Clint Eastwood in modern comedy-western’

Press, 14 August 1980, Page 14

Clint Eastwood in modern comedy-western’

Hollywood seems to be returning to the western as a major theme for its films.

Recently, we saw Steve McQueen in the drama, "Tom Hom,” and expected soon at the Avon Theatre is a modern day, comedy version, “Bronco Billy,” starring Clint Eastwood as the owner of a travelling Wild West show who performs spectacular trick riding and shooting stunts. Bronco Billy is to be taken as a true fantasy — a real-life cowboy hero of the Buffalo Bill style — and although his business operates- on a shoestring and looks a little weatherbeaten, he manages to make ends meet for himself and his fellow performers in small towns on the carnival circuit throughout the western states.

This simple, straightforward lifestyle gets a little complicated, however, when Billy has to come to grips with a beautiful, difficult New York heiress, Antoinette Lily (Sandra Locke), and an inept confidence man, John Arlington (Geoffrey Lewis). Additional problems include a bank robbery, a mid-performance tent fire and some nefarious dealings concerning a mental institution.

All of tiiis activity is brought under control. ■in classic Eastwood fashion, with Bijly assisted by his trusty troup of entertainers:

Doc Lynch (Scatman Crothers) is the ring master of the group, Two-Gun Lefty Leßow (Bill McKinney) a one-handed roustabout, Leonard James (Sam Bottoms) a lasso artist extraordinaire, Chief Big Eagle (Dan Vadis) a snake-dancing relative of Geronimo, and Lorraine Running Water (Sierra Pecheur) is Chief Big Eagle’s wife.. Shot on location in Idaho, Oregon and New York, "Bronco Billy” is a lighthearted story of .a man who represents traditional values, holding out against modern cynicism. Besides playing the leading role, Eastwood directs the film with his clearly defined, concise style.’ Similar in mood and tempo to the very successful “Every Which Way But Loose,” "Bronco Billy” reflects the care and attention to detail that has made the Eastwood production team an example of creative, efficient film making.

The film also continues the challenging process of growth and experimentation that audiences have come to expect

from Eastwood, both as an actor and director, not only in terms of action and excitement, but in comedy as well. Clint Eastwood is one of the leading box office attractions in the world. In “Bronco Billy,” he continues to broaden his popular appeal, following the success of both “Every Which Way But Loose” and “Escape from Alcatraz.”

As director. Eastwood has chosen to bring together the best elements of American entertainment and folklore in Bronco Billy’s travelling Wild West Show, an especially appropriate setting for the natural Eastwood and his unforced acting style. “Bronco Billy” is the seventh film which Clint Eastwood has directed, following “Play Misty For Me,” “High Plains Drifter,” “Breezy,” “The Eiger Sanction,” “The Outlaw — Josey Wales” and “The Gauntlet.”

His choice of entertaining material, his leadership and precise understanding of the filmmaking process, as well as his own insights as an actor, have long since been confirmed through audience response and box office receipts. Co-starring in her fourth film with Eastwood, Sandra Locke plays a misplaced, self-centred New York heiress who gradually realises the romance and charm of life in the Wild West show. She already has won an Academy Award nomination for “The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter”; and appeared in “The Second Coming of Suzanne,” with Richard Dreyfuss; the box office success, “Willard”; “A Reflection of Fear,” with Robert Shaw; and the television Movie of The Week, “Friendship, Secrets and Lies.”

Her beauty and instincts have given depth and credibility to her roles with Eastwood, including the sole surviving young girl in “The Outlaw — Josey Wales,” the tough talking hooker in “The Gauntlet,” and the confused country singer in “Every Which Way But Loose.” The character of Antoinette Lily in “Bronco Billy” should likewise reaffirm her versatility. Scatman Crothers plays the part of the ringmaster with the same warmth , and enthusiasm that has characterised his work as both a musician and an actor for the past 50 years. Scatman is famous for his improvising nonsense syllables to a melody (hence the name Scatman) and h§ is an accomplished

drummer and guitarist, as well as singer. His television and film credits are extensive, including recent parts in “Chico And The Man,” “Roots,” “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” and ‘ Lady Sings The Blues.” “Bronco Billy” is his first film with Eastwood.

Bill McKinney is the one-handed roustabout and Billy’s trusted sidekick who injured himself in an illconceived stunt. McKinney, a free-spirited actor, country-pop singer, tree surgeon and former amateur heavyweight boxer, has appeared in numerous films including “Deliverance,” “Parallax View,” “Judge Roy Bean,” "Valentino,” "The Outlaw — Josey Wales," "The Gauntlet” and "Every Which Way But Loose.” Geoffrey Lewis is the inept confidence trickster who finds himself unable to cope with the icy heiress, Antoinnette Lily, or any other person he deals with in an attempt to improve his impoverished situation. Lewis has ap» peared in such films as “The Wind And The Lion,” “Dillinger,” “Return Of A Man Called Horse,”

“Luckv Lady,” “High Plains' Drifter,’ “Thunderbol And Lightfoot,” “Every Which Way But Loose,” “Tom Hom" and “Heaven’s Gate.” Sam Bottoms stars as the lasso - artist, the flashiest cowboy with a lariat west of the Pecos. A serious actor who chooses to appear in theatre as well as film and television, Bottoms, who is part of the family of actors which include brothers Timothy, Joseph and Benjamin, has performed in such summer stock plays as "Summer And Smoke” and "Ah Wilderness,” as well as films such as “The Last Picture Show,” “The Class of ‘44,” "The Outlaw — Josey Wales” and "Apocalypse Now.”

Dan Vadis, as the snake-dancing relative of Geronimo, is an accomplished actor and former bodybuilder, who brings 12 years of European filmmaking experience to his craft, appearing in numer-. ous Italian gladiator epics and western sagas.

His first American film was “The Scalphunters” with Burt Lancaster. Other credits include films with

John Wayne and Charles Bronson, as well as Eastwood, with whom he appeared in “High Plains Drifter,” “The Gauntlet” and “Every Which Way But Loose.” 1

Fritz Manes is a 20-year veteran of film production, having served as associate producer with Eastwood’s

.Malpaso Company. Assuming the same job on'; “Bronco Billy” and work-. ing closely with Robert Daley, Manes supervised; all aspects of production,' his responsibilities stretch- - ing from location scouting through casting and stuntwork (Manes is a stunt* - man himself). ■