Henry Winkler in a wrestling movie

[hollywood]

It was called The One and Only.

Henry Winkler was the lead character, Andy Schmidt, a goofball drama major fresh out of college struggling to find work to support his family. When he can't find any work for six months, he follows the advice of Mlton, a midget played by the famous Hervé Villechaize (Fantasy Island, The Man With the Golden Gun), to take up wrestling at a local New York-based promotion, where even though he's so roughed up he can barely move, he's able to make some money to pay the rent.

He creates some of the most ingenius personas, like Adolf Hitner, a descendent of you-know-who, and a hypnotist who puts the ref and his opponents to sleep then tell the audience that he's the greatest wrestler who ever lived.

My parents scoured the net to get this gem for me for Christmas, and I loved it. Anyone else seen this flick?

[Adam Pacman Khan (akkilla)]

first I heard of it


but why not just use a Fondz gimmick? hell that would be over in a heartbeaet.

[willywonka666]

I've heard of it, haven't gotten to see it yet though, but it's got two of my favorite things: Henry Winkler and Wrestling.

[itsdavephlegmball]

The only scene i remember is when Hitner wins his match: as the ref turns his back (after checking the wrestlers) to ask for the bell to be rung, Hitner creams his opponent with his nazi helmit, then tosses it. The ref turns around, Hitner covers the guy and gets the 3 count. Good stuff.

[hollywood]

akkilla said:

first I heard of it


but why not just use a Fondz gimmick? hell that would be over in a heartbeaet.

I can only assume Winkler was trying to move past Happy Days at that point. That and the script was probably written before they cast him. At any rate, even without the Fonz gimmick, his character is absolutely awesome.

He's such a ham, and he's always "on." While in college, there's a secene where he's constantly goofing on his football coach's pep talks, which is hilarious.

willywonka666 said:

I've heard of it, haven't gotten to see it yet though, but it's got two of my favorite things: Henry Winkler and Wrestling.

It's on IMDB. They may have links for places to get it. My parents were only able to get it on VHS; I'm not sure if it's ever been translated to DVD. You may have to scour the net a bit to find it, like my parents did, but IMO it's well worth it.

This film is probably the first and only film I've ever seen that really treats pro wrestling with any respect. They never hide the fact that it's all staged, but they also make it clear that the guys in the ring work hard. At the same time, it also aknowledges some of the industries drawbacks (long road trips, the constant pounding, etc.)

It's really good. I highly recommend it.

(IMDB suggests that Winkler "invents" show wrestling in the film, but that's false. It's obvious it's staged the moment he enters the booker's office; if anything, he just "takes it to the next level.")

itsdavephlegmball said:

The only scene i remember is when Hitner wins his match: as the ref turns his back (after checking the wrestlers) to ask for the bell to be rung, Hitner creams his opponent with his nazi helmit, then tosses it. The ref turns around, Hitner covers the guy and gets the 3 count. Good stuff.

He did that during a tour they did. And they had a montage with him laying guys out left and right that that move. It was awesome!

[Grendel]

I have seen this movie several times, my first viewing being on broadcast television back in the 80's. It was actually fairly decent for what it was. And in Adolph's first match, he went up against a decorated marine.

I can't remember who he takes on in the last match of the movie, but I remember thinking to myself, "This guy has the look of a wrestler. I bet he is ..." Turns out he was a wrestler, a grappler by the name of Gene LeBell.

[Square]

Ill watch it

[Deleted]

Chavo Guerrero Sr. was in this movie as well...Roddy Piper has an uncredited role as Leatherneck Joe Brady...these are both mentioned on IMDB

imdb.com/title/tt0078034/