That clip got me to think...think of the following...
Actually, I think Eastwood was the first Anti-hero, but only of the westerns. The Anti-hero appeared earlier in the form of Brando, and earlier than that Bogart, and earlier than that, Cagney (Pubic Enemy) and earlier than that, Paul Muni (Scarface). Funny how all of us are attracted a bit more to Anti-heroes and to a lesser extent heroes...
And, Clint made the audience laugh when he asked how many people wouldn't shoot someone in the back? That's because westerns began to stress realism with Clint's movies, over a combination of realism and moral responsibility with John Wayne. Wayne realized that pictures could be used to influence (both positively and negatively) the public. He chose not to compromise (for the most part) his values and beliefs for the sake of profit. That's why he chose not to be in a movie like for example, High Noon (which depicted the townspeople at large as cowards who ran away from trouble for their own well being). To Clint's defense, he didn't compromise his values either, difference being that he's atheist. Different values and beliefs...
Thanks for posting that clip, DA! Maybe I shouldn't have taken it to that level of scrutiny, but I did...makes you think..
Yeah, I also Lol when I thought of Wayne commenting on what Clint would have done...
)..
