Trivia

Jeff Bridges recalled a cut workout scene, in which he was doing toe raises, and Arnold Schwarzenegger was riding on his back for weight. However, due to the head-on camera angle it appeared that a sex scene was occurring between the two men. Bridges laughed uproariously at the take, and was disappointed that it was cut from the film.

Another professional body builder (who also had a prominent role in Pumping Iron (1977)) not credited but seen leaving the Mr. Universe competition is Mike Katz. He is on the far left in the red tights.

In her autobiography, Sally Field wrote that during the audition with director Bob Rafelson, she was asked by him to take her shirt off and kiss him. "In the midst of casually talking about the work, he told me to take my top off so he could see my breasts, saying since there was a nude scene in the film, he needed to figure out how to shoot me," Field says. "Ignoring the sharp jab of emotion that shot through me, I removed my shirt as casually as he had made the request, then sat for his approval with my eyes closed - the only clue that those fingernails were clawing my insides." She continues, writing Rafelson told her, "Okay, Sal, the job is yours. But only after I see how you kiss. I can't hire anyone who doesn't kiss good enough." Field kissed him and got the job. In 2018 Rafelson responded, saying that Field's recollection of the audition was false. "It's totally untrue. That's the first I've ever heard of this. I didn't make anybody kiss me in order to get any part," he said during a phone call with the New York Times.

Arnold Schwarzenegger won a Golden Globe Award for "Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture", even though his debut was in Hercules in New York (1970).

Arnold Schwarzenegger lost a large amount of weight during the filming in 1975 so he wouldn't look so much bigger than his competitor Ken Waller. After filming ended, Arnold worked hard to gain weight for the Mr. Olympia contest that fall. His preparation was filmed and became the movie Pumping Iron. Arnold won the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest and then announced his retirement from competitive bodybuilding. However, after getting back into great shape for the filming of Conan the Barbarian, Arnold entered, and won, the 1980 Mr. Olympia contest.