Clint Eastwood reflects on his regret over starring in the 1969 musical western “Paint Your Wagon,” directed by Joshua Logan. Set during California’s gold rush, the film follows a love triangle involving characters played by Eastwood and Lee Marvin. Despite his passion for music, Eastwood feels the film’s execution fell short, lacking the depth of the original script. The movie, now considered a cult classic by some, is available for streaming on Paramount+.
Clint Eastwood’s Regret Over a Musical Western
Clint Eastwood is synonymous with the Western genre, yet there is one particular film that he deeply regrets being a part of. This film marked a transition from his iconic cowboy roles to that of a singing cowboy, leading to his later remorse.
A Reflection on “Paint Your Wagon”
In a candid interview with Empire in 2017, nearly five decades after its release, Clint Eastwood expressed his shame over his role in “Paint Your Wagon” (1969), a musical western directed by Joshua Logan. This film is an adaptation of a popular Broadway show.
Set during California’s gold rush, the story follows Ben Rumson (played by Lee Marvin), a hard-drinking pioneer, and his partner Pardner, portrayed by Clint Eastwood, a more romantic and sober farmer. Their quest for fortune leads them to a small town named No Name City, where their friendship is tested by a love triangle involving the beautiful Elizabeth (Jean Seberg), who is auctioned off by her Mormon husband.
This unique premise blends cowboy life with musical elements, but the execution left much to be desired. Critics noted that the cast lacked vocal training, resulting in performances that sounded more like “sad and lonely whispers” rather than melodic songs.
Reflecting on his experience, Clint Eastwood remarked, “I was crazy enough to try anything. Music has always been a passion of mine, influenced by my father, who was a singer. However, what I did in this film wasn’t really singing.” He was initially drawn to the project due to its potential for featuring an interracial romance, but extensive script revisions altered that vision significantly.
“The final product was much lighter and lacked the dynamic essence of the original script,” he noted. Compounding the challenges were production delays that stretched filming to six months and pushed the budget beyond its limits. “It wasn’t as enjoyable as I had hoped,” Eastwood concluded, revealing that he even attempted to abandon the project halfway through.
During the filming of “Where Eagles Dare,” Clint Eastwood made a discreet exit, but the producers and director managed to persuade him to return.
Today, “Paint Your Wagon” remains a topic of debate among audiences. Some view it as a cult classic or guilty pleasure, while others deem it a film best left in the past.
The musical is currently available for streaming on Paramount+, and we invite you to (re)experience a clip featuring Clint Eastwood’s singing!