Character Cage Match: Dirty Harry vs. Il Brutto

ccm_dirtyharryilbruto

Consider this… When you’re thinking of the coolest, most ass-kicking badass of cinema (pre-Pulp Fiction), who comes to mind? Well, most likely you’ll think of one or both of the following names: Clint Eastwood and Charles Bronson. I mean, who else was there really? Both actors were HUGE international stars. No one can even touch their body of work and level of popularity.

So, here’s the deal. We want to come to some resolution (if possible) as to who the bigger baddass really is and YOU get to be the ones to decide! I’ve constructed a helpful comparison below, pitting the two contenders against one another.

Clint Eastwood (aka Dirty Harry)

Real Name: Clinton Eastwood, Jr.
Born: May 31, 1930
Height: 6’2″
Family: Son of a Steel Worker
Formerly: Fireman
Military Service: US Army during Korean War, did not see combat.
Appearances in TV and Film: 66 (to date). Director 33 times.
Wild Westerns: Man With No Name trilogy, Hang’em High, Two Mules for Sister Sarah, Joe Kidd, High Plains Drifter, Outlaw Josey Wales, Pale Rider, Unforgiven
Ass Kicking Action: Coogan’s Bluff, Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Tight Rope, The Enforcer, The Gauntlet, Sudden Impact, Dead Pool
War Films: Where Eagles Dare, Kelly’s Heroes, Heartbreak Ridge, Flags of Our Fathers & Letters from Iwo Jima (as director)
Movies with an Orangutan: Any Which Way but Loose, Every Which Way You Can

Charles Bronson (aka Il Brutto)

Real Name: Charles Dennis Buchinsky
Born: November 3, 1921
Height: 5’10″
Family: Son of a Coal Miner
Formerly: Coal Miner
Military Service: US Air Force during WWII, earned Purple Heart.
Appearances in TV and Film: 163. Never directed.
Wild Westerns: The White Buffalo, Breakheart Pass, Chino, Chato’s land, Red Sun, Once Upon a Time in the West, Villa Rides, Guns of Diablo, Magnificent Seven
Ass Kicking Action: Death Wish cintology, Kinjite, Messenger of Death, Murphy’s Law, Cold Sweat, Mr. Majestyk, The Mechanic, Machine Gun Kelly, Hard Times
War Films: Target Zero, When Hell Broke Loose, Never So Few, The Great Escape, Battle of the Bulge, Dirty Dozen
Movies with Vincent Price: Master of the World, House of Wax (as Igor)

Consider it, ponder it, slap it around a bit and then make your decision and post comments below letting everyone know where you stand on who the biggest badass of cinema will be.

7 Comments

Jeremy says:
April 7, 2009 at 11:48 am

Just the fact that Bronson was in any movie with Vincent Price is an epic win in his favor.

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Gavin says:
April 7, 2009 at 1:14 pm

I have to give it to Eastwood. I love Bronson, but he should have stopped after the first or second Death Wish because after those two the others just turned really sour and turned him from a complete badass to a B-movie badass. And Gran Torino still proves that Eastwood is more badass than anyone out there one half/third his age. In real life I would give it to Bronson, but in cinema I say it clearly goes to Eastwood.

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Tom Stockman says:
April 7, 2009 at 1:20 pm

Eastwood and Bronson actually acted together one time in the RAWHIDE episode “Duel at Daybreak” where Bronson guested as a villain.

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Travis says:
April 7, 2009 at 1:28 pm

I knew, if I was patient enough, Tom would chime in with something truly epic to add to THIS discussion. Thanks, Tom! I have to say, as much as I dig Eastwood, I think I’m actually leaning towards Bronson. He’s just done some truly unique stuff I’ve really enjoyed.

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Scott says:
April 7, 2009 at 1:54 pm

I am going with Bronson strictly based on the movie ‘Bronson’ that recently came out about the UK prisoner who fashioned his name after him.

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Travis says:
April 7, 2009 at 2:00 pm

I am REALLY eager to see ‘Bronson’ even if it has nothing to do with this discussion. Leave it to Scott to make such an important decision based on something completely unrelated.

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Scott says:
April 7, 2009 at 2:06 pm

haha I know how to pick ‘em.

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