Welcome to the Heart of Europe

Some scenes from the 1982 airplane movie "Firefox" were filmed in Vienna, substituting for Moscow. For this purpose, Cyrillic signs were placed all over the Viennese subway. However, some were left out (those signs difficult to get to on the other side of the tracks) and so you could clearly see Clint Eastwood getting off at the U1 subway stop "Suedtirolerplatz - South Tyrolean Square" in front of a sign reading in German language: "Kurzzug - Short Train." Other scenes were filmed at the U4 stop "Stadtpark - City Park."

"Go ahead, make my day -
Na los doch, make my day (mach' mich gluecklich)."
(Clint Eastwood, Sudden Impact - Dirty Harry kehrt zurueck, 1983)

Million Dollar Man ...with a Name
Such is the title of a biography on the man, who originally didn't even have a name...

Stan's Secret Son. Eastwood will be forever remembered as "the Man with no Name," including classic dialogue lines like: "What did you say your name was?" - "I didn't." Although an Italian newspaper joked that his face resemblance revealed him as illegitimate son of Stan Laurel, he was awfully serious back then. Enclosed article is a result of an extensive review of his various creative periods. It is the story of the TV-star from "Rawhide" to the unnamed foreigner filming Italian Western productions in Spain, a guy who managed proving himself upon his return to Hollywood and whose film statement "Make my day" became so legendary that it was even quoted by the American president Ronald Reagan in a speech about tax increase. As a director he step-by-step earned himself respect and recognition, until he was given enough trust and liberty to select the movies he wanted to make, and ended up with multiple Oscar awards for such classics as "Unforgiven," "Mystic River" and "Million Dollar Baby." The gran' finale of his acting career would be fittingly titled "Gran Torino."


Breakthrough!

Tall Handover. Most interesting is a comparison of forever Western hero John Wayne with anti-hero Clint Eastwood, in one way his successor, in another so much more than that. Their success came after the audience had become familiar with their faces through a number of smaller roles, Wayne in over 60 B-movies mostly playing the good Cowboy character, Eastwood rounding up cattle in the TV show "Rawhide." The Blues Brothers made the title song famous with its: "Head 'em up, move 'em out!" Then they were discovered, so to say, the one in 1939 by John Ford in "Stagecoach," a character study in front of Monument valley, the other 1964 by Sergio Leone in the Italian Dollar-movies, cynic blood operas, reviving the Western genre with its unmistakable style of photography mixing wide panoramas with close up shots of grim, sweating faces. Both were rather tall, 6 foot 4 inches, and their stature alone was awesome. Wayne usually appeared in the very center and in control, bully and commanding, Eastwood somehow dangerous, tight-lipped with narrowed eyes, a loner examining his antagonistic environment.

Spaghetti-Star. "The Man from Laramie (1955)" represents a prototype of what later became Clint Eastwood's trademark in the Dollar-Trilogy. The early film highlight probably not only inspired my toy fort's name, but also starred Jimmy Stewart as silent, rigid avenger. As the title track stated, "he had an air of mystery," and just a few minutes into the film he would confess: "I can't rightly say any place is my home." Further he would explain: "Well, I always feel, I belong where I am!" And it is synonymous for the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, repealed by the U.S.Congress only nine years later to take the Lakota-Sioux' sacred land after gold had been discovered in the Black Hills, which since 1925 proudly featured the presidents' heads carved in what is known as Mount Rushmore Memorial. (Among others, climbed at the climax of Hitchcock's 1959 thriller "North by Northwest" and parodied on Deep Purple's 1970 "In Rock" album cover.) "A Fistful of Dollars (1964)," "For A Few Dollars (1965)" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)" made Eastwood a star. Not only in Italy and the rest of the old world, especially the last part of the trilogy was also recognized back in the new world. So it was time to return to Hollywood and prove himself there... "Hang 'Em High," a story about lynching the wrong man and not finishing the job, marked his return to the states. And "Where Eagles Dare," one of his next movies together with Richard Burton, playing in the Austrian Alps during World War II, turned out to be a blockbuster.

Monroe's Breathy Whisper. Eastwood's next milestones would include his portrayal of Frank Morris in "The Escape from Alcatraz," the "Do ya feel lucky, Punk"-mumbling "Dirty Harry," and "The Outlaw Josey Wales," Confederate hold-out in the American Civil War. Often referred to as a womanizer at that time, Eastwood's long term love interest Sondra Locke starred with him among others in "The Gauntlet," famous as one of the action movies with the most ammunition wasted. Eastwood played a prize fighter from San Fernando Valley, north of L.A., next to Locke and an orangutan in "(You Turn Me) Every Which Way But Loose," a surprisingly successful comedy and second highest grossing picture of the year 1978 right after "Superman". The Trailer Court Manager in the same film was played by Hank Worden, the unforgotten Mose character from "The Searchers," wishing for nothing more than a rocking chair by the fire. A word play with movie titles, Sondra would later examine the time with Clint in her autobiography "The Good, the Bad & the Very Ugly", telling of the happy days of coming to know and love "Daddy" on the film set of "The Outlaw Josey Wales" as well as the bitter end in a public court trial after 13 years together. A life full of synchronicity, meaningful coincidence and unexpected connectiveness, bread crumbs in the forest (in reference to the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale) or messages from God? Among others, she would reveal that Clint had developed his way of whispering in his performance during the Dollar films as a male version of Marilyn Monroe's breathy whisper, which he thought was very appealing.


Remarkable Roles

Favourite Directors. Eastwood owed his breakthrough in the late 1960's and in the early 1970's to Sergio Leone (A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) and Don Siegel (Coogan's Bluff, The Beguiled, Two Mules for Sister Sarah, Dirty Harry I, Escape from Alcatraz). In the end, Eastwood did mostly direct himself (Play Misty for Me, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Pale Rider, Unforgiven, The Bridges of Madison County, Space Cowboys, Million Dollar Baby). The 1986 movie "Heartbreak Ridge," misleadingly named after a battlefield in the Korean War, actually showed Eastwood preparing U.S. Marine recruits for the Grenada invasion. It was one of the two films he did while being major of Carmel. Released in the year before Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket" with which it would share certain parallels, only the forgettable Eastwood film landed on the index for its offensive language. "

M1 to Lone Cypress. Carmel-by-the-Sea, located south of San Francisco, is not only known for its beautiful scenery but also for being the hometown of Clint Eastwood, who even served the community as major in the late 1980's. Obviously, this was a while after he had chosen the town as film location for "Play Misty For Me." The suspenseful stalking story, one of the first movies where the woman was the bad guy, marked his directorial debut, notably without pay for his services as director in order to just get the chance to direct besides acting. Driving up there from L.A. turned out longer than expected, while it certainly was an adventure. Especially seeing the "Lone Cypress" on 17 Mile Drive. A tree on its own, growing on top of a solid rock, resisting all the surrounding forces of nature, just as we also should in some situations. A vista point with a view like a postcard. Picturesque and calm, a moment to remember.

Firefox in Vienna. Just as Wayne had had his "Circus World", which even guest starred in the "Prater Gardens Vienna", according to a poster shown in the movie, Eastwood played "Bronco Billy" in an underrated comedy about giving underdogs a second chance in life. A memorable quote encourages us to start anew from scratch, following the risky role model of those settlers back then going West: "Don't you understand what Bronco Billy and the Wild West Show are all about? You can be anything you want, all you have to do is go out and become it!" Shortly after, "Firefox" had Eastwood in 1982 rise from the depths of the Viennese Subway in his hijacked Russian fantasy-MiG up into the sky. Scenes supposedly playing in Moscow were filmed in Vienna, just like the city would be seen in the 1986 Bond-movie "The Living Daylights" both posing for itself and Bratislava. "How much fuel have you got?" - "Enough to get us to Vienna!" is a conversation from an older airplane picture, "Jet Pilot," which is one of these "The Spy Who Loved Me"-type cold war movies. Janet Leigh would be seen on Wayne’s side doing nearly everything for a juicy steak and a shower, which is notably less bloody than a couple years later in "Psycho" (well, the shower, not the steak).

Visiting the beach of Carmel-by-the-Sea and the Lone Cypress on 17 Mile Drive - a scent of Eastwood?

Walking toward Carmel Mission and visiting its chapel.

Dirty Urban Violence

Megacity Reality. Out of nowhere, as Clint Eastwood would appear in "High Plains Drifter" out of the blurry heat, out of the sun, out of the fire like an angel of wrath. In the end going the same place he came from, leaving the question behind, whether this was supposed to be real, or just a dream. Uncomfortable awakening would come soon, when the film industry (re-)discovered urban violence. It is said that people growing up in bigger cities tend to be more aggressive, possibly for the lack of space or exercise, which typically comes along with the blessings of a good infrastructure around, more educational and cultural options at the same time as more possibilities to earn a living. Among the downsides there are anonymity, if not sought on purpose, and crime, if you are one of the good guys. Eastwood's Dirty Harry just like Bronson's Death Wish Series centered on a generation fed up with seeing the so called American Dream fade away in an unintegrated melting pot of urban violence. A broken down society full of crime, now willing to fight back on their own like in the old pioneer days. Seen from that angle they are modern Westerns, which is also the metier both actors came from, exchanging the beautiful wide land against those narrow, dark alleys of a city, be it San Francisco or Seattle, the originally planned location of the first Dirty Harry movie, then chosen for Dirty Duke's McQ, be it a man seeing red in New York City, Los Angeles, or any other million-resident metropolis. That reminds me of a conversation, where one tells the other that in NYC every five minutes a man is run over by a car. The other responds: "Just how can he stand that?" I guess, where there is a lot of light there is plenty of shadow for sure.

Harold becomes Harry. At one point of time Eastwood just became an icon - and a brand. In 1997 he established both a golf wear collection called "Tehama," Native American for "abundance of nature," and "Pale Rider Ale" for the thirst after golfing, available for three years by the Celis Brewing Co., Austin, Texas. In the meantime, Eastwood's popularity remains unbroken. Even in 2007 a Triumph lingerie billboard would read: "Turns everyday Harold into Dirty Harry!" All of this unreasonable hardship on the other hand inspired the comedy TV-series "Sledge Hammer" with the toughest cop since Dirty Harry, even secretly talking to his gun. Around the same time, James Belushi and Arnold Schwarzenegger teamed up as Chicago and Moscow cop in "Red Heat (1988)," the first American movie with permission to film on the Red Square. In a scene Belushi lectures the Russian cop: "C'mon, everyone knows a Magnum .44 is the big boy in the block. Why do you think Dirty Harry uses it?" Schwarzenegger just replies: "Who is Dirty Harry?" However, in "Crocodile Dundee II (1988)," famous for the dynamite-fishing intro in Manhatten Bay, in the subway station two Japanese tourists would mistake Paul Hogan for somebody else: "You know who that was? Clint Eastwood!"


A Director's Golden Boys

Unforgiven Dedication. Clint Eastwood, the original, won the first Oscar at age 62 for directing "Unforgiven," a dark Western revival dedicated "To Sergio and Don" in its opening credits. All in all in 1993 the movie was awarded with no less than four golden boys, including for best picture. For directing "Mystic River" he again got nominated for an Oscar, a story of friendship and trauma, kidnapping and abuse. A dark story with one of those lines that stuck: "Sometimes I feel like all three of us got into the car that day."

Boxing Debacle. Over the years though he proved much more sensitive, as director and main actor in movies like "Bridges of Madison County," the story of a true love that could never be, side-by-side with Meryl Streep (little did I know back then when my wife suggested going to the movie theater). And like "Million Dollar Baby," a touching screen play about friendship and loss, with Hilary Swank fighting her way up (which brought back recollection of last hospital visits to a friend). The latter won another four Oscars, among them his second time as best director at age 74 and the award for the best picture of the year 2004. One of these success stories around the good ol' American Dream to be someone, however it may end. Barbra Streisand had already presented John Wayne with the Best Actor Oscar for "True Grit" in 1970. 23 years later she handed Eastwood the Best Director Oscar for "Unforgiven" and yet another 12 years later the Best Picture Oscar for "Million Dollar Baby."

Next Generation. Like John Wayne, also Clint Eastwood was to call no less than seven children his own, whom he would occasionally cast and involve in his filming activities, such as his son Kyle, later a jazz musician himself, at age 14 co-starring in "Honkytonk Man." As did his 12 year old daughter Alison in "Tightrope," which got its movie title from the quote: "There is a darkness inside all of us, Wes. You, me and the man down the street. Some have it under control, others act it out. The rest of us try to walk a tightrope between the two." "A Perfect World" had (this time not top billed) Clint going after kidnapper Kevin "Dances with Wolves" Costner, though lacking the brilliance of a Tommy Lee Jones in the same year hunting down "The Fugitive" Harrison Ford. "In the Line of Fire" saw him as secret service agent Frank Horrigan protecting the US President, while he would disrespectfully criticize any misuse of political power in "Absolute Power," which as an organized director he again finished days ahead schedule. Briefly appearing in "Absolute Power" as well, Alison had her last "family movie" appearance in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," a 1997 art-film based on actual events around a murder trial in the illustrious southern society of Savannah, Georgia, set in scene somewhere between mysterious and boring. As photo model she would pose with the tagline "Clint's Daughter Makes Our Day!"

Click above for a Listing of Eastwood Films with a name (some star a man with no name). Hang 'Em High, Dirty Harry, Escape from Alcatraz, The Bridges of Madison County, Unforgiven, In the Line of Fire, Gran Torino, to name some. Then big on the silver screen, now home cinema entertainment, so stretch your legs, lean back and... don't get too comfy so that you don't fall asleep!

Gran' Finale

Pacific War Disillusion. In 2006, Eastwood directed both "Flags of our Fathers" and "Letters from Iwo Jima", two complementary World War II films, showing both sides of the medal, at first from the American, then from the Japanese perspective. They told the story behind Waynes' "Sands of Iwo Jima"-movie, and reminded me of a visit to the Marines Memorial at Arlington Cemetery outside of Washington DC, which was created by Vienna born architect Felix DeWeldon. Who by the way also sculpted the Malaysian National Monument 'Tugu Negara' in Kuala Lumpur, as I was to find out on site some time later.

Among Asian Immigrants. "Gran Torino" is a story of knowing life and bittersweet death, bitter for the anger and sweet for the salvation, as the young padre puts it. Eastwood portrays an embittered Korean War veteran, who slowly comes to turns with his Asian neighbourhood of Hmong people in a broken down American suburb. Playing with the image of himself, Eastwood would use bad language full of prejudice and intentional slips of the tongue, like that question at a barbecue: "How would you like your dog, ahem, steak?" The prompt reply: "I told you, we only eat cats!"

Fly Fishing Pensioner. Being probably the last role he would act in, aged 78 in 2008, Eastwood got quite a few laughs in the movie theater for just growling with that scowl on his face. Symbolizing lost values, the Ford Grand Torino model 1972 also stands for the conflict between generations, where the father had worked at the assembly line of the Ford Motor Company in Detroit, while his son later made a living of selling Japanese cars. Before the movie release, there were speculations, whether "Gran Torino" would be the sixth installment in the Dirty Harry franchise. But as Clint clarified in David Letterman's Late Show: "In those days I was a little younger and I was doing the smart ass guy with the comments and everything. And in fact people in the studios still would love to do another Dirty Harry today. But I say, what would he be doing? Would he be out there fly fishing or something or retire... get out on his walker and try to chase somebody down the street. It actually might be quite exciting!"

South African Poem. His next movie, "Invictus (2009)", I first saw on a tiny scrren in an airplane returning from two busy weeks in the US, when it occurred to me like a relief and more... The film draws its title from a poem that helped inspire a man with a vision to unify a nation, one who spent nearly 30 years in a tiny prison cell, coming out ready to forgive. It is the story of the South African president Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) supporting the South African team at the 1995 Rugby tournament, where it definitely did better than its soccer team hosting the 2010 world cup. For it simply exceeded all expectations, something we ought to do as well, when it comes to it. Naturally, as by the Victorian poem by William Ernest Henley, we are the master of our fate and the captain of our soul...

That's not it! There may be more to come, as Eastwood's story is far from being over...
In the meantime, you may want to continue on the next page about: Bronson.

Marines Memorial at Arlington Cemetery, Washington D.C., and Malaysian National Monument in Kuala Lumpur. Both sculpted by the same American architect Felix DeWeldon, an Austrian emigrant. There were 17 years between those two pictures.