Clint Eastwood Nearly Quit Hollywood Over His First Big Movie Flop

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Before becoming a Hollywood legend, Clint Eastwood faced serious doubts about his acting career.

He started his career with a number of minor, uncredited film appearances while he worked to establish himself in the industry. His first notable role came in the 1958 film Ambush at Cimarron Pass, where he played Keith Williams, a veteran of the Confederate army, and acted alongside Scott Brady.

Clint Eastwood wasn’t a fan of the film. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he bluntly called it “probably the worst film ever made.” The experience was so disheartening that he considered quitting acting. He explained that after watching it, he decided he needed to go back to school and find a different career.

Eastwood said the movie was made very quickly – in just eight days. It was directed by Jodie Copelan, who was mainly a film editor and didn’t have much experience directing. “It was a really fast and chaotic process,” Eastwood joked, describing the hectic production.

Eastwood later confessed he was mortified while watching the final cut of the film. He recalled telling his wife, “It was so bad, I just kept shrinking in my seat. I think I need to quit acting and go back to school – I need to find a new direction for my life.”

Luckily, Clint Eastwood didn’t give up after Ambush at Cimarron Pass. He quickly found work on the TV show Rawhide, which proved to be the start of his incredibly successful career. While the film itself is now considered a fairly unremarkable early Western – and often mentioned as one of the less impressive films of that era – it also featured actors like Margia Dean, Irving Bacon, and Frank Gerstle.

In retrospect, Ambush at Cimarron Pass proved to be a difficult but important experience for Eastwood. It motivated him to continue acting, ultimately paving the way for his success as a legendary movie star.

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2025-10-27 11:45