10 years before the debut of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In 1979, Bill Viola and Frank Caliguri dreamed up a contest pitting barroom bigmouths against wrestlers, martial artists, boxers, bouncers and brawlers, billed as no-holds-barred new type of competitive fighting. When the fights succeeded beyond their wildest expectations, they were swept up in a chain of events that ended in the first mixed-martial arts ban in the nation. “Tough Guys” chronicles the inception of Caliguri and Viola’s first bouts and the colorful, crazy cast of fighters who made them a hit as well as the politicians who brought it all crashing down. The film brings to life a moment when the national martial arts craze was building to a crescendo as the economies of Pennsylvania steel towns were plummeting to levels of unemployment never seen, breeding desperate men looking for a chance to prove their worth and make some money in the ring.
Tough Guys (2017) streaming availability varies by region. Check Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and other major platforms. It may also be available for digital rental or purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, or Vudu.
10 years before the debut of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In 1979, Bill Viola and Frank Caliguri dreamed up a contest pitting barroom bigmouths against wrestlers, martial artists, boxers, bouncers and brawlers, billed as no-holds-barred new type of competitive fighting....
Tough Guys (2017) was directed by W.B. Zullo. The film is a Documentary production with a runtime of 1h 16m, rated 7.5/10.
Tough Guys runs 1h 16m (76 minutes total). Audience rating: 7.5/10 from 2 votes. Genre: Documentary.
Tough Guys is rated 7.5/10 by 2 viewers — well-rated and generally recommended. A good pick for Documentary fans.
