Arnold Schwarzenegger … Cowboy?


The Villain/ Mel Tillis

The Villain / Cactus Jack / (1979)

“What is the point of being on this Earth
if you are going to be like everyone else?”

– Arnold Schwarzenegger
No point at all Arnold.

Alias Cactus Jack

A long time ago I stopped identifying Movie Stars as Actors.
Because many Movie Stars are lousy Actors (or Actresses). Terrible.
However, a lot of good Actors never become Movie Stars either.
In the Entertainment trade, Acting, Talent, and Skill are secondary to Charisma: Star Power.
Sex appeal enters here largely.
In all, it’s about Money.

A Movie Star who is a good Actor/Actress with Star Power and Sex Appeal is a rare and Hot commodity.
But Star Power and Sex Appeal are often all it takes to be Hot at the Box Office.
Acting by itself rarely does the trick.
Therefore a great Shakespearean Actor may never become a Movie Star.

This brings us to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a lousy Actor.
Yet he became one of the biggest Movie Stars ever.
Star Power. 

Arnold’s climb to Stardom didn’t happen overnight.
From 1963 to 1980 – age 16 to age 33 – he was in Bodybuilding competitions. 20 years.
Won everything.
Perhaps the greatest Bodybuilder ever.

So eventually – in 1979 – 32-year-old Arnold made his 3rd/4th? Movie:
The Villain. (Also called Cactus Jack).
A Western Comedy.
This wasn’t his breakthrough Movie.
That was Conan in 1982.

In The Villain Arnold was terrible. His Acting was about as wooden as a cigar store Bodybuilder.
Arnold claimed he’d been taking Acting lessons.
They weren’t evident.
This Movie should have ended his career.

So it’s rather incredible he was still around for Conan in 1982
where he was definitely Cast for his incredible physique – not his Acting chops.

Therefore, perhaps the strangest thing about The Villain was that Arnold’s only undeniable asset – his phenomenal musculature –
was not exploited in any way in the Movie!!?
He doesn’t bare even one muscle.
Which is rather mind numbing!

So why was he in this Movie at all?
*shrug*
Beats me!?

“If it bleeds, we can kill it.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger / Predator

That’s a theory.

I’d call this a very generous review.

This Movie is bleeding all over, but it’s still moving.

Apart from Arnold – the Cast in this thing was pretty good:
Kirk Douglas, Ann-Margret, Paul Lynde, Foster Brooks, Ruth Buzzi, Jack Elam, Strother Martin, Mel Tillis …
There certainly seems to be enough Talent here to make something happen.

So I have to blame things on Director Hal Needham. The Director is the guy in charge. And though Directors are not usually involved in the Casting or Writing he still had something to work with. A great Director can get a worthy performance out of a dead horse.

Kirk Douglas!!!?? in this thing!? What was he thinking?

Even the great ones make a couple of klunkers.

At least Arnold can say he was in a Movie with one of greatest Western Movie Stars of all time.

Hal Needham, who was one of the greatest Film Stuntman of all time (Legendary) went on to Direct
Burt Reynolds, in Smokey and the BanditHooperThe Cannonball Run and Stroker Ace.

Reynolds and Needham … ka-ching, ka-ching …

Those Movies made multi-millions.

Meanwhile …

Arnold Acting.
Even marvelous Paul Lynde can’t save this thing.
There’s no place to hide Kirk.
Yes that’s actual dialogue from the Movie.

Ann knows why she’s there.

Desistance is futile.
Kirk and Foster Brooks. If you’ve seen Brooks once that’s pretty well enough.

Kirk Douglas and Jack Elam

So … was this Movie a Contract Dump? You have to wonder.
And how did Arnold even get a contract to begin with?

I’ll show you.

“Don’t be afraid to fail.”
– Arnold Schwarzenegger 

Yep.

 

Burt Reynolds, Cowboy …

The audience will always forgive you for being wrong and exciting,
but never for being right and dull.
– Burt Reynolds

At his height Burt Reynolds’ Star Power and sex appeal took him to the top Box Office Star in the film industry.
His popularity and charisma were unchallenged and some of his movies still hold a massive Cult following.
Among them were several Westerns though I consider none to be Western Classics.

Nearly 50 episodes between 1962 and 1965.Doc, Festus, Kitty, Burt and Matt.

Gunsmoke was definitely and unchallenged TV Western Classic.
Bet none of them suspected Burt would be the Number 1 Box Office Movie Star in a few short years.

Blow that horn Burt. Tell ’em you’re coming.

Burt goes Injun’ His first Western film.
Spaghetti. Top Billed.
Spaghetti can be tasty. Some can be Classic.
This is not one of them.
MFW Rating: Worth watching as a curiosity.

Angie and Burt

MFW Rating: 50/50

Another curiosity – you can still buy this on Amazon.
It feels like an uncompleted project.
MFW Rating: Not a clue.

The Bimbo and Beefcake formula. The 60’s had a lot of these.
Likewise the movie is famous for Welsh taking a shower.
Burt is Billed 3rd playing a character called Yaqui Joe.
(Guess they couldn’t find John Saxon)
MFW Rating:
 I watched it. Once.

Burt does Clint. Sorta.
It’s 1973. Spaghetti is still hot.
Sarah Miles co-Stars.
Burt’s Star is high now – and rising – he had just made Deliverance.
and he’s starting to look like the Bandit.
Good Support Cast: Lee J. Cobb, Jack Warden and George Hamilton.
Possibly Burt’s best Western.
But there will be no sequel.
MFW Rating: Not bad.

Leap ahead to 1996 – The Cherokee Kid – TV Western Comedy
Burt is 60.
His Star has fallen. But he still has chops.
But Billed 6th !!?? Really??

Hell of a Cast though:
James Coburn, Gregory Hines
MFW Rating: Not bad at all.

Cathedral Rock at Sedona Arizona in the background

2002 Mini Series I missed out on.
I going to look this up. Looks like a quality production.
Supposed adaptation for the famous Range War.

MFW Rating: Unknown

Burt’s last ride. He was 67.
MFW Rating: Worthy

Thanks Burt … it was a good ride. 

AWARDS

Academy Awards, USA 1998 Nominee
Oscar Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Boogie Nights (1997)

Golden Globes, USA 1998 Winner
Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Boogie Nights (1997) 1993 Nominee
Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Evening Shade (1990) 1992 Winner
Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Evening Shade (1990) 1991Nominee
Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Evening Shade (1990) 1980 Nominee
Golden Globe Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Starting Over (1979) 1975 Nominee
Golden Globe Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
The Longest Yard (1974) 1971 Nominee
Golden Globe Best TV Actor – Drama
Dan August (1970)

Primetime Emmy Awards 1992 Nominee
Primetime Emmy Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Evening Shade (1990)
For playing: “Wood Newton”.1991Winner
Primetime Emmy Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Evening Shade (1990)
For playing “Wood Newton”.

BAFTA Awards 1998 Nominee
BAFTA Film Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Boogie Nights (1997)

20/20 Awards 2018 Nominee
Felix Best Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)

American Movie Awards 1980 Winner
Marquee Favorite Film Star – Male

Awards Circuit Community Awards 1997 Nominee
ACCA Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Boogie Nights (1997)

Boston Society of Film Critics Awards 1997 Nominee
BSFC Award Best Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 1998 Winner
CFCA AwardBest Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)

Crystal Reel Awards 2002 Winner
Lifetime Achievement AwardDallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards 1998 Winner
DFWFCA Award Best Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)

Daytime Emmy Awards 1990 Nominee
Daytime Emmy Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show
Win, Lose or Draw (1987) 1989 Nominee
Daytime Emmy Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show
Win, Lose or Draw (1987) 1988 Nominee
Daytime EmmyOutstanding Game/Audience Participation Show
Win, Lose or Draw (1987)

Florida Film Critics Circle Awards 1998 Winner
FFCC AwardBest Ensemble Cast
Boogie Nights (1997)

Golden Boot Awards 1990 Winner
Golden BootKey West Film Festival 2016 Winner
Golden Key Career Achievement

Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards 1998 Winner
Sierra Award Best Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 1997 Winner
LAFCA Award Best Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)

National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA 1998 Winner
NSFC AwardBest Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)

New York Film Critics Circle Awards 1997 Winner
NYFCC AwardBest Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)

Online Film & Television Association 1998 Winner
OFTA Film Award Best Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)

Online Film Critics Society Awards 1998 Winner
OFCS Award Best Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)