Clint Eastwood Decided to Change Up One of His Most Famous Roles

Lauren Novak October 20, 3:19 pm

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, Clint Eastwood, 1966 [US: 1967] — Everett Collection

Everett Collection

Clint Eastwood has been working in Hollywood for decades as an actor and later, a director. Eastwood hasn’t just been a big star in America, but he shined in Italy as well, especially with the classic film Fistful of Dollars. The 1964 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone was one of Eastwood’s breakout roles as the Man With No Name. Turns out, he changed up his character and made it the iconic role it remains today.

Being filmed in Spain allowed Leone and Eastwood to break out of the restrictions of classic American Western films. Eastwood once shared, “It’s so far out that I guess you could call it a James Bond Western. I’m supposed to be the hero, but there’s only a thin line between me and the heavy. In fact, I kill 25 people in the movie and end up burning down the whole town. I’m no Sir Galahad like Shane.”

A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, Clint Eastwood, 1964

Everett Collection

He added, “I’m on a 28-year-old horse and I look like a refugee hermit. I settle all arguments with gunfire. I think I do one good deed in the whole picture. When I read the script, I told the director and producers that either this picture is the greatest flop of all time — or else it’s the best Western satire yet. I played it as satire, a little tongue-in-cheek. Apparently, we succeeded in Italy, at least. They’re sharp audiences.”

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, Clint Eastwood, 1966

Everett Collection

Despite some mixed reviews at first, some fans say it is their favorite Eastwood role of all time. The Man With No Name gave him the start to a very long and successful career. Around the same time, Eastwood was also cast in Rawhide, where he played Rowdy Yates for over 200 episodes. Now tell us, what is your favorite Eastwood role?