Clint Eastwood’s favourite movie inspired a Harrison Ford classic

At 94, Clint Eastwood remains a monumental figure in Hollywood. With a career spanning decades, his influence is undeniable, and his taste in cinema reflects the timeless classics that shaped the Golden Age of Hollywood. As fans eagerly await his latest directorial project, Juror No. 2, hitting theaters later this year, Eastwood shared insights into the films that left a lasting impact on him.

When asked by the American Film Institute to name his all-time favorite film, the Man with No Name icon didn’t settle for just one. He reminisced, “I was raised, of course, in what they call the Golden Age of movies. And a lot of the early films – John Ford’s How Green Was My Valley, William A. Wellman’s The Ox-Bow Incident, and John Huston’s The Treasure of the Sierra Madre – all of those would fit in there.”

Interestingly, one of these films, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), directed by John Huston and starring the legendary Humphrey Bogart, had an unexpected ripple effect on a later generation of filmmakers. Among them was Steven Spielberg, who would go on to create the legendary Indiana Jones franchise starring Harrison Ford.

Adapted from B. Traven’s 1927 novel, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre tells the tale of two down-on-their-luck men who team up with an elderly prospector in search of gold in the Mexican wilderness. The film broke new ground as one of the first Hollywood productions shot on location outside of the United States, giving it a raw authenticity that added to its lasting legacy. It also struck gold at the Academy Awards, winning three Oscars and cementing its place among the greatest films of all time.

For Spielberg, the rugged, treasure-hunting adventures in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre became a crucial inspiration when he was developing the Indiana Jones character. The grittiness, moral dilemmas, and the chase for elusive wealth paralleled the quest-driven narrative of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), which ultimately gave rise to one of the most beloved adventure franchises in cinematic history.

As Eastwood’s favorite films continue to resonate through time, it’s clear that the cinematic masterpieces of the past are more than just memories. They serve as the bedrock for modern classics, shaping the creative visions of filmmakers and captivating audiences for generations to come. Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones, influenced by the treasure-seeking misadventures in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, stands as a testament to the enduring power of Eastwood’s cinematic inspirations.

In a world of ever-changing movie trends, Clint Eastwood’s reverence for these Golden Age classics reminds us that some stories, no matter how old, never lose their luster. They are woven into the fabric of Hollywood’s legacy, continuing to inspire the filmmakers and audiences of today.