pro-wrestlers in the cinema

[corplinx]

Pro Wrestling (which used to be flim flam of the highest order but now operates profitably without decieving its viewers) is a bad training place for acting. In the middle of a 10-20k seat auditorium, you have to play to an entire 360 degree audience and all of your gestures must be larger than life.

Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan) made some really stinky movies. The only role he ever played in a movie that is memorable is when he was in the Rocky series playing....... a larger than life wrestler in a roid rage. Someone with some acting talent who tries to make the transition from wrestling to acting has a big barrier to break.

A. they have to tone down their performance
B. they have to do a good enough job to make you forget they used to be a pro-wrestler

Today I was actually shocked that it seemed someone made that transition. Duane Johnson (aka the Rock) in "The Rundown" (tmfka Helldorado). It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and the wife and I wanted to see a matinee. We had a choice of the kids movie School of Rock, the anti-gun propaganda flick Runaway Jury, or a throwback to the 80s action movie starring a pro-wrestler. We made our decision and were pleasantly surprised.

On the surface, its a spaghetti western filmed in hawaii and set in Brazil. Duane plays the Clint Eastwood man with a mysterious past who is in things for himself and gets caught between feuding factions in a place outside civilization.

Let me be clear, this isn't war and peace. Its an action movie. Its diversion. It was good, and I liked it.

After watching the movie, I started to wonder what another director could do with Duane Johnson. With his height, physique, and the intensity of his eyes, he could easily be the dream counterpart to a Robert Rodriguez who uses Antonia Banderas and focuses on the eyes. Unlike Banderas, Johnson has a physique and presence that make a believable action hero.

I hope Mr. Johnson doesn't sign on to every stinker someone offers him as the stigma of being a pro-wrestler won't be easily broken by doing poor quality movies. I hear he has signed on to do an movie based on the arcade game "Spy Hunter" so I fear he may have already sealed his fate and go on to be a one-flick wonder.

[Ed]

I saw an interview with the Rock on the Mummy DVD. He came accross as an affable, intelligent guy. Don't most wretlers come from the college circuit? The few that I have seen interviewed when not "on"" were well spoken.

A chick that was dating a friend of mine worked at the WWF (right off I95 in CT) and said that the guys were really polite and soft spoken. Who knows.

Wrestlers in cinema:

Well the great Tor Johnson (Plan 9)
Rhondo Hatten (The Creeper in Sherlock Holmes and others)
Mike Mizursgy (?) was in On the Waterfront and many others

I hope The Rock does well.

[Denise]

I enjoyed Rowdy Roddy Piper in They. Haven't seen it for a long time though, so maybe I would think it sucked if I saw it now.

[Yahweh]

I saw the Mummy with the Rock, I didnt like the movie, it wasnt as good as I expected it to be. With so much hype "The Rock is in this movie! Everybody the ROCK!", he was only in the movie for the last 10 minutes or so before he was killed.

The same happened with the movie "The Queen of the Damned". First, the movie sucked, I dont care what anyone else says, it just sucked. Although it had Aliyah (she's not a wrestler by the way), she only appeared in the last 10 minutes of the movie before she died.

Even with Rowdy Roddy Piper, the movie "They" was alright (up until they ruined the entire damn movie with that terrible ending).

The only Hulk Hogan flick I've ever enjoyed is the movie "Mr. Nanny". Yeah, I'm not really one into good old home grown "family" movies, but it was alright. I didnt expect too much acting expertise out of the movie, but it was a legitimately alright movie.

[T'ai Chi]

Besides scummy talk-shows, "pro" rasslin' has to be the sorriest thing on tv.

Most of em make some splash in acting, but end up being 15minutes of fame type of celebrities due to their rasslin' past.

If they could really act, they wouldn't be rasslers. The idea of acting is to make people think you are not acting.

[UnrepentantSinner]

How can you guys forget Andre the Giant in The Princess Bride a period in Billy Crystal's life immortalized in My Giant. Oh, wait, My Giant is probably exactly why you don't remember it.

One thing I found interesting is that Johnson was listed in the newspaper for his appearance on Good Morning America (IIRC) as Duane Johnson and not as The Rock. Seems like he's trying to make the transition and while I'm not a fan of any of the movies he's done, the guy does have the chops.

Hell, he's been acting for 10 years in and outside the ring...

[corplinx]

Also interesting is that Johnson isn't playing a "minority" role. He is playing a generic lead character. Johnson is half-samoan though so I doubt he would take a lead role like Carl Weathers in "Action Jackson".

[Ian Osborne]

Jeep Svenson had a non-speaking part in one of the Batman films - I can't remember which one, but it's the one where Arnie played Mr Freeze. Unfortunately Svenson died not long afterwards. Steroid abuse, of course.

Jackie Pallo was once in The Avengers too.

[ceo_esq]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
How can you guys forget Andre the Giant in The Princess Bride a period in Billy Crystal's life immortalized in My Giant. Oh, wait, My Giant is probably exactly why you don't remember it.Although the giant in My Giant was former Washington Bullets and New Jersey Nets center Gheorghe Muresan.

Six-foot-nine Tom "Tiny" Lister, Jr. briefly wrestled in both the WCW and WWF. He was in such films as Jackie Brown, The Fifth Element and Don Juan DeMarco.

[Occasional Chemist]

Originally posted by Denise
I enjoyed Rowdy Roddy Piper in They. Haven't seen it for a long time though, so maybe I would think it sucked if I saw it now.

You mean, They Live (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096256/)?

I have to admit that I enjoyed that film as well.


I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick *ss. And I'm all out of bubblegum.

[Nyarlathotep]

very minor spoiler follows









I pretty muchhave to second what Corplinx said. I saw "The Rundown" last week and I was really surprised about two things, the first is that "The Rock" is really a good actor and the second (though related) thing is that he has really good comedic timing. There was one scene where the Rock is partially paralyzed due eating some poisonous fruit and he is happened upon by some horny monkeys that is utterly hilarious. I think that if he makes a few more movies like "The Rundown" he will be thought of in hte same light as Schwarzenegger and Stallone, for good or ill depending on your tastes.

[corplinx]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep
I think that if he makes a few more movies like "The Rundown" he will be thought of in hte same light as Schwarzenegger and Stallone, for good or ill depending on your tastes. [/B]

Now that I think about it, I would rather watch another action movie starring the Rock than either of those guys. Duane Johnson has some natural comedy ability. Stallone and Arnold are stiffs for the most part. Granted, you can use Arnold's stiffness as the source of comedy (Twins/Kindergarten Cop) but he just isn't naturally funny on screen.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by corplinx


Now that I think about it, I would rather watch another action movie starring the Rock than either of those guys. Duane Johnson has some natural comedy ability. Stallone and Arnold are stiffs for the most part. Granted, you can use Arnold's stiffness as the source of comedy (Twins/Kindergarten Cop) but he just isn't naturally funny on screen.

True. Stallone has tried to be funny, but as anyone who saw "Rhinestone" can attest, he failed miserably.

[corplinx]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep


True. Stallone has tried to be funny, but as anyone who saw "Rhinestone" can attest, he failed miserably.

How about "Stop or My Mom Will Shoot!" ? Kidding, I think the 3 people who actually watched that film were stallone, his mom, and brother.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by corplinx


How about "Stop or My Mom Will Shoot!" ? Kidding, I think the 3 people who actually watched that film were stallone, his mom, and brother.

His mom and brother walked out halfway through the film.

I had succesfully repressed the memory of that stinker, now you dredged it up, thanks.

[arcticpenguin]

Jesse Ventura appeared in Predator alongside fellow governor-to-be Arnold. The movie was quite good, but Ventura's role was small.

[Marquis de Carabas]

Jesse Ventura appeared in Predator alongside fellow governor-to-be Arnold. The movie was quite good, but Ventura's role was small.
I just want to know which state is going to elect Carl Weathers governor.

[Segnosaur]

Originally posted by Marquis de Carabas

I just want to know which state is going to elect Carl Weathers governor.

The heck with Carl Weathers... I want to know which state will elect the Predator as governor.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Segnosaur


The heck with Carl Weathers... I want to know which state will elect the Predator as governor.

Nevada.

Right now they are contemplating building a 'Beverly Hillbillies' themed Casino, owned and operated by the guy who played Jethro. Complete with a 200' tall flaming oil derrick in the parking lot.

Somehow when I think of that, the concept of a viscous alien hunter as my governor doesn't seem all that far fetched.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Originally posted by corplinx
Pro Wrestling (which used to be flim flam of the highest order but now operates profitably without decieving its viewers)

Ummmm.... it never did decieve its viewers. At least those of us who own homes without wheels.

[corplinx]

Originally posted by The Central Scrutinizer


Ummmm.... it never did decieve its viewers. At least those of us who own homes without wheels.

Pro Wrestling was pitched as a legitimate sport like boxing up until the 1980s when it became a kids show. The audiences in your very own St. Louis showed up to see what the thought was a real sporting event. The crowds were adults, there was lots of smoke, and they thought it was real.

Madison Square Garden sold out every show for a good while back in the 1970s also. Were the Garden crowds simply trailer trash? Or were they merely decieved?

Of course, there was a good reason they referred to the fans as "marks" and talked in carnie speak.

[UnrepentantSinner]

I don't know when they stopped doing it, but major newspapers would list the results of professional wrestling matches in the Sports pages.

Posted by ceo_esq
Although the giant in My Giant was former Washington Bullets and New Jersey Nets center Gheorghe Muresan.

Yes, given that Andre died in 1993 and the movie was released in 1998, they would have had to have Andre the Zombie as the start and I can only imagine the slaughter that would have occured on the set when his hunger for brains overwhelmed him.

Thanks for helping me finally find out Tom Lister's name btw. I've been wondering who "that big black guy with the crazy eye" is for years.

[Hannibal]

Terry Funk was in "Over the Top" and "Roadhouse" as I recall. Also there was "Ox" Baker in "Escape from New York". And who can forget Randy Savage (real name Poffo) in "Spider-Man" playing the wrestler "Bonesaw"

Perhaps the most prolific appearances are by "Judo" Gene LeBell - the "Toughest Man Alive" and a great fighter in his own right. He has been in so many as an extra/stuntman/cameo type role and is a very, very funny guy.

[Crossbow]

And lest we forget "Andre the Giant" who was in The Princess Bride.

[BTox]

Captain Lou Albano was in one of those cheesy Cindy Lauper flicks. Or was it just her videos?

[ASRomatifoso]

They Live, The Rundown, Princess Bride all good to great.

Tex Cobb (boxer, wrestler, general tough guy) in Raising Arizona is my all-time favorite, though. Leonard Smalls, the bounty hunter. Love that movie!

[Cinorjer]

Roddy Piper was in about a dozen movies, he just never made it to real star power. Don't forget Sting, who made a stab at acting on screen. Hogan, of course, has only one act, and that's being the Hulkster. It's nice to see wrestlers like the Rock being given a chance.

I watched wrestling with my Grandfather way back when, and married a woman who loves the stuff. We always knew it was a show, a circus, big production of "let's pretend". Like soap operas on TV, some people like to sneer at it. It doesn't help that Vince McMahan has added the sleeze factor for ratings, now that he owns the "sport". I wouldn't let my kids watch it, now. But I admire the athletics and courage of the men and women doing those stunts every night, all for their shot at show business.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

And how could we forget to add the immortal Tor Johnson in Plan 9 From Outer Space, amoung dozens of other bad films?

[UnrepentantSinner]

How could I forget a great opening scene featuring The Freebirds from Highlander.

Has anyone mentioned Tor Johnson or Andre the Giant yet?

[Eventually]

Duane Johnson, I think, is going to be a huge star. He really does seem to be able to act, and he is actually intelligent. It isn't often that a person with that physique actually exudes a sense of intelligence as well.

Plus, he's lovely! Even if the movie were bad, I'd pay the $7.50 just to look at him!

[swellman]

Terry Funk was in Paradise Alley, a flick with Sly Stallone back when he was a serious actor.

Don't forget Andre the Giant.

Or Tor Johnson.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Here's a couple more we missed:

Scott "Bam Bam" Bigelow in Major Payne.
George "the Animal" Steele in Ed Wood (playing Tor Johnson - has he been mentioned?).
Jerry Lawler playing himself in Man on the Moon.
Paul "Big Show" Wight in The Waterboy and Jingle all the way.
Kevin Nash in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II.

[Dinonychus]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
How could I forget a great opening scene featuring The Freebirds from Highlander.

Speaking of HIghlander, Edge was in the latest Highlander movie, Highlander: Endgame.

[Dinonychus]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
Here's a couple more we missed:

Scott "Bam Bam" Bigelow in Major Payne.
George "the Animal" Steele in Ed Wood (playing Tor Johnson - has he been mentioned?).
Jerry Lawler playing himself in Man on the Moon.
Paul "Big Show" Wight in The Waterboy and Jingle all the way.
Kevin Nash in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II.

The Big Show was in The Waterboy and Jingle All The Way?
Nash was in TMNT2? He had to have played the Shredder after he was mutated.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by Dinonychus


The Big Show was in The Waterboy and Jingle All The Way?
Nash was in TMNT2? He had to have played the Shredder after he was mutated.

The Big Show (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0927833/) played Captain Insano in The Waterboy and the Huge Santa in Jingle All The Way.
Kevin Nash did indeed play the Super Shredder.

[whitefork]

Jesse Ventura (with hair) as Captain Freedom in The Running Man.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
How could I forget a great opening scene featuring The Freebirds from Highlander.

Has anyone mentioned Tor Johnson or Andre the Giant yet?

I MENTIONED TOR JOHNSON IN THE POST ABOVE YOURS! :mad: :mad:

I'm gonna put you in an atomic brain drop off the top of the steel cage right through the Spanish announce table!

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by The Central Scrutinizer
I MENTIONED TOR JOHNSON IN THE POST ABOVE YOURS! :mad: :mad:

I'm gonna put you in an atomic brain drop off the top of the steel cage right through the Spanish announce table!

Yes, and Ed mentioned him in the second post?
{drop kick}
{full Nelson}
{pile driver}

1... 2... 3... ding ding ding!

Has anyone mentioned Andre the Giant yet?

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner


Yes, and Ed mentioned him in the second post?
{drop kick}
{full Nelson}
{pile driver}

1... 2... 3... ding ding ding!

Has anyone mentioned Andre the Giant yet?

I didn't notice that. :(

And besides, Pile Drivers are an automatic disqualification. So I win!!!

[†= Crap!]

Din't any one see the Saturday Night Live episodes that were hosted by The Rock? The first one he did was probably one of the funniest SNL episodes I've seen in quite awhile. The Rock did way better than most of the so called "actors" and "comedians" that host that show.

The second time he hosted it was more or less average.

[Dinonychus]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
Has anyone mentioned Andre the Giant yet?

You did in the sixth post in this thread. And a few dozen times after that.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by Dinonychus
You did in the sixth post in this thread. And a few dozen times after that.

Er.. Running Gag an unfamiliar concept?

18 posts after I posted, and just two posts after I discussed Andre vs. Muresan Crossbow posted:

And lest we forget "Andre the Giant" who was in The Princess Bride.

Just a few posts prior to this one, you can see where Scut doesn't get why I keep repeating Tor Johnson.

It's a joke guys... And now you've ruined it. :(

[Starrman]

King Kong Bundy was awesome in Richard Pryor's 'Moving'.

[epepke]

Originally posted by corplinx
Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan) made some really stinky movies. The only role he ever played in a movie that is memorable is when he was in the Rocky series playing....... a larger than life wrestler in a roid rage.

I actually saw some of aka Hulk Hogan's films, mostly by accident. While the films themselves were pretty execrable, his performances in them demonstrate some excellent comedic timing. I think that if he found his proper vehicle, he'd be great.

[Marquis de Carabas]

I say put Hogan in a Matrix film...not like he could make it any worse.

[Dinonychus]

Originally posted by Marquis de Carabas
I say put Hogan in a Matrix film...not like he could make it any worse.

Hulk Hogan as Neo...... All I can see him doing is a Leg Drop on Agent Smith a couple of times.

[Ursa Major]

Two pages and no mention of the great Rodolfo Guzman Huerta?

Better known as El Santo (the Saint), this Mexican wrestler appeared in more than 50 movies between 1958 and 1982 like Santo and Dracula's Treasure, Santo Faces Death, Vengeance of the Vampire Women and Fury of the Karate Killers.

Two other Mexican wrestlers who had prolific film careers were Mil Mascaras and the Blue Demon.