Clint Eastwood’s Best Thriller Ever: Legendary Star Regrets Passing on Iconic Film!

In 1971, Clint Eastwood became an icon of modern American cinema with the release of “Dirty Harry,” directed by Don Siegel. This film, arriving seven years after Eastwood’s iconic roles as morally ambiguous cowboys in Sergio Leone’s westerns, was such a success that it spawned several sequels, including “Magnum Force” in 1973.

Despite not being particularly fond of Eastwood, Wayne admitted he would have loved to play the part, which he originally turned down:

How did I let it slip through my fingers?

The actor clearly justified his refusal in John Wayne: The Man Behind The Myth by Michael Munn:

“I turned it down for what seemed to me three good reasons. First, they had offered it to Frank Sinatra, but he injured his hand and couldn’t do it. I don’t like being second choice after Sinatra has turned it down. Call it pride.”

“Second, I thought Harry was a corrupt cop. Call it my narrow-mindedness, because when I saw the film, I realized he was much like the characters I often played; someone who operates within the law but breaks the rules when necessary to save others. Third, I was too busy shooting other films.”

Would Wayne Have Been Suitable as Dirty Harry?

According to director Don Siegel, Wayne would have been a poor fit for Dirty Harry, and for good reason:

He was too old, and would have objected to many of the things Clint does [in the film] because Clint never worried about his image. Wayne, on the other hand, did.

Because he regretted missing out on the role and its success, Wayne starred in a sort of Dirty Harry knockoff, “Brannigan,” where he played a detective with somewhat radical methods who ends up chasing a criminal kidnapped for ransom.

While not a bad film, “Brannigan” still didn’t measure up to its inspiration. At 68 years old, Wayne’s age made his character seem a bit out of touch with modern values, which worked better for him in a Western setting. He was not very comfortable in the thriller genre at the time, as evidenced also by the lesser-known thriller “McQ,” released a year before “Brannigan.”