Arnold’s visit

Arnold's visit

Arnold’s visit

October 17, 1991, Hoover Dam, Mohave Desert, U.S.A.  Enter Arnold Schwarzenegger on location for the movie Universal Soldier. He had arrived by private jet (borrowed from Tom Cruise as his own was being serviced) to say hello to his buddy, Jean-Claude Van Damme. “The Muscles from Brussels” showed him around the set then welcomed him in his mobile home, where the two of them had a lunch of chicken breast with pasta, and afterwards chatted about mutual acquaintances while smoking cigars.  Suddenly, I noticed that nothing was lost on Arnold: resources available, people present on the set, and film propositions left out on the table. In fact, this friendly visit looked more like a case of industrial espionage, because in 1991, even if Arnold was the undisputed king of action cinema, Jean-Claude Van Damme was the new rising star to watch. And that’s exactly what Terminator did that day.