Pumping Iron II: The Women
Encyclopedia
Pumping Iron II: The Women (1985) is a documentary film
about female bodybuilding
, focusing on several women as they prepare for and compete in the 1983 Caesars World Cup.
Pumping Iron II was made as a follow-up to the groundbreaking 1977 film Pumping Iron
. The Caesars World Cup was a contest created specifically for the film. The competitors were a mix of professional and amateur bodybuilders, which was actually a violation of IFBB
rules. Charles Gaines
, one of the writers of the film, was included on the contest's judging panel. He was interviewed for the movie but not identified, and had never previously seen a female bodybuilding contest.
Pumping Iron II has been criticized for not providing an honest look at the sport. The 1985 production focuses primarily on Bev Francis
and Rachel McLish
. Francis was actually a world champion powerlifter
with no bodybuilding experience (though she later became one of the top competitors in the sport in the late 1980s). She arrived in the US and was trained during filming by 1972 AAU Mr. America
, Steve Michalik
, who also guest posed in the film. Francis was easily the most muscular woman in the contest, but lacked the "feminine" physique of female bodybuilders of the time, and finished only eighth. McLish, a two-time Ms. Olympia
winner, was the most successful woman in the sport's history at that time. Though she had done more than any other woman to popularize the sport, the producers chose to portray her as the "villain".
Other bodybuilders featured in the film include Kris Alexander, Lori Bowen, Lydia Cheng, Gladys Portugues
, and the contest winner, Carla Dunlap
. The film was based on the book Pumping Iron II: The Unprecedented Woman.
As of January, 2009, the DVD of this movie is out of print.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about female bodybuilding
Female bodybuilding
Female bodybuilding is the female component of competitive bodybuilding. It began in the late 1970s when women began to take part in bodybuilding competitions.-Beginnings:...
, focusing on several women as they prepare for and compete in the 1983 Caesars World Cup.
Pumping Iron II was made as a follow-up to the groundbreaking 1977 film Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron is a 1977 docudrama about the world of bodybuilding, focusing on the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia competitions and the 100 days leading up to them. The film was inspired by a book of the same name, written by Charles Gaines and George Butler...
. The Caesars World Cup was a contest created specifically for the film. The competitors were a mix of professional and amateur bodybuilders, which was actually a violation of IFBB
International Federation of BodyBuilders
The International Federation of BodyBuilders is a competitive bodybuilding organization founded in 1946 by brothers Ben and Joe Weider and is the highest level of competitive bodybuilding in the world. Currently, the IFBB consists of seven different sub-divisions for different competitors ,...
rules. Charles Gaines
Charles Gaines
Charles L. Gaines is an American writer and outdoorsman, notable for his works on fly fishing, his role in the development of paintball, and his photo-essay Pumping Iron, about the bodybuilding culture of the 1970s, which was later adapted into a documentary film of the same name.-Early...
, one of the writers of the film, was included on the contest's judging panel. He was interviewed for the movie but not identified, and had never previously seen a female bodybuilding contest.
Pumping Iron II has been criticized for not providing an honest look at the sport. The 1985 production focuses primarily on Bev Francis
Bev Francis
Bev Francis is a retired powerlifter and female bodybuilder from Australia, where she was a national shot put champion. She is also a writer, body building judge and owns a gym in Syosset, New York, in the United States where she now lives.-Early life and education:Francis was born 15 February...
and Rachel McLish
Rachel McLish
Rachel McLish née Raquel Livia Elizondo is an American female bodybuilding champion, actress and author.-Early life and education:...
. Francis was actually a world champion powerlifter
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
with no bodybuilding experience (though she later became one of the top competitors in the sport in the late 1980s). She arrived in the US and was trained during filming by 1972 AAU Mr. America
AAU Mr. America
AAU Mr. America was a bodybuilding competition started by the Amateur Athletic Union . It was first held on 4 July 1939 and the winner was named "America's Best Built Man". In 1940 this was changed to what is now known as the Mr. America contest....
, Steve Michalik
Steve Michalik
Steve Michalik is a bodybuilder most active during the 1970s and 80's. He won a number of titles including the 1971 AAU Mr. USA, the Mr. America in 1972 and the NABBA Mr. Universe in 1975 as well as 22 other titles including the 1971 AAU Mr...
, who also guest posed in the film. Francis was easily the most muscular woman in the contest, but lacked the "feminine" physique of female bodybuilders of the time, and finished only eighth. McLish, a two-time Ms. Olympia
Ms. Olympia
Ms. Olympia is the title given to the winner of the women's bodybuilding portion of Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilders . It was first held in 1980, and since 2000 it has been held at the same...
winner, was the most successful woman in the sport's history at that time. Though she had done more than any other woman to popularize the sport, the producers chose to portray her as the "villain".
Other bodybuilders featured in the film include Kris Alexander, Lori Bowen, Lydia Cheng, Gladys Portugues
Gladys Portugues
Gladys Portugues is an American actress and former professional female bodybuilder. She attended the High School of Art and Design in New York City and is the wife of Belgian-American actor Jean-Claude Van Damme....
, and the contest winner, Carla Dunlap
Carla Dunlap
Carla Dunlap is a professional American female bodybuilding champion.-Early life and education:Dunlap was born in 1954 in Newark, New Jersey. She started competing in sports with gymnastics at age 10. She later competed in swimming, both speed and synchronized...
. The film was based on the book Pumping Iron II: The Unprecedented Woman.
As of January, 2009, the DVD of this movie is out of print.