Hercules in New York (1970) was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first film, made when he was still Mr. Universe and credited as "Arnold Strong." Directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman, it was shot on a low budget with many scenes filmed guerrilla-style around New York City.
Due to his thick accent, Arnold’s voice was dubbed in the original release. The film is known for its awkward dialogue, clunky effects, and slapstick tone, earning cult status more for its odd charm and place in Schwarzenegger’s career than for its cinematic quality.
Long before Terminator, there was “Arnold Strong” flexing in Times Square... Stream the undubbed version, released a year after the original, free and uninterrupted
Here’s the main cast of Hercules in New York (1970):
Arnold Schwarzenegger (credited as Arnold Strong) – Hercules
Arnold Stang – Pretzie (Hercules’s mortal sidekick and hot dog vendor)
Deborah Loomis – Helen Camden (Hercules’s love interest)
James Karen – Professor Camden (Helen’s father)
Ernest Graves – Zeus
Tanny McDonald – Juno
Michael Lipton – Pluto
George B. Rowe – Ship Captain
Harold Burstein – Nemesis
It's a quirky mix of stage and TV actors of the era, with Arnold being the big novelty at the time thanks to his bodybuilding fame.
Here are 5 little-known facts about Hercules in New York:
Arnold used a fake name: In the credits, Schwarzenegger was billed as “Arnold Strong, ‘Mr. Universe’” because the producers thought his real name was too hard to pronounce and wouldn’t appeal to American audiences.
Guerrilla-style filming: Many scenes were shot around New York City without permits—especially in Central Park and Times Square—which is why some shots look rushed or awkward, and passersby can be seen reacting to the filming.
Voice dubbed without his input: Arnold wasn’t even consulted when producers decided to dub over his voice in the original release. It was done post-production, and he was reportedly embarrassed by the final product.
He almost lost the part due to his accent: The producers were hesitant to cast Arnold because of how thick his accent was at the time. They ultimately went with him for his physical presence and novelty as Mr. Universe.
The chariot chase scene is notoriously clumsy: One of the film’s most unintentionally funny moments is a chase involving Hercules in a horse-drawn chariot through Central Park—shot without permits, dodging real pedestrians and traffic, and resulting in some hilarious near-collisions.
Scenes for the Dubbed Version