Discover Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Forgotten Looney Tunes-Style Western

It would be an understatement to say that Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of Hollywood’s most renowned action stars. With movies like ‘Conan the Barbarian’, ‘The Terminator’, and ‘Predator’, he became incredibly famous and became a symbol of the action genre. Even well-known people like him, though, have lesser-known movies, such as a peculiar Western with a nod to ‘Looney Tunes’ that highlights his early work.

Although he had significant roles in movies like ‘Hercules’ in New York and ‘Pumping Iron’ in the late 1970s, Schwarzenegger’s ascent to fame started in the 1980s. He found it difficult to overcome the obstacles presented by his heavy accent and the stereotype of a bodybuilder during this time. He co-starred with Kirk Douglas in ‘The Villain’, better known as Cactus Jack, a forgotten comedic Western, before his big break in ‘Conan the Barbarian’. After Mel Brooks’ breakthrough with films like ‘Blazing Saddles’, this movie came out amid a flurry of parodies.

Image Courtesy: CBR

Schwarzenegger portrays a character in ‘The Villain’ that parodies the conventional Western protagonist, playing a humorous rather than heroic role. The story revolves around ‘Charming Jones’, who tries to get money for her father but is stopped by Douglas’s character, the foolish bandit Cactus Jack. The film’s tone is lightened by Jack’s antics, which include a string of failed heist attempts and slapstick humour.

‘The Villain’ takes a nostalgic look at Schwarzenegger’s early career and presents a distinctive fusion of Western elements and slapstick humour targeted at family audiences, despite its flaws and modest budget. Despite its lack of popularity, it’s nevertheless entertaining to see, especially for fans who want to see the early work of one of Hollywood’s biggest actors.

–Farheen Ali