Think of it as Clint Eastwood finishing his apprenticeship. His next as director, THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES/’76, a masterpiece. Here, surprisingly uneven, especially in close-action and fight scenes: staging, camera positioning, editing, all amateur city. Though who’ll notice as the big surprise is just how much Clint was jonesing to be James Bond! Who knew? Not the next Connery or Roger Moore, instead anticipating the style of yet-to-be Bond Timothy Dalton (THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS/’87; LICENCE TO KILL/’89.) Tougher, more realistic, with Eastwood’s semi-retired agent/Art History Prof at some Euro-University when he’s called back in to do a hit after a secret formula is stolen. Plus, a follow-up contract killing. Working for a mystery agency run by an evil mastermind (more Blofeld than ‘M’), his target an unknown assassin who’s part of a mountain climbing team. That’s the second/lesser half of the film, handsomely shot in the Alps, but a big bore, in spite of Clint doing his own stunts. Yet the film’s no lost cause since the first half, more Bond-like and loaded with Clint’s ideas of sexy Bond babes; line-back built George Kennedy an unlikely mountain trainer; and a passel of delightful villains for Eastwood to take out. No one more so than B’way Musical Comedy star Jack Cassidy in a rare good film role as a fey former comrade, now out to dispose of his old pal. Walking off with every scene he’s in, Cassidy, a notorious Lothario in real life, seldom clicked on film, but he’s supremely gay and threatening here. Whoever thought of using him? Give that man a gold star. Alas, when he disappears halfway in, chilly mountain climbing and a guessable twist tanks the rest of the film.
(And the studio knew it. See second poster, designed to look like more Dirty Harry fare.*)
SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: *Another reason this got a bit lost is that producers Richard Zanuck & David Brown had JAWS/’75 coming out the next month.
DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: As mentioned, Eastwood’s follow up, JOSEY WALES. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-outlaw-josie-wales-1976.html
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