In the golden era of action movies, few rivalries burned as brightly or as publicly as the one between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Their competition spanned decades, captivating audiences and fueling the fires of their respective careers in films that defined the ’80s and ’90s action genre. Despite their eventual reconciliation, the tales of their confrontations are etched in the annals of pop culture, with Schwarzenegger often playing his trump card: an unmatched wit that Stallone struggled to counter.
Stallone vs. Schwarzenegger: A Feud Fueled by Fame
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s tenure as the Governor of California from 2003 to 2011 was marked not only by his policies but also by his sharp wit. In a candid interview with James Corden, Schwarzenegger recounted a particularly cunning move during his governorship. Tasked with approving or rejecting legislation, Schwarzenegger once used a veto to send a covert message to a legislator. Each line of the veto letter began with a specific letter, spelling out ‘F*ck you’ vertically down the page. When confronted by the press, Schwarzenegger feigned ignorance, a masterful display of both political and theatrical savvy.
“I wrote each line in the veto message. Each line had to start with a certain letter that, when you go down the line, it says ‘F*ck you’…[the press said to me] Did you know that this said ‘F*ck you?’. I said, ‘No, no, wait a minute, where does it say that? Wow, I’m amazed. No, I did not know that.’”
Reconciliation and Collaboration
The rivalry between Schwarzenegger and Stallone is legendary, beginning in earnest at the Golden Globes when they found themselves competing not just for awards but for the spotlight. Their feud was marked by both intense competition and personal jibes, such as when Stallone reportedly threw a vase of flowers at Schwarzenegger after winning Best Motion Picture – Drama. The competition extended beyond personal interactions to their professional lives, where they vied for the highest kill counts and box office dominance.
Legacy of Two Titans
Despite their turbulent past, Schwarzenegger and Stallone have since buried the hatchet, collaborating on several projects that capitalized on their once-rivalrous relationship. They starred together in “Escape Plan” and Schwarzenegger made appearances in Stallone’s “The Expendables” series. Their public reconciliation has not only served to soften their images but also allowed them to leverage their storied past into continued relevance in the film industry.
While their feud may have cooled, the stories of Schwarzenegger’s cunning and Stallone’s fiery competitiveness continue to fascinate fans and historians alike.
Schwarzenegger’s clever veto message stands out as a testament to his strategic mind, blending the worlds of politics and entertainment in a way that only a Hollywood governor could. Meanwhile, Stallone remains a beloved figure, his career defined by both his roles in cinema and his real-life role in one of Hollywood’s most famous rivalries. Together, they embody an era of blockbuster action films and larger-than-life personalities that continue to inspire and entertain.