Coming out of his Spaghetti Western era, Clint Eastwood may not have been able to achieve true greatness without the support of Dirty Harry in the 1970s.
Don Rickles roasts Clint Eastwood on the set of Kelly's Heroes, 1969
Clint Eastwood may not possess the youthful charm he once did in the 1950s or be the leading star of Spaghetti Westerns, but the Eastwood name can never be replaced as long as Hollywood stands. The movie star and cowboy actor of the century seamlessly transitioned from the old talkies to the 2000s Oscar winner Million Dollar Baby without breaking a sweat.
At the same time, industry emerging from its Western fixation failed to outgrow and catch up with the rapidly changing world outside. Their inability to adapt to changing times and customs was a huge red flag for the industry, marking the end of an era. Gone are the days of simplicity when all the audience was curious about was whether Frank Sinatra really had mob connections. The 1970s were all about neo-noir classics and action thrillers.
While Hollywood flows through the ages, marking and highlighting each phase of cinematic development, the relationship between two rival actors coming up simultaneously to the same audience can never be underestimated. Frank Sinatra's presence and ever-increasing popularity throughout the 50s and 60s earned him a bit of the stink eye from Clint Eastwood himself.
