Every Which Way but Loose (1978)

Every Which Way but Loose is a 1978 American action comedy film released by Warner Bros. starring Clint Eastwood in an uncharacteristic and offbeat comedy role. It was produced by Robert Daley and directed by James Fargo. Eastwood plays Philo Beddoe, a trucker and bare-knuckle brawler roaming the American West in search of a lost love while accompanied by his brother/manager Orville and his pet orangutan Clyde. Philo encounters a wide assortment of characters, including a pair of police officers and a motorcycle gang who pursue him for revenge.

Eastwood's appearance in the film, after his string of Spaghetti Western and Dirty Harry roles, somewhat startled the film industry, and he was reportedly advised against taking the role. Although it was poorly reviewed by critics, the film proved successful and became, along with its 1980 sequel Any Which Way You Can, two of the highest-grossing Eastwood films. When adjusted for inflation, it ranks as one of the top 250 highest-grossing films of all time.