The Villain 1979
"...the fastest fun in the west!"
In Hal Needham's 1979 crowd-pleasing comedy-western, The Villain (1979) throws together sun-scorched outlaw antics and slapstick humor with a star-studded cast.
Director: Hal Needham
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Villain (1979) about?
This 1979 comedy-western follows a suave stranger escorting a glamorous heiress to claim her fortune, only to be ambushed by a misfit outlaw hired by a greedy land baron. What starts as a straightforward mission spirals into a series of comical mishaps and near-misses across the dusty frontier.
Who directed The Villain?
Hal Needham, the legendary filmmaker behind some of the most iconic action-comedies of the 1970s and 1980s, directed The Villain (1979).
Who stars in The Villain?
The film features Kirk Douglas, Ann-Margret, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Paul Lynde, and Foster Brooks—each bringing their own brand of charm and humor to the wild west.
Is The Villain (1979) worth watching?
For fans of lighthearted Western comedies with a dose of nostalgia and slapstick, The Villain (1979) is a fun pick. While not a critical heavyweight, its zany charm and solid cast make it an enjoyable, easy-to-watch time capsule of late-'70s filmmaking.
How long is The Villain?
The Villain runs for 89 minutes, offering a compact yet packed adventure.
🎥 Trailer
About The Villain (1979) — A Hilarious Western Comedy with Kirk Douglas and Arnold Schwarzenegger
In Hal Needham's 1979 crowd-pleasing comedy-western, The Villain (1979) throws together sun-scorched outlaw antics and slapstick humor with a star-studded cast. Kirk Douglas plays Handsome Stranger, tasked with escorting Ann-Margret's Charming Jones across the frontier to claim her inheritance. But the path is far from smooth: ruthless land-grabber Avery Simpson hires a bumbling but dangerous outlaw, Cactus Jack—played by a then-rising Arnold Schwarzenegger—to intercept the pair. What follows is a series of misadventures that lean into absurdity, turning a high-stakes chase into a delightfully ridiculous romp beneath the wide-open Western sky.
Blending sharp one-liners with lighthearted action, the film balances the charm of classic Western tropes against modern comedic flair. With Paul Lynde's dry wit and Foster Brooks' affable drunk act adding extra layers of humor, The Villain (1979) delivers a breezy, 89-minute escape packed with laughs and unexpected twists.