Arnold Schwarzenegger Fights Kirk Douglas in This Forgotten 1979 Western Comedy

In contrast to their distinct movie epochs, the action legend Arnold Schwarzenegger and the classic Hollywood actor Kirk Douglas surprisingly teamed up in a less recognized 1970s Western comedy. With Schwarzenegger representing the icon of the 80s and beyond, and Douglas as a pivotal figure of the early film industry, it feels surreal to witness this pairing in a live-action adaptation of classic cartoons rather than a dream. However, their collaboration took place in reality during 1979, when Douglas wrapped up his Western career, and Schwarzenegger was on the brink of fame.

In the relatively unnoticed Western comedy “The Villain,” Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Douglas found themselves squaring off against each other. This film, directed by Hal Needham and filled with slapstick humor and witty references to popular children’s animation, was a quirky and humorous take on the classic Western genre. For Douglas, an accomplished actor who has worked with esteemed directors like Billy Wilder and Stanley Kubrick, this offbeat Western was an intriguing addition to his acclaimed and varied body of work. At that time, Schwarzenegger was still a newcomer in Hollywood and had yet to gain the widespread fame he would later achieve through films such as “Conan the Barbarian” and “The Terminator.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Played “Handsome Stranger” In The Villain

The Villain Predates Conan the Barbarian And The Terminator

In the movie “The Villain”, Arnold Schwarzenegger played a character referred to as “Handsome Stranger”. This Austrian cowboy hero was assigned to safely escort a lovely lady named Charming Jones (Ann-Margret) and a substantial amount of money she had inherited for her father. Since Schwarzenegger’s character was portrayed as an unsuspecting, innocent cowboy who owed his life to Charming’s father, many laughs were generated from him being oblivious to the young woman’s flirtatious and quite evident advances.

As Handsome leisurely made his way through the American wilderness accompanied by Charming, Kirk Douglas portrayed the aging bandit Cactus Jack, who relentlessly pursued them with a determination to seize their money for town magnate Avery Simpson (played by Jack Elam.) Despite considering himself a slick trickster with a knack for inventive schemes, Cactus Jack’s repeated attempts at outwitting Handsome were so clumsy that the latter seldom even sensed someone was following them.

The Villain Is A Fun Spoof On Two Classic Looney Tunes Characters

It Was Envisioned As A Live-Action Cartoon

The humorous exploits depicted in “The Villain” might strike you as strangely reminiscent, and that’s because this movie was a deliberate tribute to the Warner Bros. cartoon characters Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. In an amusing exploration of how the outrageous escapades of these Looney Tunes would fare in real life, we see Cactus Jack setting traps with Acme-like devices and even leaping around exuberantly after receiving an unexpected kiss from Charming due to sheer excitement and delight.

In the movie “The Villain,” Douglas’s character Cactus Jack served as an embodiment of the mischievous antagonist Wile E. Coyote. On the other hand, Schwarzenegger’s Handsome Stranger echoed the good fortune of the Road Runner without adopting the bird’s demeanor. Notably, this comedy was a tribute to Warner Bros.’ characters but was distributed by Columbia Pictures.

The Villain Is Early Proof Of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Comedic Talents

Schwarzenegger’s Funny Side Was On Display From The Very Start

Despite receiving negative criticisms initially, the film stands out as an early demonstration of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s underestimated comedic abilities, a skill he would later showcase extensively during the late ’80s and 1990s. Although he first gained fame as the fearsome T-800 in James Cameron’s The Terminator in 1984, Schwarzenegger would go on to become a prominent comedy star, delivering riotous performances in films like Junior, Kindergarten Cop, and Last Action Hero, eventually winning over audiences with his humorous side.

It’s evident that Schwarzenegger had the comedic prowess well before his partnership with Jim Belushi in “Red Heat” or his discovery as Danny DeVito’s long-lost brother in “Twins.” Just the sight of Schwarzenegger in a snug cowboy suit can elicit chuckles, and he threw himself wholeheartedly into the riotously absurd character he played in this “Looney Tunes” parody. Although it didn’t achieve the same lasting fame as other Western spoofs like “Blazing Saddles,” in retrospect, “The Villain” was a delightful romp.

2025-05-06 16:18