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Clint Eastwood's favourite Cint Eastwood western of all time
With the amount of Clint Eastwood westerns out there, you'd think there were too many to choose from. Not for Eastwood - but his favourite may surprise you.
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(Credits: Far Out / Alamy)
Film Âť Cutting Room Floor
Sat 1 February 2025 17:47, UK
To be even a footnote in the world of Hollywood is to have achieved more in the realm of acting than most studious classmates of your local branch of acting school can ever hope for. To achieve the incredibly impressive career that Clint Eastwood has is to re-write the book on what it means to be a man of Tinseltown. But, Eastwood hasnât done it by simply sticking to what he knows â no, Clint Eastwood has donned many hats throughout his illustrious career.
A legendary figure and perhaps the greatest living symbol of an old Americana type of man, Eastwood is often associated with rugged cowboys and stoic detectives. To this day, his most commercially successful venture isnât one of the Dirty Harry films, nor his collaborations with Sergio Leone; itâs the 1978 effort Every Which Way But Loose, where Eastwood formed an unconventional partnership with an orangutan.Â
However, in 1980, Eastwood made a film that saw him not only pushing boundaries but also reflecting deeply on his own image and legacy. The problem is, no one really remembers it. In the 1970s, Eastwood, already an established star, was mainly known for his roles in intense, action-packed thrillers. Venturing into directing while still acting, his choice of projects was diverse and always seemed to surprise his fans. And amidst this diverse lineup, Bronco Billy emerged, a poignant comedy-drama that had Eastwood not only behind the camera but also playing the titular role.
The story revolves around Billy, once a shoe salesman, now living his dream as a contemporary cowboy, leading an eccentric circus troupe of reformed criminals and alcoholics. The humour, heart, and occasional hijinks derive much from Billyâs interactions with his motley crew, such as the ever-entertaining emcee âDocâ, portrayed by Scatman Crothers. If you donât know that name, youâll know him as Richard Hallorann â the âotherâ one with The Shining in Kubrickâs horror masterpiece.
But what makes Bronco Billy stand out is how personal it is to Eastwood. Speaking in the book Aim for the Heart, the 2009 book by Howard Hughes, the actor and director very candidly explained: âIf, as a film director, I ever wanted to say something, youâll find it in Bronco Billâ. Later, during a conversation with American interviewer Barbara Walters, he described it as one of the âdefinitiveâ Eastwood films.
The profound underlying message of Bronco Billy resonated with Eastwoodâs own journey, drawing parallels between Billyâs fantasy of being a cowboy in a world that had long moved on and Eastwoodâs experiences in the evolving landscape of cinema. Beyond its strong comedic strain, Bronco Billy subtly touched upon the juxtaposition of dreams with reality and the collective aspirations of a rag-tag yet endearing ensemble trying to find their place in the world. To top it off, the soundtrack even featured a duet with Ray Charles.
In a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone, the actor opened up about his love of jazz and why he never truly fell into the rock scene: âIâve loved a lot of rhythm & blues and some rock & roll. When you go back and listen to the music of the â60s, some of it is quite good. But I must say I never got drawn into the rock & roll generation. I just kind of missed it, growing up in the â40s. For me, it was big band and bebop. In the â60s I sort of skipped by rock. It didnât musically inspire me a lot. But I love rhythm & blues, which is sort of the inspiration for rock & roll. To me, rock & roll seemed like sort of a white version of rhythm & blues.â It suggests that the picture was a big win for Eastwood in a number of ways.
Itâs a tribute to the bygone era of western heroes and a reflection on Eastwoodâs legendary status in that genre. Despite earning decently at the box office, the film didnât gain the popularity Eastwood had hoped for. Although it garnered some positive reviews, Eastwood felt it deserved more. Over time, its heartfelt sentimentality and unique tone have led to it being overshadowed by his other works.
Today, Bronco Billy stands as a testament to Eastwoodâs introspective exploration of his own cinematic identity. A personal favourite of the actor-director, it invites fans and cinephiles alike to delve deeper into the psyche of one of Hollywoodâs most iconic figures â which makes it all the sadder that Eastwood was disappointed with its reception. âIt was an old-fashioned theme,â he said, âProbably too old-fashioned since the film didnât do as well as we hoped.â
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Clint EastwoodWestern
