DOCUMENT: Crime

Arnold's Secret "Pumping Iron" Deal

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Arnold's Secret "Pumping Iron" Deal

OCTOBER 6--It's unlikely that anyone will ever know for sure what Arnold Schwarzenegger had to say about Adolf Hitler since the actor bought the rights to "Pumping Iron" and all the outtakes from the 1977 film--and the July 1991 purchase agreement stipulated that Schwarzenegger can destroy the footage if he chooses. Below you'll find excerpts from the 57-page sale document. The $1.25 million agreement between Schwarzenegger and "Pumping Iron" director George Butler allowed the star to "destroy any and all portion thereof" of the film and 90 hours of additional footage as well as still photographs owned by Butler that Schwarzenegger considered "embarrassing" or which might "reflect negatively" on the actor's "professional or private life." The purchase agreement and accompanying deal memorandum were secret until partners of Butler's learned of the sale to Schwarzenegger and filed a lawsuit claiming that he did not have the right to sell the material. After years of litigation, Schwarzenegger settled the case with a $400,000 payment to Butler's former business associates. (10 pages)

Fortunately, Arnold didn't buy the rights to that 1977 Oui interview.