Clint Eastwood Double Bill: Bronco Billy (1980 Clint Eastwood) / True Crime (1999 Clint Eastwood)

Two we hadn't seen before.

Bronco Billy I imagine is usually filed under 'quirky misfire' but although the writing sometimes isn't great (Locke's 'conversion', for example), I thoroughly enjoyed this (what seems to me) screwball type comedy, an amusing and affectionate film about a man who only wants to go his own way, and a group of misfits who follow him. It seems so 30s - the spoiled heiress being brought down to earth by a common rough type - what is it - Carole Lombard and Clark Gable? Yes, it definitely has that sort of vibe to me. Loved Clint's rages.

Looks like Clint is even doing some of the stunt horse riding himself.

Sondra Locke, Scatman Crothers (Clint loves working with black characters), Geoffrey Lewis, Bill McKinney, Sam Bottoms. Photographed by Eastwood irregular David Worth, written by Dennis Hackin. Yes, does feature young Alison and Kyle Eastwood as orphans. Edited by Ferris Webster and Joel Cox (so almost the changing of the guard). Clint is credited as co-author of the C&W song 'Barroom Buddies'.

True Crime was well written by Larry Gross, Paul Brickman and Stephen Schiff, from Andrew Klavan's novel - everything's set up so well. Isaiah Washington (Grey's Anatomy) is the man on death row who we know is innocent, washed out alcoholic hack Clint Eastwood follows his nose. It's an anti corporal punishment film, also a commentary about perception of blacks and crime. But not without its humour too - notably speed trip to zoo with his daughter (obviously) Francesca Eastwood.

Also, the parallels - Clint and the inmate both have little daughters, both smoke excessively. 

With LisaGay Hamilton (prisoner's wife), James Woods, Denis Leary, Bernard Hill, Diane Venora, Michael McKean, Hattie Winston, Anthony Zerbe (funnily enough, I was only thinking about the Omega Man that morning).

Once again Clint is the outsider going his own way. It's very tense.

Something interesting about the way the prison cell scenes are shot:

This is photographed by Clint regular Jack Green, with Tom Stern acting as 'lighting consultant'. Great editing noticeable in jail sequences - Joel Cox (with Gary Roach, Michael Cipriano, Don Roth). Music by Lennie Niehaus, production design Henry Bumstead.

With Lucy Liu and Dina Eastwood in smaller roles.