Clint Eastwood: 60 Years in Film

1955: Revenge of the Creature

Clint Eastwood’s long and distinguished film career began in 1955, when he was 25, in the B Movie REVENGE OF THE CREATURE. Eastwood had decided to try acting after serving as a boot camp swimming instructor in the US Army in northern California. Eastwood landed a contract with Universal Studios, earning $75 a week, and his first role was a brief scene in which he played a lab technician called Jennings. It was the only 3D film of 1955 and a sequel to Creature from the Black Lagoon. Eastwood’s character tells Professor Ferguson that a cat has eaten a lab rat, only to later find the rat in his lab coat pocket. Eastwood’s first movie role almost didn’t happen. In Kevin Avery’s book Conversations With Clint: Paul Nelson’s Lost Interviews with Clint Eastwood 1979-1983, the actor recalled that he was hired to do the scene by producer William Alland. But when Alland took Eastwood to meet director Jack Arnold, Arnold said, “What the hell is this? I told you I don’t want to do that goddamn scene! Who’s this guy?” Eventually, Alland convinced the director and the scene was shot and included in the film. Eastwood said: “It was a hell of a way to start your acting career: walk on a set and you know that the director hates the scene. Therefore you know he hates you.” The film had its premiere in Denver on March 23, 1955.

1958: Ambush at Cimarron Pass Ambush At Cimarron Pass Check Amazon for Pricing.

For the next three years, Eastwood struggled to land a solid film role. Studio executives complained that his Adam’s apple was too big and he was also criticised for his stiff manner, his squint, and for hissing his lines through his teeth. From 1955-1958, he only managed minor or uncredited roles in Francis in the Navy (1955), Lady Godiva of Coventry (1955) Tarantula (1955), Never Say Goodbye (1956), Star in the Dust (1956), Away All Boas (1956), The First Traveling Saleslady (1956), Escapade in Japan (1956) and Lafayette Escadrille (1958). His break came when he was offered a supporting role as a cowboy called Keith Williams in the 1958 western AMBUSH AT CIMARRON PASS. The film, which starred Scott Brady, was on a double bill with Disney’s Old Yeller. Eastwood later described the film as “lousy”. When he became a star, it was re-released with Eastwood’s name given top billing.

1964: A Fistful of Dollars

By 1959, Eastwood’s career had substantially improved when he landed the role of Rowdy Yates in the television series Rawhide. The success of that show led to him being offered the role of Joe (“the man with no name”) in the first part of Sergio Leone’s spaghetti western trilogy. American director Quentin Tarantino has described A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS as “the greatest achievement in the history of cinema”. Eastwood said of his decision to make a Fistful of Dollars: “In Rawhide I did get awfully tired of playing the conventional white hat. The hero who kisses old ladies and dogs and was kind to everybody. I decided it was time to be an anti-hero.”

1965: For a Few Dollars More

In FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE, the Italian spaghetti western follow-up again directed again by Sergio Leone, Clint Eastwood played Monco (“the man with no name”), uttering lines such as “alive or dead? It’s your choice”. Leone said: “What struck me most about Clint was his indolent way of moving. It seemed to me he most resembled a cat”.

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