REEVES' FRENCH VICTORY
by George E Greenwood
Body Building Expert of Health & Strength Magazine of England
The Plus bel Athlete de France , D'Europe and du Monde contests were held at Cannes, famous holiday resort on the French Riviera on Sunday 15th and Monday 16th August. It was rather unfortunate that these contests should follow so closely on the heels of "Mr. Universe" held in London on the previous Friday, 13th August, as little time was left for intending competitors to make the trip, the inevitable result that, apart from continental entries, the European and World contests lacked a representative entry.
Cannes, with its guaranteed 6 to 7 months' warm sunny weather each year, was the ideal setting for the staging of this show. The theatre chosen for the contest was at the rear of the Casino, the stage decked with the flags of many nations and with the blue Mediterranean as a background. There was excellent lighting arrangements and a good orchestra, but despite all this outward splendour, backstage organization left very much to be desired - more of this later.
According to the official program judging was to be based on a system of points, which were to be awarded for: la Beauté - proportionate and harmonious development (measurements to be checked - the latter not carried out); la Santé - a severe medical examination (not carried out); la Force - strength, (each competitor required to lift a weight in Dead Lift fashion, equivalent to double his own bodyweight - not carried out); and la Souplesse - a demonstration of physical skill and suppleness. Each contestant was called upon to make three stage appearances, first a straight standing front, back and side pose, next, a short series of optional poses and finally a demonstration of suppleness. This programme, if carried out to the letter, would appear to be very efficient, provided the major number of points were awarded for physical attributes. In actual practice it failed completely.
The "Mr. France" finals took place on Sunday (15th Aug.). There were about 10 competitors, all possessing the typical French physique - little muscular bulk, but excellent shape and definition. There was little doubt about the outcome of this contest. ROBERT DURANTON was outstanding and was awarded first place, second place going to M. RAVERAUD with M. WEINSBERG (Mr. Paris) third. Duranton possesses all the qualities of the French ideal - curly hair, handsome features, obvious good health and shapely muscular development. His bulk is only moderate.
On the following day the combined "Mr. Europe" and "Mr. World" contests were staged. These events had been given considerable publicity in Cannes, but despite this, attendance was disappointing, the auditorium being only a little over half filled. The majority of the onlookers appeared to be holiday makers - a non-physical culture audience at a Mr. World contest! The Federation Francaise de Culture Physique, governing body of French Physical Culture affairs, had issued invitations to various countries, and had agreed to pay for one official entrant from each. This was the disappointing entry of 10 for the combined contests; Steve Reeves (U.S.A.), Oscar Heidenstam (England), Sylvestre Lindberg (Sweden), Jaques Estella (Spain), Jean Ladeuze (Belgium), and M. Raveraud, Maurice Weinsberg, Guy Broquerie, Andre Drapp, and Robert Duranton (France). After the initial stage appearance, I was convinced that the battle for honors would be between Reeves, Heidenstam, Drapp and Duranton. Physically they appeared far superior to the other contestants. The series of "optional" poses followed, each man given a splendid display of artistic posing and "physique portrayal." During this period I had been busy with my camera, but being a little curious as to how things were going I went back stage, to find Steve Reeves was in the lead, with Duranton second, Weinsberg third, Lindberg fourth, and Heidenstam and Drapp tying for fifth place. There remained of course points to be awarded for the suppleness and physical skill demonstration. Returning to the auditorium to watch the final stage appearance, I was confident that my own forecast would prove correct. Most of the competitors performed a straightforward demonstration of suppleness, Steve Reeves contenting himself with a repetition of his posing act. The last man to take the stage was Sylvestre Lindberg of Sweden, who proceeded to astound everybody by performing amazing balancing feats, suppleness and agility stunts. His body control and perfect balance were truly magnificent, and I decided that what he lacked in physique he certainly made up for in physical ability.
The judges now compared notes and after a brief consultation declared STEVE REEVES the winner of the "Plus bel athlete du Monde" or "Mr. World" title - popular verdict which was greeted with enthusiastic applause. Runner-up to Steve, and also winner of the "Mr. Europe" title, was next announced - SYLVESTRE LINDBERG of Sweden! This decision to my mind was most unfair. Lindberg had apparently won through on strength of his fine acrobatic act, which was, I admit, superb. But his physique was far from perfect, and the "Plus bel Athlete de Europe" is first and foremost a physique contest. Most of the competitors had spent months in hard training in an endeavor to improve their muscular development. Robert Duranton (France) was awarded third place, with Andre Drapp (France) fourth and Oscar Heidenstam (England) fifth.
There were three judges for this contest, although their names were not given in the program. I can only assume that they were dazzled by Lindberg's agility performance. Immediately the winner was announced there were wild scenes back stage, the competitors remonstrating with the judges and decrying the decision. Chief among the dissenters was Andre Drapp, third in the London "Mr. Universe" contest; Andre had no axe to grind at his own placing of fourth but was of the opinion that there were men far better than the winner who were not even in the first three. All the hubbub made not the slightest impression, the judges standing firm to their choice.
In pre-war days, the World and European contests staged in France were efficiently organized and judged. The 1948 contests, despite ideal conditions and ample facilities, were in my opinion very far from satisfactory, and this appeared to be shared by many.