“I cancel these three good reasons”: how John Wayne missed the role that made Clint Eastwood a star star

When Detective Harry was released in 1971, Clint Eastwood entered his career in a new era. After playing the ambiguous cowboy in the West of Sergio Leone, he is now becoming an archetype of a strict policeman who acts beyond the rules to maintain order. The film, directed by Don Siegel, has become an instant classic, which is a continuation of several series in 1973, including the Magnum Force.

This legendary role could play another legend of Hollywood: John Wayne. The actor, the essential figure in the Western and traditional American cinema, actually approached Harry Kalahan’s game … but refused. The choice will complete regret.

Why did John Wein say no?

In a biography John Wayne: The man behind the myth Signed Michael Moon, the actor returns this refusal. It cites three main reasons. First of all, the fact that the role was originally offered by Frank Sinatra, which was released because of the injury.

”I refused to do so that it seemed to me that there were three good reasons. First, they offered this to Frank Sinatra, but he struck and couldn’t do it. I don’t like it when people come to me after Sinatra refuses. Put it with pride.”

Then, Wayne admits that Harry Kalahan had a hasty judgment: “The second reason, I found that Harry was a Cruzian police officer. I added this with my closed mind, because when I saw the film, I realized it fits the roles that I used to play often; A guy who works within the law but breaks the rules when he has to save others.”

Finally, he simply explains that he was already involved in other shoots at that time: “The third reason was that I was very busy making other films.”

Despite its reservations, John WeinWho had no true love for Eastwood, he would not hide his bitterness: “How did I allow my fingers?”

Eastwood, an obvious choice according to the director

Don a deedThe director always felt that Wayne would not be the right choice to perform this rude and uncompromising policeman. In his eyes, he was very old for the role and would undoubtedly be very worried about his image:

”He was very old and contradicted many things because Clint never took care of his image. Wein, yes.”

Brannigan, John Wayne’s “Dirty Harry”

Frustrated because of the fact that this cult role landed, John Wein He will try to compose Brannigan (1975) after a few years, in which he performs the inspector while hunting in London. Although the film is sincere, it will never be able to intensity and influence Inspector Harry.

At the age of 68, John Wein Step -by -step -it seems to be a more modern tone of the detective genre. The gap of this generation is even more felt in another small famous thriller, silent, at the end of the cannon that came out a year before Bran.

Inspector Harry can see on Vod. Similarly Brangan.