DVD Review: ‘Clint Eastwood: American Icon Collection’ Includes Four Diverse Films

DVD Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – With the $130 million gross and counting for “Gran Torino,” Clint Eastwood has proven that his star power has not diminished in the slightest even with 50 years in show business under his belt. There’s an entire generation new to Clint who have an amazing catalog to explore and they can start with four of his most unforgettable roles, now available in the “Clint Eastwood: American Icon Collection”.

Universal probably thought their excellent “American Icon Collection” would be perfectly timed to take full advantage of at least one, maybe two more Oscar nominations for Clint Eastwood. With his direction of “Changeling” and critically acclaimed lead performance in “Gran Torino,” Eastwood seemed a slam dunk to be a part of Oscar night 2009, as he has so many times in recent years.

Clint Eastwood: American Icon Collection is released by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment on February 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Universal

Even though that’s not the case, Clint seems as popular as ever. “Changeling” hits Blu-Ray/DVD this week and “Gran Torino” is still playing in theaters, after shattering expectations of what a septuagenarian lead could do at the box office. It’s the perfect time for a DVD collection.

The latest Eastwood collection highlights four diverse roles from the late-’60s to mid-’70s including two films directed by the icon.

Disc one of the three-disc set contains my favorite film of the quartet, 1971’s “Play Misty For Me,” Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut. Eastwood stars as a radio disc jockey who becomes the victim of psychotic obsession when he tries to end a torrid affair with a fan (Jessica Walter).

With his first film behind the camera, Eastwood proved that he would be a force in Hollywood as a director as he had been as an actor. “Play Misty For Me” is a great thriller that has held up incredibly well in the nearly-four-decades since its release. The digitally remastered “Misty” is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with a Dolby Digital two-channel mono track.

Disc two includes the second Eastwood-directed pic, 1975’s “The Eiger Sanction”. Less successful than “Misty” but interesting in its own right, Eastwood stars in “Eiger Sanction” as a professional assassin who is forced out of retirement in order to avenge a friend’s murder in the Swiss Alps. “Eiger” co-stars George Kennedy.

The digitally remastered transfer of “The Eiger Sanction” is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with a Dolby Digital 2.0 mono track.

Disc three includes two films on one DVD - “Coogan’s Bluff” and “The Beguiled” - both directed by Don Siegel. In the former, Eastwood plays a soft-spoken, straightforward Arizona lawman whose unorthodox methods of capturing an escaped murderer anger a tough NYC police lieutenant. “The Beguiled” is a psychological thriller of love, betrayal and hidden passions, which stars Clint as a wounded soldier who finds shelter in an all-girls academy during the Civil War.

Both “Coogan’s Bluff” and “The Beguiled” are remastered in anamorphic widescreen with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by Dolby Digital 2.0 mono tracks.

Bonus features in the “American Icon Collection” include “Play It Again: A Look Back at Play Misty For Me,” “Clint Eastwood on DVD,” “Clint Eastwood Directs and Acts,” “The Beguiled, Misty, Don and Clint,” and much more.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com