The Villain (1979)

Facing hanging, a bank robber makes a deal with the corrupt banker to avoid execution in exchange for a dirty assignment.

Director:

Hal Needham

Writer:

Robert G. Kane

Stars:

Kirk Douglas, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ann-Margret

Cast

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

Storyline

"Cactus" Jack Slade (Kirk Douglas) is the meanest bad man in the west, or so he thinks. When a bank robbery goes awry, he lands in jail facing a hangman's noose. When the corrupt owner of the bank offers him a job, Jack sees a chance to stay alive and get rich in the process. All he has to do is steal a strongbox full of money the banker lent to Mr. Parody Jones (Strother Martin) who needs it to keep his mining operation going. If he defaults on the loan, our "friendly" banker takes over the mine. Ms. Charming Jones (Ann-Margret) comes to town to collect the money and take it back to her father, Parody. To ensure the money makes it back home, Parody has called in a favor from a man who owes him a life debt. Enter Handsome Stranger (Arnold Schwarzenegger). The toughest and strongest hero in the west. As tough as a steel plate but, unfortunately, just as dense. As Charming and Handsome set off on their journey, Jack sets out after them. Using his trusty "Bad Men Of The West" handbook, ...

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Plot Keywords:

train | native american | native american chief | horse | glue | 

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Taglines:

...the fastest fun in the west!

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Genres:

Comedy | Western

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 July 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cactus Jack

Filming Locations:

Monument Valley, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rastar Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The sign over the saloon is the same as the artwork on Snowman's truck in Smokey and the Bandit (1977) (1977). Both films were directed by Hal Needham.

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Goofs

Loads of trampolines visible in every shot when Cactus Jack is bouncing around in the last scene of the movie whilst celebrating (only visible in open matte TV showings).

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Quotes

Cactus Jack: Take another step and I'll ventilate you!... Nobody outsmarts Cactus Jack Slade!
[Handsome Stranger and Cactus Jack are about to shoot it out]
Charming Jones: Hold it! Like the man says... just hold it.
[She walks up to Cactus Jack]
Charming Jones: [to Handsome Stranger] Ah, exactly *what* are your intentions?
Handsome Stranger: To see that justice is done!
Charming Jones: [to Cactus Jack] And yours?
Cactus Jack: Blow his head off! Steal the money!
Charming Jones: And...?
Cactus Jack: [laughs] ... And then I'm gonna ravish you!
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in The Wild West (2010)

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Soundtracks

Handsome Stranger
Music and Lyrics by Jimmy Darrell and Joe Smartt
Performed by Mel Tillis

User Reviews

incredibly stupid fun

This is a perfect film if you just want to turn off your brain and have a good laugh. I was amazed at how low rated this film is--perhaps too many people take this film too seriously! This was never meant to be high art, but more like an extended live action version of a Wiley Coyote versus the Roadrunner cartoon. There was so much similarity, I half expected that this film would be sponsored by ACME.

Kirk Douglas is the hapless bad guy bent on killing the more than amply endowed Ann-Margret (you'll see what I mean if you watch the film) and the incredibly dumb hero played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Again and again and again his dopey schemes fall flat until the movie comes to a very unexpected and funny ending.

While I will admit this is more of a kids movie, adults can enjoy it too provided they don't think too much and just sit back and watch with an open mind.