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Any time two of Hollywood’s most revered and adored actors partner up for a picture, there’s a very good chance that movie magic will be made, which was exactly the case when cinema greatsClint EastwoodandMeryl Streepstarred in the 1995 romantic dramaThe Bridges of Madison County. The poignant and engrossing film chronicles the four-day love affair between a frustrated housewife and a traveling photographer. Like many of his silver screen projects, Eastwood masterfully both directed and appeared in the project.
Both a critical and commercial triumph, the drama earned appreciation from critics and audiences alike, with fans of the seasoned movie stars raving about the duo’s magnetic on-screen chemistry. Streep herself was blown away by Eastwood’s extraordinary presence as an actor and director, and one specific experience while filmingThe Bridges of Madison Countyleftthe Academy Award-winnerpleasantly shocked and impressed by the legendary movie icon.
The Bridges of Madison County
What Is The Bridges of Madison County About, and Who Does It Star?
Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep are undeniably two of the silver screen’s most illustrious and admired presences, with dazzling careers spanning decades and countless accolades like multiple Oscars and Golden Globes shared between the two. The powerhouse actors teamed up for the 1995 romantic dramaThe Bridges of Madison County,an adaptation of the Robert James Waller bestselling novel of the same name, with Eastwood pulling double duties and both directing andstarring alongside Streepin the compelling picture.
The film takes place in 1965 Iowa and chronicles the poignant love affair between married housewife Francesca Johnson and National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid, who is on assignment in Madison County to capture images of its historic covered bridges. When Francesca agrees to be Robert’s guide and ride along to the different locations, an intense and all-consuming romance blossoms between the pair over the course of the four days, with the life-changing dalliance having a profound effect on both of them. Their wistful love story is discovered in present-time by her grown children, who are given an intimate and revealing look at their late mother and all that she sacrificed for the sake of her family.
Streep Is Amazed by Eastwood’s Keen Directorial Eye
DespiteThe Bridges of Madison County’s production company, Amblin Entertainment (co-founded by Steven Spielberg), pushing for either Isabella Rossellini or Catherine Deneuve to take on the role of Francesca,Eastwood advocated for Streep to appear as his leading ladyeven though Spielberg was initially reluctant.TheDirty Harryactor’s instincts proved correct, as the duo went on to have sensational on-screen chemistry that brilliantly captured the love, passion, and heartache the star-crossed pair experienced in the pages of the Waller novel. Eastwood continued to impress Streep with his skills both in front of and behind the camera, specifically when it came to his handling of a powerful moment between their characters.
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During the scene in which Robert and Francesca have a heated argument in the kitchen, Eastwood opted to keep his back turned to the camera when his character broke down in a sob as opposed to having it be a close-up moment. While shooting the scene, Streep was taken aback as to why Eastwood wouldn’t want to capture Robert’s anguish on camera and allow him to truly shine as an actor. The Hollywood veteran simply explained that the scene worked far better with audiences not directly seeing Robert cry, believing it did the character justice and was more true to the moment.
Streep was blown away by Eastwood’skeen directorial eyeand his loyalty to crafting a heartfelt, poignant moment shared between Robert and Francesca instead of simply seizing it as an opportunity to demonstrate his exceptional acting prowess. In aninterview for the documentaryAn Old Fashioned Love Story: Making “The Bridges of Madison County,“Streep fondly looked back on the filming experience and witnessing Eastwood’s overwhelming talents as a director, saying:
“It’s a great scene, and it’s the one where as an actor Clint wasn’t afraid to go all the way with the emotional commitment he needed…I was so amazed because after I saw the film cut together, he took out sort of the more shaken parts of his performance…He kind of pulled back on it and I was surprised. But I think he has a real, real good idea of how much is needed to tell the story.”
Two Hollywood Legends Make Movie Magic
Unsurprisingly,The Bridges of Madison Countyproved to be a knockout with moviegoers and critics, attracting widespread praise forStreep’s dominating performanceand Eastwood’s phenomenal skills as a director.The sweeping romantic drama went on to earn $182 million worldwide against a $22 million budget and also received an admirable A- CinemaScore from audiences, who were completely engrossed by the winning chemistry between Eastwood and Streep and the all-consuming love story their characters experienced in the fantastic adaptation.
Streep earned yet another Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her complex and vulnerable portrayal of the Italian war bride and frustrated housewife and also nabbed a Golden Globe nod as well. Eastwood won the Blue Ribbon Award and Fotogramas de Plata for Best Foreign Film, with critics raving about the actor-turned-director’s impeccable skills and unique perspective on storytelling.The New York Timescommended Eastwood and his admirable work,which they deemed far superior to the novel it is based upon, writing: “Limited by the vapidity of this material while he trims its excesses with the requisite machete, Mr. Eastwood locates a moving, elegiac love story at the heart of Mr. Waller’s self-congratulatory overkill.”
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The Bridges of Madison Countywas just another feather in Eastwood’s directorial cap, and it further showcased why Streep remains one of cinema’s most dynamic and celebrated performers. The 1990s was an exceptional decade for Eastwood as a filmmaker, as he had truly honed in on his vision as a director, having helmed a slew of hits during the period, includingUnforgiven, In the Line of Fire, A Perfect World,andTrue Crime.In the nearly 30 years since the drama’s debut, Streep hasn’t slowed down a bit and has starredin hits likeThe Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia!, It’s Complicated,andThe Iron Lady.Both Eastwood and Streep remain two of Hollywood’s most beloved performers, and their respective legacies continue to grow.Rent/BuyThe Bridges of Madison CountyonPrime Video,Apple TV, andGoogle Play.
