Clint Eastwoodmay have been made by the western, but he has certainly not been defined solely by it. His work over the years has crossed multiple genres, from horror films likePlay Misty For Meto romances likeTheBridges Of Madison County. Despite his ability to play in a variety of different genres,Eastwood has proved time and time again that he is made for action movies. WhileEastwood’s Western moviesmay prove some of his best, they are certainly not all he has to offer.
Having worked with greats of the action genre such as Don Siegel and Wolfgang Peterson, Eastwood has had a style of action film practically built around him. It is not justhis Western shootoutsthat are remarkable. Never one to rely on heavy stunts and choreography, the language of his action films is unique.His stern demeanor and large frame prove perfect as an immovable force, providing for action sequences built around him. He looks like a man you wouldn’t want to get into a fight with, and these movies prove that judgment correct.
10The Enforcer (1976)
Directed By James Fargo
The Enforcerpossibly features some of the best action sequences of Eastwood’s career, paired with enough bombast to help it stand out from the pack. Whether it be the liquor store hold-up or the explosive Alcatraz finale,the movie offers enough action to satisfy anyDirty Harryfan. The film follows Inspector Callahan as he is paired up with a rookie cop to prevent the actions of a criminal organization disguised as terrorists.
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An added element of suspense comes from the introduction of rookie partner Kate Moore, who is played excellently by Tyne Daly. A great deal of the action feels more layered, as Eastwood works to dispatch criminals while protecting his partner. Numerous sequences play out in exciting locations, with the finale that takes place on Alcatraz proving one of the best the series would ever see.
The Gauntlet
Cast
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.
Probably the best of the action movies Eastwood directed,The Gauntlettakes an unusual approach to action compared to his prior efforts. Taking the form of an incredibly high-stakes road trip, the movie details a Phoenix cop’s attempt to bring a mob witness to testify in a trial. Pairing Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke for the second time afterThe Outlaw Josey Wales, their pairing helps elevate the film into a more entertaining ride. It is especially notable for the ways in whichEastwood plays out of type.
The movie is also notable for the sheer number of explosive squibs usedthroughout the various action sequences. One of the more memorable moments involves the shooting of Locke’s character’s house, where approximately 7,000 holes were drilled into the house in order to fit explosive squibs. This leads to arguably one of the most destructive sequences put on film, as the house falls apart from the insane damage caused.
Coogan’s Bluff
Coogan’s Bluff is a crime thriller directed by Don Siegel and starring Clint Eastwood. Eastwood plays Arizona deputy sheriff Walt Coogan who is sent to New York City to extradite a prisoner. The film showcases the cultural clash between Coogan’s Wild West methods and the urban environment of the city, as he navigates his mission in a challenging and unfamiliar setting.
The first of Don Siegel’s collaborations with Clint Eastwood,Coogan’s Bluffproves that the director understood the actor like few directors do. While it may struggle to reach the highs of their other work together,the movie manages to combine 70s action with Eastwood’s western personain a fulfilling manner. The movie follows Eastwood’s Arizona deputy as he attempts to retrieve an escaped killer on the loose in New York.
Don Siegel and Clint Eastwood would work together on a total of five movies together.Coogan’s Bluff,Dirty Harry, The Beguiled, Two Mules For Sister SaraandEscape From Alcatraz.
Numerous hard hits and aggressive chases help maintain the momentum for the entire 93-minute runtime. Highlights include the exceptional pool hall fight scene, which sees Eastwood brutally battle an assortment of thugs with anything he can reach. Pool balls and pool cues crack against people’s heads with such force and energy that you can hardly doubt Siegel’s action credentials. The true achievement of the movie, however, is certainly the thrilling motorcycle chase that takes place in the finale.
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 secondDirty Harryfilm and certainly the best sequel in the series,Magnum Forcesees Eastwood dealing with motorcycle cops who have begun executing criminals at their own whim.The movie is littered with some of the best action sequences Eastwood has been involved in, especially the notable plane hijacking attempt and the always tense grocery store hold-up. The finale is also notable for the great use of motorbikes aboard an abandoned naval carrier.
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Ted Post certainly isn’t the best director to have worked on the franchise, but he applies a clear understanding of the character and the level of threat he poses to the criminals. The movie’s approach to the mystery helps impose a great deal of tension onto what would traditionally be a standard action feature. The shadowy and more secretive approach to the villains, provides a deeper threat to a man who gains so much power from his presence.
Escape from Alcatraz
Escape From Alcatraz is a gripping thriller that chronicles the ingenious escape of three prisoners from the formidable Alcatraz Island prison. Set against the backdrop of the infamous penitentiary, the film portrays the meticulous planning and execution of their daring breakout. Led by inmate Frank Morris, the plot delves into the challenges faced in orchestrating one of the most famous prison escapes in history, highlighting themes of determination and resilience.
Escape from Alcatrazestablishes itself as a Clint Eastwood movie all to itself, the intense and quiet opening readying an atmosphere unlike his other movies. It sees con Frank Morris incarcerated in the famous Alcatraz prison and his attempt to make his way out from under the warden’s thumb. Using the real prison as its location, the island creates a foreboding and completely isolating atmosphere. Bruce Surtees' cinematography helps elevate these choices further, casting the already ominous prison with even more paranoia.
A strong ensemble always marks a strong Eastwood movie, his demeanor benefiting from the characters not possessing his trademark Stoicism. Fred Ward, Jack Thibeau, Paul Benjamin, and Roberts Blossom all standout as his fellow inmates, providing a well needed heart for the movie. It’s these dynamics, matched with the stripped back dialogue that Sigel employs, that make the movie more dedicated to the smaller motions toward escape.Escape From Alcatrazis certainlyone of the best prison escape filmsto be put on screen.
Probably the most idiosyncratic of Eastwood’s catalog,Thunderbolt and Lightfootmarks Michael Cimino’s directorial debut. It featuresa cavalcade of strange characters, excellent cinematography and a wildly planned heist involving a massive cannon. It is probably best remembered today for being the only movie to pair him with Jeff Bridges. They make for an exciting duo, Bridges' softer sides bringing more warmth from the usually stern Eastwood.
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It has a simple plot, revolving around Eastwood’s retired bank robber putting together his old crew for a new job. It has a unique and exciting tone, with an especially good opening that sees Eastwood dressed as a preacher and escaping an assassin. There is all sorts of fun to be had, the breakneck car chases showing Cimino’s immediate understanding of action. It’s an exciting entry into the action genre and proves that there is fun to be had in the genre.
Where Eagles Dare
Where Eagles Dare is a gripping action thriller set during World War II, following a group of Allied commandos on a daring mission to rescue an American general held captive in a mountaintop fortress. Battling treacherous weather and enemy forces, the team must navigate deception and betrayal in a high-stakes operation. The film blends intense combat sequences with strategic espionage, delivering a suspenseful and engaging wartime adventure.
The first of two collaborations between Eastwood and Hutton, this movie sees a squad ofallied soldiers attempting to break into a Nazi castlein order to free a US general. The movie is filled with twists and turns, with fun action sequences peppered throughout. It is ostensibly a spy story, which helps create an ever present tension as the allies are forced to wear Nazi uniforms and operate within the walls of the German castle without arousing suspicion.
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The only entrance into the fortified castle is a cable car, which provides for some of the greatest sequences of the movie. Seeing characters attempt to gain footholds on the roof of snow-covered cable cars is exhilarating. The action sequences are certainly the highlights, with all the explosive-filled shootouts making it a blast to watch. Seeing Clint Eastwood mow down Nazis is as exciting as you would expect and provesWhere Eagles Dare’sworth.
In the Line of Fire
In the Line of Fire is a thriller film where a veteran Secret Service agent, Frank Horrigan, played by Clint Eastwood, is haunted by his failure to protect President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Decades later, he is assigned to investigate a mysterious threat on the life of the current US President, while a psychopathic assassin, Mitch Leary, played by John Malkovich, begins to stalk and taunt him.
The best of Wolfgang Peterson’s ’90s movies,In The Line of Firesees an aging Secret Service agent assigned to protect the president after discovering a mysterious assassin’s plot.The movie pits Eastwood against the reliably intimidating John Malkovichand sees the two fall into a life or death struggle. As Malkovich begins to play tricks on the aging secret serviceman, the film’s true power and ability to heighten anxiety.
There are some truly special moments throughout the movie, such as Malkovich’s plastic gun and the remarkably tense sequence that takes place within a glass elevator. It’s a stress-inducing thrill to see Eastwood attempt to outsmart the younger killer, never able to forget his failure protecting John F. Kennedy. The slower pace is broken up with bursts of chaos, allowing the tension to build to excruciating levels before letting it all play out.
Dirty Harry
Clint Eastwood stars in the western Dirty Harry as a no-nonsense San Francisco cop who takes the law into his own hands in pursuit of a serial killer, Scorpio. Directed by Don Siegel and featuring a memorable score by Lalo Schifrin, the film is known for its iconic catchphrases and intense action scenes, and has influenced countless films and TV shows in the years since its release.
Despite Clint Eastwood’s heavy ties to the western genre,it isDirty Harrythat made him such an icon for so many years. The movie, even with all its dated politics, is undeniably exciting in its direction and execution. Don Siegel puts on the screen some of the best direction he ever achieved, the film possesses a uniquely brutal tone that matches Eastwood’s performance perfectly. It sees the iconic cop attempt to take down the “Scorpio” killer, by any means necessary.
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The film utilizes the sensationalism of the real Zodiac killer case to cast a dark atmosphere over the entire story, which is only exemplified by the performance of Andrew Robinson. The manic and frighteningly alert performance he puts in gives a great counterpoint to Harry Callahan, who walks like a statue as he bears down on San Francisco with his own form of justice. From the bank robbery take down to the final confrontation, the movie has some of the most iconic scenes in action ever.
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.
Clint Eastwood has never been in as stellar an ensemble cast as he was inKelly’s Heroes. Starring alongside him are the delightfully fun Donald Sutherland, the hilarious Don Rickles, and the scene stealing Telly Savalas. The movie follows the ragtag crew as they go AWOL behind enemy lines in an attempt to rob a Nazi bank filled with gold. Despite the WW2 setting, the movie is an absolute delight with its entertaining performances and compelling heist.
Sutherland and Eastwood would later appear together in 2000sSpace Cowboys.
There is a great deal of fun to be had in the various tank-based action sequences, seeing Sutherland put in a terrific comedic turn while directing tanks is always a blast to watch. Eastwood himself is great and matched up with the team, they are unstoppable. Delivering riveting action sequence after hilarious joke for the entire runtime. Brian G. Hutton manages to utilize a completely different tone to his previousWhere Eagles Darewith even greater success. This is a war movie always worth watching, and one yet to be topped by Eastwood.
