Have you ever witnessed the transformative power of true acting prowess married with masterful direction? In the movie industry, Clint Eastwood’s real genius as a filmmaker crystallized in moments such as trusting the indomitable Richard Harris with his evocative vision in the 1992 Western flick, Unforgiven.
This is especially evident in the scene-stealing role of English Bob—an arrogant, pseudo-aristocratic gunslinger who is anything but what he seems. Harris, widely celebrated for his gravitas as Albus Dumbledore in the early Harry Potter flicks, went down the rabbit hole by delving deep into historical complexities to flesh out his character’s (in Unforgiven) deceptive nature.
Eastwood’s count on Harris’ interpretation added a rich layer of authenticity to Unforgiven, a film that not only challenged the traditional tropes of Westerns but also reflected on the fables we cherish about our heroes & their legacies.
Clint Eastwood’s Genius: How Richard Harris Elevated Unforgiven in 1992
Known for his iconic role as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, Richard Harris displayed his real genius as an actor in Unforgiven, helmed by Clint Eastwood. The late actor’s portrayal of English Bob was, in fact, a departure from his usual roles, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
He revealed that he drew inspiration from dark British history in order to portray Bob’s character (via Jimmy Carter’s YouTube). His understanding of the character led him to suggest adding another layer to the role, portraying Bob as a very “upper-class fake” who is ultimately revealed to be a low-life guy:
When I read the script I said to Clint, ‘You know it’d be great if I could do this, it’d be great if I could play this man as a very sort of upper-class fake. At the end of the picture, when he gets the hell kicked out of him by Hackman, then maybe all of that drops and you really see that behind it all he’s really sort of a low type, low-life guy.’
Eastwood, who also starred in Unforgiven, trusted Harris to bring his vision for the character of English Bob to life. Despite initial reservations, Harris’ portrayal as a complex and ultimately humiliated character added depth to the film. The late actor added:
So Clint said, ‘Yes, great, go for it.’ I got afraid of it sometimes shooting the picture, but he kept encouraging me to go for it, you know.
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Thus, Eastwood’s willingness to let Harris take risks with the character mirrored his confidence in Harris’ talent &, of course, the collaborative nature of their working relationship.
The Prank That Wasn’t: Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven Joke on Richard Harris
Can you imagine being Richard Harris, sitting in your living room watching Clint Eastwood’s movie, only to receive a phone call from the director himself offering a role in his project?
It sounds like something out of a movie itself, but this was the reality for Harris when Eastwood called him to discuss the role in Unforgiven.
In an episode of Inside the Actors Studio, Eastwood, 94, described the incredible coincidence that occurred on call when he discussed with the Harry Potter actor the latter’s possibility of playing English Bob:
I was doing ‘Unforgiven’, and I wanted Richard Harris to play the character of English Bob in the movie. So, I called him, and I called his house, and the lady answered, and she said, ‘Just a second,’ I said, ‘Tell him Clint Eastwood’s calling.’
It’s easy to see why Harris would initially think that the call was a joke. The timing of Eastwood calling him while he was watching one of his own flicks must have felt like too much of a coincidence to be real. Recalling further, the director stated:
And all of a sudden, he comes on, and he goes, ‘Is this Bob? Joe?’ Because the irony is he was downstairs in the TV room watching ‘High Plains Drifter’ on the television. So he tells me this story, and of course, he was flipped out that I wanted him because he loved doing westerns.
The coincidence of Harris watching High Plains Drifter while receiving the call from Eastwood himself may have seemed too good to be true, but it ultimately led to a casting decision that enriched the film. The movie has a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating that it was well-received.