Burt Reynolds. They were told they would never
Meanwhile, Woody was having great success on
make it – Clint because of his prominent Adam’s
the stand-up comedy circuit, as well as making many
apple, and Burt because he couldn’t act. On the way
appearances as a popular talk-show guest. His first
out, Burt told his friend that he was worse off: “I can
effort as a filmmaker was dubbing comic dialogue
learn to act, but you’ll never get rid of that damned
onto a Japanese spy film, What’s New Pussycat?
Adam’s apple.” In spite of this obstacle, Clint did get
(1965) It was successful enough to warrant a follow-
another role, more by luck than design, that brought
up, What’s New, Tiger Lily? with Woody appearing
him to the attention of the American viewing public –
in a starring role. The uninspired direction of this
the part of Rowdy Yates in the long-running TV
film, and the ordinary slapstick routines which it
series Rawhide. It was his first real success, but he
demanded from Woody, made him determined that in
soon felt the limitations of the part. He grew tired of
future he would direct his own work, allowing him to
his naive character, who he called “the idiot of the
realise his own vision from his writing.
West.” He also felt the format of the show was
Around the same time, Clint also had his first
growing stale. He had ideas for directing that he
starring role in a film – as the “Man with No Name”
thought could invigorate the series, but the producers
in A Fistful of Dollars. Many reputable American
were not eager to let an actor try his hand at directing.
actors had turned down the role in this “Spaghetti
Clint would have to wait a good while longer before
Western”, to be directed by the unknown Sergio
his chance came to express his creative instincts as a
Leone. Clint jumped at the chance to break free of his
director.
clean-cut Rowdy Yates character, playing the morally
ambiguous and violent antihero. He played a major
part in creating the look and attitude of the “Man”. He
went through the script cutting out all unnecessary
dialogue. The Man would express himself through
action rather than words. The role, in a trilogy that
culminated with The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly –
would make Clint a worldwide film star. It also
established the persona that would define him through
much of his career – the taciturn loner taking justice
into his own hands.
On the set, Clint watched and learned from
Leone’s methods of directing. He would go on to play
similar characters in Westerns through the 1960’s, as
well as modern-day Westerns such as Coogan’s Bluff.
This film was the first of several to be directed by
Don Siegel, who would become a close friend and