1 Villainous , but Funny for the whole family
First of all you take a bumbling hero, add an even more bumbling villain, stir in Ann-Margaret. Eliminate all expectations of a coherent plot and you can sit back and laugh. The Pan And Scan did this movie no favors, but Whiskey makes the movie.
The Horse at times had the best lines in the movie, even saying that Hal Needham movies are not to be taken seriously anyway.
The supporting cast headed by Paul Lynde, and Jack Elam is more than solid. If you liked Uncle Arthur on Bewitched, you'll appreciate Nevous Elk.
My four kids range from 19 - 5 and most of the jokes were caught by the intended audience. The mild inuendo my 18 and 19 year olds caught. The broad slapstick the 7 & 5 year old caught. To keep them silent through a movie is surprising.
The scenery is beautiful. So is the landscape.
Enjoy adults not acting, but having fun...
Tim Sanko
2 TAKE HOLD OF THESE
This looney-tuned influenced cartoon movie came before BLAZING SADDLES, RUSTLER'S RHAPSODY, THE AIRPLANE MOVIES, etc., etc., so compared to these, it's pretty lame. But if you remember this was one of the early spoofs, it's not so bad. As mentioned, it's a live action Road Runner cartoon, with Kirk Douglas standing in for Wile E. Coyote. Douglas is a very versatile actor, and he tries very hard in this movie, but he's not comic enough to be convincing. Arnold Schwarzenegger? Well, this is an early film and he provides the muscle without any acting chops, but he's unobtrusive. Ann-Margret in an underwritten role is great, especially with her innuendo lines like leaning out of the train and asking Ahnuld to "take hold of these."
It might have been better had there been MORE slapstick scenes and less of things like the countless vistas showing the wagon, or the inclusion of Paul Lynde as a Paul Lynde Indian. They tended to slow the action down, except for the great scene where all the Indians fall off their horses. Ruth Buzzi in a parody of her dirty old lady Laugh In routine adds a little sparkle; Mel Tillis is irritating with his stuttering, always has, always will be.
THE VILLAIN is funny and seeing Kirk Douglas bounce all over the roofs in the end is sidesplitting. But the movie just ends, and you feel a little cheated.
But, it has some laughs and it's good to see Ann Margret any time!
3 cactus jack the early years
The Movie advertised is wrestling NOY A MOVIE = no Ann Margaret , NO Krik Douglas- the description belongs to The Villian not the Title listed
4 an all time favorite
This is one of my most favorite movies. It actually is a family favorite. We made our original "beta" copy when it 1st appeared on cable in the early "70's-. Arnold, Mel Tillis- Ann Margaret, Ruth Buzzy-- Kirk Douglas - (he was amazing) Paul Lynn- Who am I missing-- Oh yeah the horse Whiskey - and road runner- This was hilarious in the 70's and still is. - As we showed it to all of our friends in the 70's-- we present it to all of our friends now- every one must see "The Villain" over and over and over.- cant get enough of it.
5 "A tale told by an idiot . . ."
No, no. This movie is far from being Shakespearean. In fact, The Villain is quite possibly the worst movie I've ever seen. This comes as no surprise as it was recommended by my grandmom, whose taste in movies has always been viewed as dubious by the rest of my family. What's even more hilarious is that she once heard that Arnold would be on The Tonight Show, and-- get this-- she said, "I wonder if he's going to talk about The Villain..." Sure, grandmom... He's really going to tarnish his reputation as a respected movie star by reminding everyone of this late-seventies bomb! Anyhow-- you probably get the point. Plainly stated, The Villain is parody at its worst, so don't even think that it's going to make you laugh.
6 Alas, pan -n- scan
I first saw the movie years ago and thought it was hysterical. Sadly this release crops the movie -- if it were widescreen I would buy it in a heartbeat.
5 stars for the movie, -2 for poor DVD.
7 A cinematic cartoon
As other reviewers have already indicated, this is like a Road Runner cartoon only with real actors - Kirk Douglas, Ann Margaret and of course Arnold who plays the handsome stranger.
As if everthingelse isn't funny, seeing Arnold play a cowboy with a hulking physique and sounding like Dracula is amusing.
1 star reviewers don't get it, this movie was never intended to be a John Wayne type of western--it's supposed to be and is funny!
8 A great cast in a lousy movie
What a waste of these great actors and actresses. You'll laugh, all right, but from embarrassment, not humor. If you're looking for a great spoof of Westerns, look no further than Mel Brooks' classic, "Blazing Saddles", which is the movie this one was trying to be, but failed.
9 A classic comedy Western
This is, in my opinion, the finest comedy Western ever produced. With Kirk Douglas as "Cactus Jack Slade," (alias Wiley Coyote) and Arnold Schwartzeneggar as--well--NOT the road-runner, but rather a puritannical "Handsome Stranger," and the beautiful Ann Margaret as the lusty "Charming Jones," along with a great supporting cast, it is without a doubt the funniest spoof of a Western action movey I've ever seen...
Joseph (Joe) Pierre
author of Handguns and Freedom...Their Care and Maintenance
and other books
10 The Villain
I love the movie, but since its only in pan & scan on the DVD I will not buy it. When (if) it comes out in widescreen it will be an immediate purchase. The studio needs to release this in widescreen for those of us who prefer to see the whole movie as it was made and intended.
11 The Villian
Anyone who loves The Roadrunner will love this movie!! It is hillarious from start to finish!! Definately my all time favorite western!!! A MUST SEE!!!! It is really refreshing to be able to actually watch a movie with your children and not have to worry if it is family rated - no bad language, no blood guts and gore, no sexually explicit scenes. Arnold, Kirk, Ann Margarete and Paul Lunde do a great job with it!! I also love the horse - who lets Kirk know who is the boss!!
12 The Roadrunner and The Coyote-With Actors!
If you haven't seen this movie, it's funny!
This is one of those comedy westerns along the lines of the "Support Your Local..." Except that this one has turned the Roadrunner cartoons into a Western! And Kirk Douglas is the Coyote!
Just about everything you've seen the Coyote do in the cartoons, Kirk Douglas does in this movie. And with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ann-Margaret as the Roadrunners it's a hilarious movie!
13 'Charming, just charming'
The Villain is a curiosity piece. After sitting through the whole 90 minutes (believe me, that's one hell of an accomplishment with this film), I've come away wondering who is this film aimed at? Part Road Runner film, part cowboy film and part comedy. Most of the humour is too silly for adults; it's mainly aimed at 5 year olds apart from when Charming Jones (Ann-Margret) is on camera - she is the only genuinly funny character which the adults can laugh at, she openly mocks her own endowments and frustrations by the lack of 'attention' shown to her by Handsome Stranger.
Arnold and Kirk are both lost with their characters. The real stars are buxum Charming Jones (Ann-Margret), Lucky (the horse) and Nervous Elk (played by a very funny Paul Lynde).
I give the film 2 stars - 1 star for a very funny performance by Ann-Margret and the 2nd to the horse trainer!
14 Hilarious Gem!
Kirk Douglas and Ann-Margaret star in this 'Looney Tunes' type of comedy. But, who cares about them right? It's all about Arnold Schwarzenegger pretending to be a cowboy. YES! This was almost as funny as "Hercules in New York", but the fact that Arnold didn't get top billing for this movie is ludicrous. Arnold is the movie and it's the first time he rides a horse, Earth-shattering! I wish I could say more, but this movie is only funny when Arnold speaks. The road runner type chases are pretty comical, but I recommend this gem to anybody who thinks Arnold is a mastermind.
15 HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE!
I was a teenager when this thing came out and even then I knew it was one of the worst things ever to be filmed. Arnold is worse than ever, and that is saying a lot! Kirk is pathetic as a skinny villain. I won't compare this to the Road Runner cartoons, because I don't want to insult the cartoons.
Anne Margret comes off OK, because she plays it straight, and displays the most amazing cleavage. She's gorgeous here, but not enough to watch this piece of dog food. People who make movies like this ought to be arrested.
16 Enjoyable and Fun
This movie is highly entertaining and just plain fun. It isn't intended to be an epic, like Spartacus or Cleopatra. It's simply fun.
In many ways, this movie is reminiscent of Coyote and Road Runner, but with Kirk Douglas and Arnie Swartzenegger in the lead character roles. It is very camp, and if you enjoy comic camp, this is a really entertaining film. It does not allow itself to fret over such trivialities as political correctness. It just sets out to be loony fun. And for the purpose it seeks to achieve, it does so wonderfully.
If you want good, hearty laughter, you could do far worse than this modest little film. Good clean fun and sappy slapstick all the way. Certainly you will agree, if you see this movie, that the outlaw's horse is much smarter than his master.
The purpose of film is to entertain, and this little sleeper can deliver. This is not a movie for everybody, but those who appreciate camp should enjoy it.
17 Ignorant focus groups are the Villain of good DVD releases.
"The Villain" is a fun little guilty pleasure, a Looney Toons cartoon disguised as a live-action Western and featuring some major names. The comedy is so slapstick and the dialogue so screwball, one cannot help but wonder what the heck Kirk Douglas is doing in a film like this! Perhaps he was cleansing himself of the debacle that was "The Fury".
That being said, all the actors in the film play it with the earnestness all good comedy needs to succeed. Hal Needham, in the middle hour of his directing heyday, acquits himself well without his usual lead actor Burt Reynolds. Needham plays up the material for all it is worth, achieving the same type of real world/cartoon symmetry "Roger Rabbit" is famed for. Arnold Schwarzenegger makes a hilarous splash against type as a noble cowboy whose name constitutes one of the best gags in the film. In fact, it is the three leads that make "The Villain" a worthwhile and easy watch, as their "for keeps" performances eliminate the self-mocking mail-in performances that doom many mediocre projects.
Therefore, either for the cult film enthusiast or casual viewer, this would be an easy recommendation for purchase or rental. HOWEVER, the DVD release of this film gets the glaring 1 (wish it was zero) rating for the increasingly emerging cardinal sin of DVD's - a pan & scan only release with minimal to no extras. According to reports, various consumer focus groups and studies have led studios to believe people are intimidated by the letterboxing black bars and want the safety, familiarity, and cropped comfort of full-screen. Why they wouldn't offer both (especially with no extras) is beyond me. Why they would think a film with a small, but dedicated following would accept this is equally beyond me. Sorry, Hal, Kirk, Ann, and Arnold, until Columbia ponies up a more worthy version of your film, "The Villain" won't be hiding out in my collection anytime soon.
18 legendary comedy taken it to my grave with me!
Number one of the funniest movies I have ever seen in my life.
My son Isreal says so too.We laughed till we thought we would drop dead.This movie was one of the reasons I was born.If I had
of missed it,I`d still be waiting to see this one.Had I not laughed my whole life this one would have showed me the way.
Leave it to Kirk Douglas ,and his crew in this film you be checking out for life.Love these guys and gals.
19 The Villain - - Starring Kirk Douglas & The Terminator
A must see flick for you comedy enthusiasts out there. This is real laugh out loud side aching humor at its best. This favorite could be done in black and white and no sound and get almost the same response from its viewers. Kirk Douglas makes you believe that Wiley Coyote himself has come to life. A very young Arnold Schwarzenegger as your naive hero dressed in bulging white with leading lady Ann Margaret bulging in her own way onto the screen with headstrong hormones. What a cast, what a flick. But guess what kids, this is not available anywhere as a rental. So, do as I have and purchase yours...
This is David giving you two thumbs up yours.!!!!!! teehee.!!!!!
20 The Villain
This has become one of my favorite movies. It is hillarious.I have shared it with others and they never knew it existed. Is this a sleeper or what? Everyone agrees that this is a keeper for sure. I have watched this one over and over. I've never seen Kirk Douglas this funny. Great all-star cast.
21 Classic fun....
Saw this movie at the drive-in years ago by "accident" and still laugh when I remember it...I think this is a really funny movie!
22 Silly, silly, silly!
I saw this movie as a child and loved it. Now when I watch it, I still feel like a kid and can't help laughing and rolling my eyes at the same corny lines (and the horse, of course). I see the cheeziness of it, but it sure hits the spot when I have a case of the 'sillies'. It may not be the best script, stunts, editing or whatever, but really... who cares?
23 Great Fun
I first saw this movie over fifteen years ago, when I stumbled acrossed it in my fathers collection. The way he described it was "a real life Road Runner movie." While at first this did not sound terribly good, when I found out that Arnold was in it I figured that it was worth a shot. The first thought is "Arnold in a WESTERN?" As the movie started, I found it an extremely light-hearted romp with Kirk Douglas doing a great (not)so bad guy to the (saccharine sweet)good guy of Arnold. While not a great movie, it is a good movie that anybody of any age can sit down and watch. It would be a great movie for a parent to sit down with their young child and watch. For a light-hearted movie that will cause you to just laugh I must recommend it.
24 Live-action cartoon
What fun! I stumbled onto this movie in progress on a program called "Golden Age of Comedy Movies." I paused when I saw Arnold and Ann-Margret in an old western, curious as to what this was. When Ann-Margret leaned out of the train and handed Arnold her bags, nearly falling out of her low-cut dress in the process and saying, "Take hold of these," I knew this wasn't a serious drama I was watching. When Kirk Douglas showed up, I was hooked. It's impossible not to make comparisons with The Roadrunner cartoons as Kirk Douglas performs impossible leaps and survives intact after being crushed by a giant boulder and hit by a train. His trusty sidekick, Whiskey the horse, is a pure delight. It's odd to see Arnold in cowboy garb. His job is mostly to look studly and his lines mostly consist of, "I really don't know!" delivered with a bewildered look. Definitely a one-of-a-kind movie. Don't watch it if you're expecting great acting and writing, but if you just want to get in on the fun of big name stars acting very silly, you'll love it.
25 Looked for this movie for 6 years
I have looked for this movie for six years. I saw this movie when I was a kid. If you like Road Runner and Wiley Coyote, you're going to love this movie. The horse, Whiskey, is the smartest character in the movie. I now have a black horse named Whiskey because of this movie.
26 A Live-Action Road Runner Cartoon!
The fun starts fast, and never ends in this live-action version of a Road Runner cartoon! Kirk Douglas stars in a role unlike any he's ever done, as Cactus Jack Slade; who undergoes the same troubles that the Coyote would endure. His horse (Whiskey), however, steals the show as he puts Cactus Jack into some really awkward situations throughout the movie. Arnold Schwartzenegger is Handsome Stranger (another unlikely role for him), the hero that escorts Ann Margaret's character from "point A" to "point B" safely (or is she safe?) If you're looking for a serious western, put this one down; however, if laughter is what you're looking for... "just push PLAY" on this outrageous comedy!
27 One of the funniest, worst films ever!
Yes, this film was awful! But so is Bugs Bunny, Woody Woodpecker and Mickey Mouse. If you appreciate them, and are in a silly frame of mind, there are few films that will make you groan and laugh as much as this one. Warning: See it only in a silly frame of mind. Otherwise, you will hate it!
28 This is an excellent movie.
I have watched this movie many times and always see something new to giggle at. There are some very subtle humorous scenes in it as well as many overtly humurous. This is one movie I can definitely watch over and over, which is rare for me. There are very few movies I will gladly watch repeatedly. The best character in the whole movie is Kirk Douglas' horse, Whiskey.
29 A 1979 cowboy tribute to Roadrunner and While Coyote.
Cactus Jack Slade and his horse Whisky, two robbers, wonder into a town and Cactus Jack ends up in Jail, when he blows up a bank. Catus Jack is released from Jail by the owner of the bank and is offered a job. He is sent to stop a young woman called Charlin from reaching her father, Cactus Jack has to set traps to stop Charlin, who travels with Handsome stranger from seeing her father, as ususal, His traps go wrong.
30 One of the funniest movies ever!!
I saw this movie on NY55 a few months ago, and must say that it is best comedy Arnold Schwarnegger had ever done. It is filled with lots of laughs for the whole family. Arnold and Kirk made a great team. I should hope that film makers will make more of this type of innocent fun movies.
31 Stunningly awful....
If it weren't for "Can't Stop the Music", this film would be a hands-down winner for "Worst of All Time."
32 This is my favorite movie ever
I caught this movie on a late late show in the late 80's. I think this is a GREAT movie. one of the funniest movies ever made.. too bad all everyone in the movie industry thinks it was a flop and non of the actors should ever admit making it. The 7 Shot 6 Shooters are the Best!!
I should get some more wood for the Fire!
33 Perfect for the kids!
When my grandkids watch a movie, I want them to watch something like "The Villain". They can learn about life later and enjoy this Road Runner like real action cartoon in the meantime. Been my favorite for 20 years.
34 We have waiting for this come out on video for YEARS !
We saw this movie when it was first released and loved it ! We have been searching for it on video for years. Kirk Douglas was great as the Villain and it was refreshing to see him in a different type of movie. A great family movie !
35 A great classic for the whole family
I first saw this movie when I was in my teens and I loved it. It is great clean humor for adults as well as kids. It is a movie I can share with my 2 kids!
36 A must see for Arnold lovers!!!
This is the consumate "Coyote vs Road Runner" movie. It is non stop hillarity at it's best. The combination of Arnold and Kurt is incredible. I recommend this movie to everyone, it's a great family film.
37 A movie? Nah -- a Roadrunner cartoon!
Hansom Stranger (Arnold Schwartzenegger), a heroic dim bulb, tries to protect the person and property of a sweet young thang (played by Ann-Margret) on a trek across the desert. The Villain (Kirk Douglas) pursues them, sometimes with difficulty (as when they drive into a tunnel painted on a rock).
The smartest character in the movie is Kirk's horse. You'll love the ending.
38 One of the FUNNIEST Westerns EVER
I'd hate to spoil any of the fun you'll have watching this masterpiece, so I'll leave it at this: Be sure to stock up on Chloraseptic or Sucrets before watching because "The Villain" is a slapstick Western so hilarious it will make you laugh yourself hoarse.
