News

Clint Eastwood perfected the archetype of the witty, fast-shooting gunslinger in his Western films through collaboration with acclaimed directors. Not all Eastwood roles were deadly gunslingers; some showed complexity and romantic entanglements, like McBee in The Beguiled. Eastwood's portrayal of deadly gunslingers like Joe Kidd and The Stranger showcased intense, rough characters with layers of complexity.

Legend of the Western genre Clint Eastwood has played several deadly gunslingers across his acclaimed career. From Spaghetti Westerns to Hollywood blockbusters, Eastwood perfected the archetype of the witty, fast-shooting, lone anti-hero who was consistently embroiled in shootouts, standoffs, and vicious bar fights. Through Eastwood's work with acclaimed directors like Sergio Leone and Don Siegel, as well as the many movies he directed himself, Eastwood played countless intimidating, tough, and skilled gunslingers who left their mark on the often brutal and deadly landscape of the Wild West.

While Eastwood did appear in plenty of Western movies,...

A man with one of the most easily recognizable names, looks, and demeanors in movie history, actor and director Clint Eastwood was 25 years old when he played a small part in The First Traveling Saleslady (1956) - his first Western.

Related: 10 Great Neo-Westerns You Should Watch (According to IMDb)

After becoming known for the television series Rawhide, Eastwood became an international movie star thanks to his role in Sergio Leone's Dollars Western trilogy. When Eastwood won his first Academy Award, it was to Leone whom he dedicated his winning movie to. Over a career of 65 years with over 20 Western movies and shows, Eastwood's name has practically become synonymous with the genre, and according to IMDb, these 10 Westerns are his best!

“Laughter is much more important than applause. Applause is almost a duty. Laughter is a reward.” — Carol Channing

If anyone has heard her share of both gaffaws and clapping, it would be Channing, who died on Tuesday 16 days shy of her 98th birthday. The Seattle native broke out on Broadway in 1949 in as Lorelei Lee, an irrepressible man-crazy gold-digger from Little Rock, Arkansas, in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” She performed the showstopper, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” which would be memorably warbled in the 1953 film version by Marilyn Monroe and influenced Madonna‘s 1985 music video for “Material Girl.”

Her unique voice, willowy stature and bigger-than-life personality proved to be a plus but also a minus, since she always fused her traits into her characters. In a cover story for Life magazine, she was described as “an over-grown kewpie” who sang like “a moon-mad hillbilly.” Still, Channing had out-sized talent...

Carol Channing, a Broadway legend who was known for her signature lead role in Hello, Dolly! and continued performing well into her 90s, has died of natural causes at her home in Rancho Mirage, CA. She was 97.

B Harlan Boll, Channing’s publicist, confirmed the news to multiple news outlets. “It is with extreme heartache that I have to announce the passing of an original Industry Pioneer, Legend and Icon – Miss Carol Channing,” Boll said in a statement to Broadway World. “I admired her before I met her, and have loved her since the day she stepped … or fell, rather … into my life.”

A native of Seattle, Channing’s distinctively gravelly enunciation, lanky, energetic frame and carefree laugh marked her many decades in show business. Along with her remarkable 4,500 performances in the title role of Hello, Dolly!, she appeared in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Vamp and Lorelei. On movie screens,...

Clint Eastwood on TCM: The Bridges Of Madison Country, The First Traveling Saleslady Schedule (Pt) and synopses from the TCM website: 3:00 Am Escapade In Japan (1957) After his plane crashes in Tokyo, an American boy tries to find his way home. Cast: Cameron Mitchell, Teresa Wright, Jon Provost. Dir: Arthur Lubin. C-93 mins. 4:45 Am Paint Your Wagon (1970) Two California miners share a gold claim and a wife. Cast: Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, Jean Seberg. Dir: Joshua Logan. C-159 mins. 7:30 Am Hang ‘Em High (1968) A mysterious drifter survives a lynching then goes back for revenge. Cast: Clint Eastwood, Ed Begley, Inger Stevens. Dir: Ted Post. C-115 mins. 9:30 Am For a Few Dollars More (1965) Two bounty hunters join forces to bring an outlaw to justice. Cast: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Gian Maria Volonte. Dir: Sergio Leone. C-132 mins. 11:45 Am Good, The Bad, And The [...]...

May31st is Memorial Day, but film fans might find another reason to celebrate, as it also happens to be Clint Eastwood's birthday. The granddaddy of all that is cool, quiet, and badass is turning 80 years old today. 80 years old. Ponder that for awhile, because it seems incredible, particularly since he's still as sharp, smart, and hardworking as ever. Sexy too! He may be 80 but he still has that incredible rakish smile, all the better because it was so rarely used on film.

After you're done honoring the sacrifices of our troops (don't think I mean that glibly), you might want to take two hours and celebrate Mr. Eastwood's birthday. TCM is hosting a marathon of Eastwood movies, beginning with his fresh-faced debut in The First Traveling Saleslady, continuing on through his trilogy with Sergio Leone, and finishing up with Magnum Force. Airing between is Richard Schickel's documentary The Eastwood Factor,...

Some lucky people are getting out of town for Memorial Day 2010. But some of us are staying at home. Luckily, all your favorite channels are doing mega marathons of all your favorite shows.

Zap2it is the one-stop shop for all your Memorial Day programming. From delightfully bad reality TV like "Real Housewives" and "Jersey Shore" to the quirky 1990s dramedy "Twin Peaks" to the serious TCM salute to war movies, there's something for everyone on TV this weekend. All times Eastern, but check your local listings for times and channel numbers.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

A&E (11 a.m. - 6 p.m.): Flip This House

Animal Planet (1 p.m. - 7 p.m.): River Monsters

BBC America (8 p.m. - 8 a.m.): Doctor Who

Bet (10 a.m. - 7 p.m.): Everybody Hates Chris

Biography (8 p.m. - 3 a.m.): Celebrity Ghost Stories

Bravo (9 p.m. - 2 a.

"Magnum Force" is among many Eastwood films to be telecast by TCM.

 

On May 31, Turner Classic Movies (North America) will premiere the extended version of Richard Schickel's excellent documentary The Eastwood Factor. The intimate look at Clint Eastwood's work at Warner Brothers over the decades includes fascinating insights from the man himself. The day will include telecasts of nine Clint Eastwood films including the rarely-seen The First Traveling Saleslady, which is not available on DVD. Click here for a clip from The Eastwood Factor. Click here to download the entire documentary through the Warner on-demand service.(Download version available on June 1) Additionally, ITunes is offering downloads of many Eastwood feature films and soundtracks. Click here to access...