Clint Eastwoodwas one of the biggest movie stars of the 1970s and had several career-defining roles throughout this decade. Coming off his breakout success as The Man with No Name inSergio Leone’sDollars Trilogyduring the 1960s, Eastwood would not slow down in the following decade as he branched out into action movies, comedies, dramas, and thrillers. With an unmatched onscreen charisma and a tough-guy reputation, Eastwood’s 1970s filmography may just be the perfect encapsulation of his entire career.
In the 1970s,Eastwood continued to play tough Western gunslingersand even led a brand new franchise as Inspector Harry Callahan intheDirty Harryseries. While this decade saw some extraordinary highs, it also featured several low points as some comedies and action releases failed to make the same impact as his greatest works. A true icon of the 1970s and beyond,Eastwood even carved out a second career as a director during this timeand was among the most impactful performers of the decade.
Every Which Way But Loose
Cast
Every Which Way But Loose is a 1978 action-comedy starring Clint Eastwood as Philo Beddoe, a trucker and bare-knuckle fighter who embarks on a cross-country journey. Accompanied by his pet orangutan Clyde, Philo faces a series of humorous and challenging encounters while searching for love. Sondra Locke and Geoffrey Lewis co-star in this film, directed by James Fargo, which blends action, comedy, and adventure.
While the idea of an offbeat comedy starringClint Eastwood and his pet orangutan named Clydemay sound like the contents of a strange fever dream, this was actually a real movie released in 1978. As an interesting juxtaposition to Eastwood’s stern and serious tough persona in roles like The Man with No Name and Dirty Harry, there was something oddly engaging about the wacky antics seen in this strange story of love and revenge. WhileEvery Which Way but Loosewas the bottom rung of Eastwood’s 1970s work, the 1980 sequelAny Which Way You Canwas far worse.
The Gauntlet
The Gauntlet is a 1977 American action thriller directed by and starring Clint Eastwood as Ben Shockley, a down-and-out cop tasked with transporting a witness, played by Sondra Locke, who is pivotal in a major trial. As they make their way to the courthouse, they face numerous obstacles and intense threats. The film is known for its high-octane action sequences and the dynamic between the lead characters.
Clint Eastwood directed himself in the action thrillerThe Gauntlet, a story about a down-and-out cop in love with a prostitute. With Eastwood’s character escorting his love interest from Las Vegas to Phoenix to testify against the mob, in a development that surprised absolutely nobody, plenty of characters do everything in their power to make sure they don’t make it there alive.The Gauntletwas silly and over-the-topbut maintained a certain charm as a love-it-or-hate-it type of movie.
The Eiger Sanction
The Eiger Sanction is a 1975 action thriller directed by and starring Clint Eastwood as Jonathan Hemlock, an art professor and mountain climber who is coerced into returning to his former life as a government assassin. When tasked with a perilous mission involving the deadly Eiger Mountain in the Swiss Alps, Hemlock must use his climbing skills and instincts to survive and complete his assignment.
The Eiger Sanctionsaw Clint Eastwood play an art history professor, mountain climber, and former assassin blackmailed by his secret government agency employers into coming back for one last job. With a disappointing screenplay and lackluster performances,the most impressive thing aboutThe Eiger Sanctionwas the picturesque visualsof its climbing scenes in the Swiss mountains. This Eastwood action movie did not have the urgency of the star and director’s best work in the genre but still contained enough enjoyable sequences to make it worth seeking out for those who love Eastwood’s unique action-hero persona.
Joe Kidd
This Western film stars a tough former bounty hunter who is hired by a wealthy landowner to track down Mexican revolutionaries. Set in the rough terrains of New Mexico, the story unfolds as the protagonist confronts his own morals and the injustices faced by the local people, leading to an intense conflict.
Clint Eastwood had some incredible Western movies from the 1970s, and one of the least spoken-about releases wasJoe Kidd. This saw Eastwood portray an ex-bounty hunter hired to track down a Mexican revolutionary fighting for land reforms. As an incredible example of the revisionist Western film,Joe Kiddtook many of the tenets of classic Western movies that had been taken for granted and delved deeper into the morality behind them. WhileEastwood had better Westerns before and after this one,Joe Kiddwas still an interesting addition to his Wild West filmography.
Kelly’s Heroes
Kelly’s Heroes is a war comedy film set during World War II, directed by Brian G. Hutton. Starring Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, and Donald Sutherland, the film follows a group of American soldiers who, upon discovering information about a hidden cache of Nazi gold, embark on a rogue mission to retrieve it. Balancing humor with action, Kelly’s Heroes offers a unique take on the war genre.
The World War II heist filmKelly’s Heroesstarred Clint Eastwood as the leader of a crew of American GIs trying to rob a French bankof their Nazi gold. As a genre-bending war film that acted as a pointed satire on modern military efforts,Kelly’s Heroeshad a clever subtext imbued in its hybrid narrative that went between a heist caper and a battlefield action war movie. While some of the humor may not stand up to today’s standards,Kelly’s Heroeswas a witty, lighthearted adventure that highlighted Eastwood’s often underappreciated comedic talents.
The Enforcer
The Enforcer is the third installment in the Dirty Harry series, featuring Clint Eastwood as Inspector Harry Callahan. Released in 1976, the film follows Callahan as he partners with a new female inspector, Kate Moore, played by Tyne Daly, in an effort to thwart a terrorist group threatening San Francisco. Directed by James Fargo, the film continues to explore themes of justice and law enforcement within the context of 1970s urban crime.
By the third entry in theDirty Harryseries,The Enforcer, this franchise had started to embrace its more comedic side with witty dialogue and a high level of violence.Inspector Harry Callahan was still an engaging anti-heroas he teamed up with a rookie female inspector to take down a gang of terrorists made up of Vietnam veterans, yet this remained the series' weakest entry in the 1970s. As a slight departure from the usualDirty Harrystylings, despite strong moments, this was where the series slipped from being truly great to just simply good.
Two Mules for Sister Sara
Two Mules for Sister Sara, directed by Don Siegel, follows a drifter named Hogan who rescues a strong-willed nun, Sister Sara, in the Mexican desert. Starring Clint Eastwood and Shirley MacLaine, the film is set during the French intervention in Mexico, as the duo collaborates to assist Mexican revolutionaries. With action and western themes, the film explores the complexities of their unlikely partnership amidst conflict.
Clint Eastwood played the fast-shooting gunslinger Hogan in TwoMules for Sister Sarah, aWestern adventure set during the French intervention in Mexico. As a Civil War soldier saving a nun from a gang of bandits, the unlikely partnership at the center of this film made an interesting mismatched Western buddy story betweenEastwood and Shirley MacLaine. This was the second of five movies Eastwood made with director Don Siegel, andTwo Mules for Sister Saraacted as a firm showcase of the pair’s artistic compatibility.
Play Misty for Me
Play Misty for Me is a psychological thriller directed by Clint Eastwood, who also stars as Dave Garver, a California disc jockey. Released in 1971, the film centers on Garver’s entanglement with a fan named Evelyn Draper, played by Jessica Walter. Following a brief liaison, Draper’s obsession with Garver turns increasingly dangerous, triggering a tense narrative about the perils of fixation and the consequences of unwarranted adoration.
Although Clint Eastwood’s career has been categorized by action and Western movies, it was interesting to note that his directorial debut was the psychological thrillerPlay Misty for Me.Eastwood played a radio DJ being stalked by an obsessive fanin a suspense-ridden story that brought to mind the best of this genre, such as Alfred Hitchcock’sPsycho. With an unstable female villain at the heart of its story,Play Misty for Mewas an anomaly in Eastwood’s career and an often underappreciated hidden gem among both his acting and directing works.
Magnum Force
Magnum Force, a crime thriller, follows Inspector Harry Callahan as he investigates a series of murders in which criminals are being executed by rogue police officers. Directed by Ted Post and featuring Clint Eastwood, the film delves into themes of vigilante justice and ethical boundaries within law enforcement.
The second outing of Clint Eastwood’s maverick cop Dirty Harry Callahan wasMagnum Force, the sequel that proved this series' franchise potential. With Dirty Harry on the trail of a conspiracy involving vigilante cops killing the undesirables of San Francisco,Magnum Forceexpertly pulled back the curtain on the moment when taking the law into one’s own hands went too far even for Callahan. With questionable morality at the center of this film’s story,Magnum Forceshowcased a new side to Harry’s violent nature.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is a crime drama directed by Michael Cimino, featuring Clint Eastwood as a seasoned bank robber named Thunderbolt and Jeff Bridges as the energetic and charismatic drifter Lightfoot. Set in the American West, the film follows their partnership as they plan an ambitious heist while evading their vengeful former associates. The movie marks Cimino’s directorial debut and is celebrated for its strong performances and blend of action and humor.
Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges come together in Michael Cimino’s directorial debut,Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, a crime comedy about a disguised preacher unintentionally rescued from assassination by a car thief. As a funny crime comedy with the hard edge of a drama,Thunderbolt and Lightfootbalanced its contradictory nature as a story of heists, shootouts, and robberies. While Eastwood and Bridges made a compelling pair, it must be admitted that Bridges stole the show and was even nominated for an Academy Award for his incredible performance.
