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Interesting because of Schwarzenegger's breakthrough performance here which he received a Golden Globe for, the film has sadly little else of interest. The storyline is rather slim and jumps crazily between comedy and drama. While having comedy and drama together is not a bad thing per se, it jars the film because the comedy is so silly compared to the drama, which is serious. The characters are rather poorly introduced too, and the technical aspects of the film are forgettable. One could say that the film is watchable, however is anything actually great in it? The narration through letters is poor, the scenes in the street towards the end are dumb, and when the film is amusing, it too often feels like it is so for the wrong reasons. The acting is decent though - and that is one thing that can be said here - all the performers are adequate for their parts, except for R. G. Armstrong, who tends to go over-the-top.

Jeff Bridges as born into southern gentry but trying to find what he wants to do in life after his parents leave him the family mansion. I loved the part where he dances a jig at a blue grass music hootenanny. This film introduced a young Arnold Schwarzenegger in a role where he is a body builder who also plays a country fiddle. Sally Field plays a country girl out of place among the southern aristocracy Jeff's character belongs to. Scatman Crothers has a small part as the faithful family retainer. Fannie Flagg and Joanna Cassidy are gentry acquaintances of Bridge's character. "

A somewhat slow-moving film. But that's okay. Jeff bridges played a lot of these quirky characters in the Seventies, and this is a good example. His character (Craig Blake) has little family, but comes into a sort of surrogate one. Arnold Schwarzenegger begins his acting career in this one, and does OK. There is little indication that he would become a huge action star. (or governor) He plays a body-builder (surprise!). This was kind of below the radar screen in those days, so it was an odd subject. Sally Field was so young and cute here, especially since she showed off that nice round bottom. Yes, we really liked you, Sally! Overall, this one is worth a rental, or catching on cable. Grade: C

This movie doesn't really make a lot of sense... But Jeff Bridges and Sally Field still give it their all and act pretty well with a silly story. It's also fun to see a bunch of people (Robert Englund, Arnold, Ed Begley etc) who went on to decent and/or great things. Plus Sally Field looks pretty hot in the film... All in all, it is weird but it manages to stay together until the end. Most of its value is as a super-early Schwarzenegger film and a bit of a glimpse into 70s bodybuilding culture. And yeah, Sally Field doesn't wear much...

For starters, this is not Schwarzenegger's first movie. It is one of his firsts but not the first time he appeared in a movie. Remembered for many things, Staying Hungry is an interesting movie that attempts to be too many things besides a quick comedy. The movie jumps into a drama too often to confuse its audience whether this is just a comedy or a dramatic movie. Although this movie stars Jeff Bridges, he is not the highlight of the movie. The supporting cast, which includes Sally Field, Arnold Schwarzenegger, R.G. Armstrong, Robert Englund, Helena Kallianiota, Ed Begley Jr. and Joe Spinelli not only add to the quality of the movie, but are in fact, the main draw to the story. While Bridges does a good job as the star of the film, he doesn't hold the movie together, the rest of the cast does. By the third act, the movie turns into something completely different than the comedy it opened up to be. A very different, yet interesting movie.

See Sally Field in her only theatrically released * scene (and lots of body revealing outfits!). See Ah-nold play the fiddle! See Jeff Bridges clog(country solo dancing). See Joe Spinell play a cracker! See Robert Englund before he became "Freddy" (he is much scarier looking in this film)! Roger Mosley before "Magnum P.I.!". And Fanny Flagg and Helena Kallioniotes from "Five Easy Pieces". Cast wise it does not get any better than this for a bunch of then relative unknowns!