Film Snail

Every Which Way but Loose
Every Which Way but Loose

6.1

Every Which Way but Loose

PG·1978·110m

Summary

Philo Beddoe is your regular, easygoing, truck-driving guy. He's also the best bar-room brawler west of the Rockies. And he lives with a 165-pound orangutan named Clyde. Like other guys, Philo finally falls in love - with a flighty singer who leads him on a screwball chase across the American Southwest. Nothing's in the way except a motorcycle gang, some cops, and legendary brawler Tank Murdock.

Cast

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood

Philo Beddoe

Sondra Locke

Sondra Locke

Lynn Halsey-Taylor

Geoffrey Lewis

Geoffrey Lewis

Orville Boggs

Manis

Manis

Clyde

Beverly D'Angelo

Beverly D'Angelo

Echo

Walter Barnes

Walter Barnes

Tank Murdock

George Chandler

George Chandler

Clerk at D.M.V.

Roy Jenson

Roy Jenson

Woody

James McEachin

James McEachin

Herb

Bill McKinney

Bill McKinney

Dallas, Treasurer Biker

William O'Connell

William O'Connell

Elmo, Sergeant-At-Arms Biker

John Quade

John Quade

Cholla, The Biker Leader

Dan Vadis

Dan Vadis

Frank, Assistant Head Biker

Gregory Walcott

Gregory Walcott

Putnam

Hank Worden

Hank Worden

Trailer Court Manager

Ruth Gordon

Ruth Gordon

Ma Boggs

Jerry Brutsche

Sweeper Driver

Cary Michael Cheifer

Kincaid's Manager

Janet Cole Notey

Girl at Palomino

Sam Gilman

Sam Gilman

Fat Man's Friend

Chuck Hicks

Chuck Hicks

Trucker

Timothy P. Irvin

M.C. at Zanzabar

Tim Irwin

Bandleader

Billy Jackson

Bettor

Joyce Jameson

Joyce Jameson

Sybil

Richard Jamison

Harlan

Jackson D. Kane

Man at Bowling Alley

Jeremy Joe Kronsberg

Bruno, Biker

Fritz Manes

Fritz Manes

Bartender at Zanzabar

Michael Mann

Church's Manager

Lloyd Nelson

Lloyd Nelson

Bartender

George Orrison

George Orrison

Fight Spectator

Thelma Pelish

Thelma Pelish

Lady Customer

William J. Quinn

Kincaid

Tom Runyon

Bartender at Palomino

Bruce Scott

Schyler

Al Silvani

Al Silvani

Tank Murdock's Manager

Hartley Silver

Bartender

Al Stellone

Fat Man

Jan Stratton

Waitress

Mike Wagner

Trucker

Guy Way

Bartender

George P. Wilbur

George P. Wilbur

Church

Gary Davis

Gary Davis

Biker

Scott Dockstader

Biker

Orwin C. Harvey

Biker

Gene LeBell

Gene LeBell

Biker

Chuck Waters

Chuck Waters

Biker

Jerry Wills

Biker

Robert Bruce Baird

Brick Yard Worker (Bystander) (uncredited)

Phil Everly

Phil Everly

Singer in Club (uncredited)

Harry Guardino

Harry Guardino

James Beekman (uncredited)

Clay Hodges

First Opponent (uncredited)

Harry Middlebrooks

Piano Player for Tillis (uncredited)

Frank Noel

Fight Trainer (uncredited)

Charlie Rich

Charlie Rich

Self (uncredited)

Thomas Rosales Jr.

Thomas Rosales Jr.

Young Trucker (uncredited)

Dee Giffin Scott

Girl in Resturant (uncredited)

Judson Scott

Judson Scott

Biker (uncredited)

Mel Tillis

Mel Tillis

Self (uncredited)

Roxanne Tunis

Roxanne Tunis

Extra (uncredited)

Bob Golden

Big Al (uncredited)

Crew

Director

James Fargo

Writer

Jeremy Joe Kronsberg

Reviews

John Chard

John Chard

November 17, 2019

7

I think he's spending too much time with Clyde.

Every Which Way But Loose is directed by James Fargo and written by Jeremy Joe Kronsberg. It stars Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis, Beverly D'Angelo and Manis The Orangutan.

It surprised the studio executives, even had them sweating about the release, but the adventures of Philo Beddoe (Eastwood) and his pet Orangutan proved to be a smash hit at the box office.

Beddoe is a trucker who also happens to make money by bare knuckle fighting, and he's very good at it. Clyde the orangutan is a full on personality himself, and between them they wind up being trailed by vengeful coppers and a very incompetent motorcycle gang. Philo's brother Orville (Lewis) is along for the ride and polar opposite love interests come into play via Lynn Halsey-Taylor (Locke) and Echo (D'Angelo).

Plot is very thin on the ground, we are in fact viewing a series of events that are mined for comedy purpose - which totally work. Action comes by way of the punch ups Philo gets into, with Eastwood as always proving to be one of the better punch throwing actors of his generation, while Lewis shines bright as the best friend and voice of reason to Philo.

The love story sub-plot involving Lynn and Philo - and its subsequent revelations - feels a touch out of place, since this is such a chilled and relaxed comedy picture. Which is the key, the makers know what they are doing, they are having fun and ask the audience to do the same. The public lapped it up and ensured that a sequel of similar tropes would follow. That also proved to be popular since it was more of the same.

Open the beer and popcorn and just run with it, it was never meant to be high art etc. 7/10

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$5,000,000.00

Revenue:

$85,196,485.00

Keywords

martial arts
waitress
bare knuckle boxing
fight
overweight
fishing
camping
motel
human animal relationship
beer
biker
orangutan
monkey
threesome
meat hook
exotic pet
street fight
pets
action hero