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:

Crew or equipment visible: In one scene where Cactus Jack is trying to get on his horse you can easily see a man moving a trampoline under the horse's belly for him to stand on (only visible in open matte TV showings).

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!
[...]

Movie Connections:

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

Good Fun

I can't understand why most people think every movie is trying to be Citizen Kane. I mean I love steak, but I would tire of it if I had to eat it every day. Sometimes you need pudding. This movie is pudding..not much substance but tastes great while it's in your mouth. I hadn't thought about this movie in ages until I was reading a bio on Arnold. This movie is a live action cartoon. It's goofy, silly and other adjectives that end in y, but it's fun to watch. It's especially fun to see it on those Sunday afternoons when nothing is on, but car racing and fishing. (With the advent of cable this has become a rare occasion, but I think most people will agree that even with 150 channels it's still hard to find something you want to watch.) If you get a chance to see this movie and don't take yourself too seriously you will have a good laugh.