Everyone’s talking about the epic Chrysler spot broadcast just after the Super Bowl halftime show, directed by David Gordon Green and featuring Clint Eastwood tottering down a dark tunnel before emerging to exhort our country back to unity, pride and general greatness, hopefully behind the wheel of a Chrysler. “It’s halftime in America,” the actor-filmmaker announced, rousing millions of viewers nationwide. Stirring stuff — but how does it stand up against Eastwood’s previous commercial and PSA work? Let’s investigate. Remember that time when Eastwood urged folks to donate to the “Will Rogers Hospital and O’Donnell Research Laboratories” in their valiant fight against respiratory illness? It’s “Be generous, hmm?” kicker is just as inspiring as “Our second half is about to begin,” or maybe it’s just me. Here’s Eastwood opposing Proposition 18, the 1972 California ballot measure against obscenity that Eastwood derided as censorship. The measure failed (naturally): Easily the most memorable Eastwood spot before Sunday’s Chrysler ad, this anti-crack PSA has been lampooned , remixed and admired by many. “See this cute little viral here?” Yes, Clint, tell me more! Not to be outdone, erstwhile First Lady and tirelss anti-drug advocate Nancy Reagan teamed up for a more general broadside against the nation’s narcotic scourge. Who hasn’t told a drug pusher to take a hike? Eastwood wasn’t messing around with those punks who would defile our public parks, either: Eastwood later went to the plate for Honor Flight, an organization dedicated to arranging trips for veterans to visit memorials to their wars… …before asking folks to donate to the memorial fund honoring America’s fallen law enforcement officers: Of course no true California tourism PSA would be complete without the former Carmel mayor chiming in from the links with his signature line: And finally… It’s halftime, America. In an unfortunate twist, the team named the Patriots then went on to lose the Super Bowl, but hey. Thanks for the memories, Clint! Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
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A Brief History of Clint Eastwood, TV Pitchman
