The Villain (1979)

Director:

Hal Needham

Writer:

Robert G. Kane (written by)

Release Date:

27 July 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Western

Plot:

The cowboy Handsome Stranger will escort miss Charming Jones to get a large sum of money from her father...

Plot Keywords:

Cowboy | Train | West | Native American Chief | Fall From Height

Cast

Kirk Douglas	...	Cactus Jack
Ann-Margret	...	Charming Jones
Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	Handsome Stranger
Paul Lynde	...	Nervous Elk
Foster Brooks	...	Bank Clerk
Ruth Buzzi	...	Damsel in Distress
Jack Elam	...	Avery Simpson
Strother Martin	...	Parody Jones
Ray Bickel	...	Man
Robert Tessier	...	Mashing Finger
Mel Tillis	...	Telegraph Agent
Laura Lizer Sommers	...	Working Girl
Jan Eddy	...	Sheriff
Mel Todd	...	Conductor
Jim Anderson	...	Bartender

Also Known As:

Cactus Jack (UK)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | West Germany:6 (f) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Monument Valley, Utah, USA

Company:

Rastar Pictures

Trivia:

This is the last film project for Paul Lynde.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Horse stands available when Nervous Elk yells "charge" and all the horses race from out of the stands (only visible in open matte TV showings).

Quotes:

Cactus Jack: Take another step and I'll ventilate you!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Tatort: Märchenwald (#1.576)" (2004)

Dudley DooRight versus Wile E. Coyote for Jessica Rabbit

I'm not quite sure why Kirk Douglas took the part of a live Wile E. Coyote in the film villain other than to say that he had now tried the slapstick comedy genre. But in this case the frustrated coyote is not matched up with the beeping road runner. His adversary is Dudley DooRight in the person of Arnold Schwarzneggar, the Handsome Stranger. Yes folks, that's his character name.

We've got a third cartoon character in the mix, Ann-Margret doing a prototype of Jessica Rabbit. Annie's really showing off the stuff today with bosoms akimbo, she's got every member of the cast panting after her with the exceptions of Strother Martin who is her father and still sees Daddy's little girl and Arnie whom she pants after, but who doesn't show the slightest interest.

The bulk of the film is taken up with Kirk as villainous Cactus Jack and his horse Whiskey, doing their best to stop Arnie and Ann and rob them of a large sum of money from banker Jack Elam to Strother Martin. It's here where all the comparisons to the road runner cartoons take place.

I'm sure Kirk Douglas liked the change of pace, burlesquing his own western image. And he had a tough assignment because the majority of his scenes are alone and the dialog was spoken to his horse. Maybe Mr. Ed should have been cast in the role.

If anybody noticed the name of the horse Whiskey is the same name that Kirk Douglas used for his horse in his acclaimed Lonely Are The Brave.

Lest you think that because this is a road runner film the ending is a road runner ending. Let's just say that Jessica Rabbit has her needs and priorities as well.