Clint Eastwood completely played against his macho screen image in creepy thrillerThe Beguiled- but the risk didn’t pay off. There is a false assumption thattheDollarsmovie trilogymade Eastwood a movie star almost overnight, but it still took him a few years to become a major name in America. 1971 was a major breakthrough for Eastwood thanks to the originalDirty Harrymovie, a groundbreaking (and deeply controversial) detective thriller. That same year saw Clint and hisDirty Harryhelmer Don Siegel team up forThe Beguiled, a dreamy blend of Southern Gothic, romance, and psychosexual melodrama.
Of course, none of these are in Eastwood’s usual wheelhouse, with the film being an ensemble effort where his wounded Union soldier is cared for by the students and teachers at a Confederate boarding school.Eastwood once dubbedThe Beguiledone of his biggest risksduring an interview withCharlie Rose, and it’s easy to see why. His character is far from heroic, and seduces several women in the school for his own benefit - but the ending sees him pay a steep price for his actions.
40 Years Ago, Clint Eastwood Teamed With Another Hollywood Icon For One Of Their Biggest Misfires
In 1984 Clint Eastwood teamed with another screen icon for an action-packed noir, which was supposed to be a major hit but fizzled on arrival.
Clint Eastwood Proved He Was More Than A Western Hero In The Beguiled
Eastwood plays one of his most complex characters in The Beguiled
While the poster forThe Beguiledsaw Eastwood’s Corporal McBurney wielding a gun, the character is nothing like the Man with No Name or Dirty Harry. While not an outright villain, McBurney is a user and a manipulator, intentionally stoking tensions between the women at the school to his advantage. The film is a complex character study, and reaches a point whereClint’s soldier feels emasculated by the women surrounding him; he even receives a symbolic castration when Martha (Geraldine Page) amputates his broken leg.
Eastwood was correct aboutThe Beguiledbeing a big risk at the time when he was known for playing gun-toting cowboys, cops or soldiers. His character in the film is, bluntly speaking, a dirtbag, and somewhat deserving of his bleak fate. The film was the star’s attempt to play the types of characters Dustin Hoffman was best known for, butEastwood felt in hindsight that audiences didn’t want him to play such a “loser.“While he mostly reverted to type afterward, he would occasionally return to “loser” roles in films like 1982’sHonkytonk Man.
The Beguiled Was A Misfire At The Time, But Is A Key Part Of Eastwood’s Legacy
Dirty Harry ate The Beguiled’s lunch in 1971
The Beguiledwas released in May 1971 in America and was an instant flop, barely grossing over $1 million(viaBox Office Mojo). Eastwood would cite the studio’s lackluster and plain confusing advertising, but in truth, the film was a touch too weird to be a true breakout. Thankfully, Siegel and Eastwood still hadDirty Harry, which in December of that year became one of their defining films.The Beguiledis a strange entry in Eastwood’s filmography - but it shouldn’t be discounted.
… while The Beguiled misfired in 1971, it’s still one of Eastwood’s best films from that decade.
Despite perceptions of Eastwood being a performer with limited range, the film saw him stretch his acting muscles. He’s great in the film, being by turns charming, cowardly, and even unnerving.Eastwood himself probably saw the movie’s underperformance as a sign he wasn’t built for certain characters, but it remains one of his most nuanced works. Success shouldn’t always be measured by box office alone, so whileThe Beguiledmisfired in 1971, it’s still one of the star’s best films from that decade.
The Beguiledreceived a remake from director Sofia Coppola in 2017, with Colin Farrell taking over the Clint Eastwood role.
The Beguiled
Cast
The Beguiled, released in 1971, is a Civil War drama featuring a wounded Union soldier taking refuge in a Southern girls' school. As he becomes the center of the women’s desires, he manipulates the dynamics to his advantage, leading to complex and tense interactions with his caretakers.
Clint Eastwood
Discover the latest news and filmography for Clint Eastwood, known for Dirty Harry and Unforgiven.
