Arnold Schwarzenegger Asks, "Who Is That Guy?"
Arnold Asks, "Who Is That Guy?"
PUMPING IRONY
It was early 2002 and I was interviewing Arnold Schwarzenegger about upcoming film plans and also his political ambitions to at some point run for the Governorship of California. Another project on his plate (not of the Olympic type) at that time was the 25thAnniversary re-release of Pumping Iron: the documentary account of the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest that became a cult classic when it first arrived in cinemas in 1977. The re-release was scheduled for November 2002, and for some time prior to our interview our subject had been viewing footage from the movie that helped take the name Schwarzenegger from gymhold to household status.
He also viewed previously unseen outtakes that would accompany the release of the original movie. He told me he smiled at the Arnold of the ‘70s, portraying himself as a ruthless competitor, a flexing wrecking machine who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. But times change, people change, Arnold admitted that over the years he had changed. Marriage, four kids, 1997 heart surgery and the passing of the decades will do that to a person. Instead of "me, me, me,” his passions then included work on behalf of Inner City Kids projects. His advocacy of Proposition 49, providing after-school programs for schoolchildren, would be voted through in the upcoming California elections. Looking further forward, he said he would definitely run for Governor of his adopted state in 2006**. Whaddya know, Mr. “I’ll be back,” had made the transition to be Mr. “I’ll give back.”
He watched himself going over-the-top in Pumping Iron, he marveled at the brashness of the youth he was. He reflected back on his relationship with his father. Arnold revealed, he argued with his father. He explained, “Everything he said was wrong.” He shook his head and said, “How stupid was I? Everything my father said was right; I’m now saying the same things to my kids.” Viewing the 28-year-old celluloid being preparing to win his sixth Olympia title he confided, “I look at him and ask myself, “Who is that guy?”
** Eventually Arnold ran for the office and won in 2003 when the incumbent Governor Gray Davis was recalled.