require them to hit people to hurt them. The old fool Samson is a part for himself, since he doesn't even seem understand he's from the Bible and has nothing to do with Greek mythology. But then again I have a feeling many people involved in this movie weren't quite sure of what they were doing.
Other intriguing parts here are that some of the scenes are so incredibly badly done and edited you actually can't understand what's happening. The fight in the stairs really had me puzzled about what was going on. After I saw it ten times in repeat I understood that there actually was a hidden door somewhere and that it actually made sense in a surreal "Hercules in New York" kind of way.
Then we have Olympus, not only home of the Gods but also home of the big evil city traffic, you can hear cars driving by and honking every second. This is maybe one of the director's more intriguing ideas, were he want's to show us that time doesn't stand still even in Olympus and that they actually have cars there. Wait a minute that doesn't make any sense. OK maybe it's supposed to be there just because no-one ever even thought about editing the sound and that reality works that way: what you don't alter is most likely to stay the way it is. Yeah, thats more like it.
I have only listed a few of the errors in this movie here, since I won't spend the entire day of writing this review but I think the fact that Arnold Scwarzenegger actually managed to not only have a movie career but also got elected as a senator has to rate as the biggest of the lot. Only in America folks. Only in America.
Be sure to watch this even if it may be on of the worst movies made. If there ever was a movie so bad it's funny, it has to be this one.
1/10
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DarthVSith from United States
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That scene is by far the funniest yet horrible scene in film legacy. Arnold is in a chariot with his date when somehow a bear is on the loose in Central Park. For no apparent reason he runs off to fight it. They cut to the bear, And it stands up. Clearly, you can imagine the trainer behind the camera saying "BEAR UP" and it stands up. Now when Arnold fights the bear, It is a man in a costume which looks like it was purchased in Harlem. The back of the mans neck is showing as clear as day while him (the bear) and arnold duke it out. The man is swinging his fists like a MILL. You just cant take your eyes off it. And if you do, you are missing out on the funniest man vs. man (in a animal costume) fight in Film PERIOD.
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superman002100 from Georgia
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I don't know if it wasn't meant to be but this movie is hilarious. How can you downgrade a movie that offers Arnold in his true form, no facial expressions, an accent that can hardly be understood, and muscles on top of muscles. If you have seen the DVD version you can watch the movie with his voice, which makes all the difference in the world, if you're an Arnold fan that is. My personal favorite is, "I do nots care abouts ze zundaboats." I don't think that line can ever be topped. And who can not laugh at the New York traffic sounds on Mt. Olympus. This movie may be the most underbudget, worst film of all time, but it's Arnold and it's great for a laugh. If stupid things make you laugh then this movie is a must.
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poldemol from Belgium
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To me, it doesn't matter if things are intentionally or unintentionally funny. Intentions just don't matter that much in the real world. Hitler might have intended to make the world a better place, I don't think his intentions matter when you judge him. This is simply one of the most hilarious movies you'll ever see, it's filled with absurd scenes. And it's acted out to perfection. The combination of Arnie, and Pretzie, it's just magic. Pretzie overacts as badly as you can imagine, Arnie doesn't act and he does that as badly as you can imagine. But those aren't the only noteworthy performances in this movie. Check out the refinement of the screaming girl, in the infamous bear-attack scene. There are just so many little things in this movie, little details in every single aspect of this movie, that make this so extremely funny and entertaining. It just ignores even the most basic of things needed for a good movie, and it is exactly that, what makes this so good. Watch this movie, you won't be able to say that it is average, that's for sure. I've seen this movie 2 times, and I still regularly think about it. I would buy the DVD without a second thought if I would encounter it.
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culwin
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Wow, this movie has to be seen to be believed! I can't believe that Arnold "Pretzie" Stang was overlooked AGAIN by the Academy! A finer piece of work I have not seen! Except perhaps by that guy in the bear suit. Now that was some great acting as well.
Of course, this is all from the perspective of being drunk, which is what you would have to be to like this movie! :P
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(jgray@spu.edu) from Seattle Washington
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I love it! Hercules in New York was the best laugh I've had in a long time! Reminds me of something my sister and I would have done with our old video camera. If you're in the mood for 100% cheese, this is your movie. Who directed this? Ed Wood?
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David S. (strandorama@gmail.com) from Copenhagen, Denmark
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This is one of the worst movies of all time. The four-hundred-and-something witless souls who awarded this a 10 should be permanently banned from voting.
Forget that it was made on a shoe-string budget, and that at one point Arnold fights the worst bear costume in movie history; forget that he takes his shirt off in every other scene, often with zero motivation; forget that the Mount Olympus scenes are obviously shot in New York; forget even that the acting is of such monumental ineptitude that James Karen (one of the worst actors in "Return of the Living Dead") is far and away the finest thespian in sight. The fact that anybody invested as much as a nickel in a script that one monkey working for one hour could easily have done better is what really blows my mind. The premise is painfully stupid, and the execution of it is as heavy-handed and amateurish as anything you're likely to see. Most porn movies are produced with more consideration for plot.
I recommend "Hercules in New York" to anyone who likes to go to the dentist or enjoys a hard punch in the nose. This is an hour and a half of pure agony.
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adam-tanaka from London, England
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Hercules in New York is quite possibly one of the funniest films ever made; it is also one of the worst. Arnold stomps from scene to scene with the same vacant expression, occasionally flickering his eyes. However, he also creates one of the most memorably stupid characters in Cinematic History: Hercules.("You're on the make, Herc!", to which Arnold replies "What, I am not making anything?") There are scenes of comic genius; A chariot race down Broadway; A fight with the hilariously fake bear in the park, in which his screaming girlfriend looks at the camera very blatantly; A weightlifting competition with Monstro the Magnificent... all to the sound of silly Greek wedding music. Bottom line- It has to be seen to be believed. SEE IT NOW!!
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NoeMan from Iceland
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If I feel down, all I need to do is think of Arnie fighting the grizzly bear in Hercules in New York and it cracks me up. The grizzly bear is actually just some big guy wearing a Halloween costume, he even moves like a human. But thats not the silliest scene. Arnold also fights a group of sailors with a plank and throws them in the sea, the sound effects and horrible choreography in that scene is hilarious. I've got the version of this movie with Arnies real voice, and just hearing that makes this movie worth getting. But Arnold is not the worst actor in this movie, his partner, Arnold Stang is much worse. The Mafia is even this movie, well, three guys...played by actors who probably auditioned for The Godfather but didn't make it. Yeeeaaahhhh....
The "brilliant" theme song in this movie is played about 500 times.
I would give this movie a one, but it made me laugh...so I guess it deserves a 2. Hoo-Ya.
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fantastique53 from Rio
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If you think this movie isn't worth watching, then you obviously have no sense of humor. Stop taking life so seriously and go watch "Hercules Goes to New York." If you can't laugh at this movie and appreciate it for the horrible piece of seventies anti-porn money at work that it is, then perhaps something along the lines of, oh, we'll say that Mariah Carey movie put out a number of years ago, or perhaps a documentary on the Exxon Valdez disaster would be more up your alley. Either way, when you die, you'll be glad you saw it at least, or more likely, at most, once. It beats being mean to people. You also get to witness firsthand the glorious age before dubbing was perfected, and hear Arnold as you've never heard him before.
To help Arnold get the role, his agent said he had years of "stage" experience, implying theater, but Schwarzenegger had only appeared on bodybuilding stages.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice is dubbed throughout the film. It has later been released on DVD with Arnold's voice.
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Schwarzenegger took the role at the urging of his friend Reg Park, who had previously played Hercules in three films (Ercole alla conquista di Atlantide (1961), Ercole al centro della Terra (1961) & La sfida dei giganti (1965)).
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Film debut for Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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Playing the film's title character, Schwarzenegger, because of his long last name and to play off the name of fellow cast member comedian Arnold Stang, is credited as "Arnold Strong 'Mr. Universe'".
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When Hercules and Pretzie is riding the carriage, a movie theater is visible which is showing the film Easy Rider (1969).
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The Region 2 Danish DVD from On Air Video includes both Arnold's original vocal track and the re dubbed track.
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The Region 1 North American DVD from Trimark Home Video includes both Arnold's original vocal track and the re dubbed track.
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The 2015 German Blu-ray and DVD combo release from NSM Records is available in three different cover versions.
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When Hercules and Helen see the Hercules movie poster ("He doesn't even look like me!"), Hercules removes his sweater and flexes his muscles. You hear Helen say "Oh wow!" and gasp but her lip movement obviously shows she is saying more words.
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When Hercules holds back the forklift truck after escaping theship with Pretzie, he says "A fine chariot, but where are your horses?" but he mouths the words too early and no audio is heard. This is corrected in the non-dubbed version with Schwarzenegger's real voice.
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Atlas is not depicted carrying the Earth but a celestial body.
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Traffic, including honking horns, can be heard during scenes on Mount Olympus, due to these scenes actually being filmed in New York City's Central Park.
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As Hercules climbs the stairs to Zeus, there is a woman standing behind Zeus's throne. In the next shot she stands beside it.
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When Hercules and Helen are sightseeing in New York, Hercules changes from wearing a white turtleneck to a white cardigan over a green shirt.
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It alternates between day and night between when the bear escapes and he encounters Hercules in Central Park
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In the opening shot as Hercules climbs the stairs up to his father, green plantation appears on the stairs between shots.
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The location of the two gold pillars, as Hercules ascends the staircase to tell his dad he wants to leave.
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When waiting outside Central park, the cab drivers sleeves are alternately rolled up/down.
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Position/location of Greek God statue on the Professors table.
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Position of items on Professors mantelpiece.
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When the guard spots the bear has escaped, the lock changes position on the floor.
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When Hercules and Helen ride in the carriage, the background frequently changes between shots.
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When Pretzie talks to the contractor, the contractor puts his cigar in his mouth. In the next shot he holds it down by his side.
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Hercules steals a chariot with two white horses, one big and one small horse. During the chase, the horses switch sides.
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When Pretzie goes to Helen's home to tell her that he saw Mercury flying out of the window, he takes his tie off 3 times and wraps it around his fist twice.
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When Pretzie grabs Hercules and leads him away from the men at the dock, he has brown boots on, but when they hail the taxi he has white and brown trainers on.
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Stage lights are reflected in Zeus's crystal ball.
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In a shot as Hercules and Helen ride in the carriage, the shadow of a cameraman is cast on them.
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While Hercules and Mercury were talking to each-other in an apartment room, you can hear the camera man's creaky footsteps when the camera moves to the left and to the right.
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Mercury, the character in the film, is actually the Roman messenger of the gods and son of Jupiter. His Greek counterpart is Hermes.
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A mix of the Greek and the Roman names for Gods are used in the film.In the films finale, both the Greek god Atlas (the only person holding the sky up over the earth) and Samson, who is in fact a Biblical character, to help Hercules are called upon
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The bear is obviously a man in a suit, and in one shot you can see shoes on the bear.
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In the version of the film with Arnold's real voice restored, Hercules' replacement voice remains in the scene featuring Pretzie speaking with Hercules over the radio. The film studio has attempted to disguise this by adding radio static, but "Herc" still sounds completely different from Arnold.
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On the Mount Olympus set, car horns and traffic can occasionally be heard on the soundtrack, revealing that the set is actually a city park.
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When Helen and Hercules tour the New York streets, passers by stare at the camera and actors.
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As Hercules starts turning over the taxi driver's car, a sudden movement of the tree branches in the background reveals that there's a wire attached to the car.
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AKAs Titles:
- Hercules - The Movie
- Hercules Goes Bananas
Australia - Hercules in New York
Bulgaria (Bulgarian title) - Хе€кƒле в Ž ™о€к
Canada (English title) - Hercules in New York
Czechoslovakia - Hercules v New Yorku
Denmark - Hercules in New York
Spain - H rcules en Nueva York
Finland (video title) - Hercules New Yorkissa
Finland (DVD box title) - Herkules New Yorkissa
France (video title) - Hercule
France - Hercule New York
UK - Hercules in New York
Greece (video title) - Enas gigas sti Nea Yorki
Hungary - Herkules New Yorkban
Ireland (English title) - Hercules in New York
Italy - Ercole a New York
Japan - SF chjin herakuresu
Poland - Herkules w Nowym Jorku
Serbia - Herkul u Njujorku
Sweden - Herkules i New York
Soviet Union (Russian title) - “е€кƒле в ŒŽ-™о€ке
West Germany (video title) - Herkules in New York
Release Dates:
Certifications:
Australia:PG / Canada:PG (Manitoba) / Canada:G (Quebec) / Denmark:15 / Finland:K-3 / Germany:12 (re-rating) / Iceland:L / Ireland:G / UK:PG / UK:U (re-rating) (2010) / USA:G / West Germany:6
Movie Details:
MOVIE
