The three films that Clint Eastwood considered the biggest risks of his career (only one was a success)

There are three films that Clint Eastwood considers the biggest risks of his career, but only one paid off at the box office. Despite the stardom that Eastwood achieved as the “Man with No Name” in Sergio Leone’s film, Dollars trilogy, it still took a few years for it to appear in America. The film that really cemented it was Dirty Harrya controversial 1971 thriller that was nevertheless a gigantic success and led to one of Clint Eastwood’s few film franchises.

Eastwood’s on-screen persona quickly became that of the stoic man of action who said little – but always had a dry joke ready when needed. From the 1970s through the 1990s, most of his biggest hits came from the thriller or action genres, from The Gauntlet straight down until In the Line of Fire. That’s not to say he didn’t take risks as an artist, and between his diet of thrillers or Clint Eastwood westerns, he rolled the dice on several projects.

Eastwood considers The Beguiled, Honkytonk Man and Broncho Billy to be his biggest risks

Clint also felt that Unforgiven would not be commercial

During a conversation in 1996 with Charlie RoseEastwood was asked which of his films he considered to be the biggest swingers. In brief succession, Clint quoted The deceived, Honkytonk Man and Bronco Billy as their biggest bets, in large part because they “were far from the character.” In fact, none of the three Eastwoods cited as risks are action films or crime thrillers, with The deceived being a creepy gothic thriller, while both Bronco Billy and Honkytonk Man are moving character studies.

Bronco Billy is the sweetest of the bunch, with Eastwood’s title character leading a traveling Wild West show full of misfits and dreamers. The film itself is a metaphor for an actor’s life, and it can’t be a mistake that the story feels like a commentary on the dwindling popularity of Westerns. Honkytonk Man is a musical drama set during the Great Depression where Eastwood’s dying singer takes his nephew on a road trip as he tries to ace an important audition.

The film presents arguably the biggest loser role Eastwood has ever played and may be as far removed from his on-screen tough guy image as possible. It’s also one of the star’s darkest dramas and features a rare case of death for one of its characters. Yet, Honkytonk Man also has affection for it, especially since Eastwood’s nephew is played by his son, Kyle. The deceived is among Clint’s most bizarre experimental effortsbeing a mix of horror, erotic drama and southern gothic.

It also shows Clint’s character being constantly emasculated by the women around him – another subversion of his virile on-screen image at the time. In the same conversion as Charlie Rose, Eastwood admits he didn’t think Unforgivable it would be a success too. The film pokes holes in the myth of the Old West, highlighting the ugly and lonely nature of taking another person’s life – even if they “deserves.” On paper, Unforgivable The demystification of the Western did not mean box office gold, but it was a critical and commercial success upon release.

Only one of those Eastwood risks was a success

Audiences didn’t exactly line up for Honkytonk Man in 1982

It’s interesting to follow Eastwood’s professional choices, where he seemed to balance commercial films with more personal choices. He must have known something like Honkytonk Man wouldn’t earn much, but that same year, Clint also directed an effects-heavy blockbuster fire fox. That “One for them, one for me“His work ethic served him well, but of the three projects, Eastwood considered their greatest risks, just Bronco Billy It was a success, grossing more than $24 million at the domestic box office. (through Mojo Box Office).

The deceived raised just US$1.1 million, while Honkytonk Man almost doubted its $2 million production budget. It should be noted that the trio received warm reviews, but was Bronco Billy’s feeling of whimsy and nostalgia that made it a comfortable hit in 1980. This shows how big of a star Eastwood was for getting the green light for projects that were almost destined to not do well.although its reputation for delivering films on time and with modest budgets probably helped alleviate these risks.

Bronco Billy is Clint Eastwood’s favorite movie

Eastwood loves the heartfelt message behind Bronco Billy

Bronco Billy it seems largely forgotten now and rarely appears in retrospective discussions of Eastwood’s back catalogue. That’s a shame because it works both as a quirky drama about a dreamer and as a reflection of its own star’s on-screen image. He has often cited it as one of his favorites, and Clint labeled Bronco Billy’s underlying theme as one of the “… a dreamer who made dreams come true“ (through TelevisionVanguarda). In the film, Billy tries to stay true to the cowboy spirit – but finds that’s easier said than done in a cynical, modern world.

He and his gang want to live in a fantasy world, even as changing tastes and falling popularity threaten that lifestyle. Bronco Billy subverts the Western formula at every turn too; Billy is utterly humiliated when a tough sheriff forces him to beg for his friend’s release from prison, and the crew’s attempt to rob a train goes comically wrong. It’s one of Eastwood’s sweetest efforts, and it’s easy to see why he likes it so much.

Clint Eastwood took a lot of risks as an actor and director

Eastwood has rolled the dice constantly throughout his career

He can take it The deceived, Bronco Billy and Honkytonk Man as prime examples, but looking at Eastwood’s filmography, it’s full of stakes. Blackheart White Hunter is a 1990 drama where Eastwood’s maverick director (modeled after the late, great John Huston) is obsessed with hunting an elephant while filming in Africa. It’s an intimate character study within an expensive period drama, and although it only grossed $2 million on a $24 million budget, Blackheart White Hunter is another of his most underrated works.

Madison County Bridges is an unabashed romantic tearjerker from 1995 – and hardly aimed at Clint’s fanbase. Regardless, the bet earned rave reviews and gross revenue of US$182 million. In every way but loose is Clint’s biggest film – when adjusted for inflation – but he remembers everyone trying to talk him out of making it. A comedy that paired him with a funny orangutan again didn’t seem like an obvious success story, but it overcame negative reviews to become one of 1978’s biggest earners.

Eastwood has taken many other risks, from the dark psychosexual thriller Tightrope to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil for a supernatural drama Hereinafter. At the height of his stardom, Clint Eastwood was completely willing to play with his on-screen image and stardom, which resulted in some of his most unique productions.

Source: Charlie Rose, Mojo Box Office, TelevisionVanguarda/YouTube, Rotten tomatoes, The Numbers

• Honkytonk Man follows a boy during the Great Depression as he leaves his Oklahoma farm to accompany his country musician uncle, who auditions for the Grand Ole Opry. Released in 1982, the film explores their journey and the challenges they face along the way.

• Bronco Billy is a 1980 Western comedy film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. The film follows Billy, a man who aspires to be a modern cowboy and leads a traveling Wild West show. Despite facing numerous difficulties and the eccentricities of his troupe, Billy strives to keep the spirit of the Old West alive. Sondra Locke co-stars as a troubled socialite who joins the show under unexpected circumstances.

• This film is set during the Civil War, focusing on a wounded Union soldier who takes refuge in an isolated girls’ boarding school in the South. His presence unleashes a whirlwind of jealousy and betrayal as he manipulates tensions between the sheltered women, leading to unexpected and dramatic consequences.