Clint Eastwood Turns 95! Flashback to Some of His Earliest Roles
Maybe he’s no Million Dollar Baby anymore, but the enduring presence of actor and director extraordinaire Clint Eastwood is one of Hollywood’s greatest success stories. And it’s a story made even more interesting by the fact that when Eastwood nabbed a starring role on the TV Western Rawhide at age 29, he had already paid many acting dues — including co-starring in a film where he went to war with a giant, mutated spider.
To celebrate the living legend’s 95th birthday, let’s take a look at some of Eastwood’s most infamous pre-fame film roles.
Revenge of the Creature (1955)
While very few people would put this movie on a “Best of…” list of any kind, the sequel to Creature from the Black Lagoon was notable for one reason: Clint Eastwood made his official auspicious onscreen debut in this film, playing a lab technician named Jennings. Though his role is tiny, the film will always be historically significant because it was the official start to Eastwood’s movie career.
Francis in the Navy (1955)
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Shifting to comedy, Eastwood played a supporting role as Jonesey in this chapter of the popular Francis the Talking Mule series. Believe it or not, this was one of Eastwood’s more substantial early parts, as the lighthearted film helped Eastwood gain recognition at Universal, where he was under contract. More importantly, the role provided him with sorely-needed screen time and visibility as he struggled to make a bigger name for himself.
> ‘Rawhide’ Turns 65, Go Behind the Scenes With Clint Eastwood to See Exclusive Color Photos
Lady Godiva (1955)
Eastwood had a small, uncredited role as a fighter in Lady Godiva of Coventry, a historical drama loosely based on the legendary figure; the film was one of Universal’s attempts to create lavish period pieces. While Eastwood was only in a background role, it demonstrated the studio’s use of its contract players in various capacities during this era.
Tarantula (1955)
They can’t all be Heartbreak Ridge. In Tarantula, Eastwood played a jet squadron leader forced to protect a desert town against a giant, mutated spider (a tale as old as time, right?). Although his face is partially obscured by a flight mask, Eastwood’s role was pivotal in the film’s climax, as his character helps destroy the creature once and for all. Considered a 1950s monster movie cult classic, this movie is one of the earliest examples of Eastwood in a “heroic” action role.
Star in the Dust (1956)
Eastwood appears briefly as a ranch hand named Tom in Star in the Dust, a Western Drama about a sheriff preparing to execute a man accused of murder while facing town tensions (modern-day pro wrestling fans might also recognize the title as inspiration for current WWE superstar Cody Rhodes‘ old nickname of “Stardust”).
Although Eastwood’s part was minor, it’s one of the rare films where he played a henchman. It also includes one of his first substantial fight scenes, helping to lay the groundwork for his future as a Western icon.
The First Traveling Saleslady (1956)
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Inching closer to the Western genre that would embrace him throughout his legendary career, Eastwood played Lieutenant Jack Rice in The First Traveling Saleslady, a light-hearted Western comedy starring Ginger Rogers as a corset saleswoman in the Old West and Carol Channing as her celebrity client. Though not a major role, the film offered Eastwood a chance to show off a bit of charm and romantic flair, contrasting with the tough-guy persona he would later adopt.
Lafayette Escadrille (1958)
In this World War I-set film, Eastwood had a small, uncredited part as a pilot named George Moseley, with the story focusing on American volunteers flying for the French air service during World War I. Directed by William A. Wellman, a veteran pilot himself, the movie struggled critically and commercially. Eastwood’s part was minor, but the film marked the end of an era, as it was one of the last produced by Warner Bros. that featured young contract players like Eastwood before the studio system began to decline.
Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958)
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Later described by Eastwood as “probably the lousiest Western ever made,” Ambush at Cimarron Pass gave him the chance to play Keith Williams, a Confederate soldier who reluctantly allies with Union troops during a treacherous journey through Apache territory. Despite the film’s poor reception, the movie marked another critical early step in Eastwood’s career, showcasing him in a more substantial supporting role than ever before — another step towards the superstardom he’d eventually attain.
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TV Westerns of the 50's & 60's
September 2021
’50s and ’60s TV Westerns roundup, celebrating the shows and stars of their golden age.
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