It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Two Mules For Sister Sara (1970)Plot In A Paragraph: Nun Sara (Shirley MacLaine) is saved from certain rape from cowboys by Hogan (Clint Eastwood) who is preparing for a future mission to capture a French fort. The pair become riding buddies and eventually friends.For some reason this doesn't seem to be remembered by many, and I'm not sure why!! Clint retreaming with Don Siegel in a western, with an Ennio Morricone's score. Maybe it's because it was sandwiched between bigger more memorable movies. It follows Where Eagles Dare and Paint Your Wagon and proceeds Kelly's Heroes and Dirty Harry, and is a more modest movie. Outside of Eastwood/western fans it's hard pressed to find anyone who remembers this.The movie is a treat from start to finish and despite the light hearted nature of the movie, Hogan is as deadly as any Eastwood cowboy. In fact I think it's his best performance at this point!! He is confident in his ability and it shows, he is more chatty than your usual Eastwood cowboy, and he exchanged some witty dialogue with MacLaine. Shirley MacLaine gets top billing in the film's credits (though my DVD and all the art work bills Clint top) This was the last time Clint Eastwood received second billing (or anything less than first) until A Perfect World, and the only time his leading lady was played by an A-list star until The Bridges of Madison County. Two Mules For Sister Sara grossed only $4 million at the domestic box office, but it did earn back its budget in the United States alone.

This 1970 producion is the first "spaghetti western" made by mainstream Hollywood featuring Eastwood. The original spaghetti westerns were directed by Sergio Leone and were originally in Italian (Eastwood only added his voice when they were dubbed into English and released in the US).These Italian westerns which made Eastwood famous were filmed in Spain in the last half of the 60s.In this movie Eastwood is a mercenary who has agreed to blow up a French garrison for Mexican revolutionaries in return for half the cash stored there. On his way to this job he saves McClain from being raped and the two proceed with their aims as a duo (she too is helping the revolutionaries disguised as a nun).As an aside Siegel said later that McClain was very hard to work with-- she was tough and "it is like she has balls". She and Eastwood did not get along. Also Eastwood said he had to kill the rattlesnake because Mexican authorities did not want it released in that area. Eastwood does not believe in killing animals--he obviously is against hunting.Siegel's cinematography is flawless may I even say fantastic--watch the mountain lion and the horse stepping on the spider. The story is good up until about the last 30 minutes when it degenerates into a boring moralizing Hollywood finale with a mass assault on the garrison (I much prefer finales with Eastwood and his 6 shooter) also a dud cliché surprise denouement involving McClain.So in summary very good for the first hour but doesn't maintain it.Misc: This movie was high budget for the time (over $4 million) it was moderately successful grossing about $4.5 million in N. America. It was filmed entirely in Mexico over about 60 days.RECOMMEND

Clint and Shirley have great chemistry together. The movie is light on action and works as a lighthearted comedy. The music by Ennio Morricone is cool . The movie is really funny in some places like the talk about the ass. The dialogue is often witty. There is no unnecessary violence. The movie has moments when it gets little serious , but not too serious . The plot is not quite predictable as one could suspect. The final battle is quite exciting.Despite what IMDb tells you this is not really a war movie. It is set during war , but it's western. It's one of Eastwood weaker westerns , but still a good and enjoyable movie. I give it 7/10.P.S. For those who don't understood the title - Eastwood is stubborn as mule , get it ? It's a joke.

This movie was a pleasant surprise. I was expecting perhaps a spaghetti western comedy, but what I got was an exciting plot that moved right along, with good performances from the two leads, some nice scenery, good dialogue and a great buildup to a nice climax. Shirley Mcclaine was perfectly cast, and boy did she look absolutely splendid. The scene where Clint questions her morals as a nun who shuns the physical feelings is deft and wonderfully written and acted, it was my favorite scene. The action goes from entertaining to more entertaining. Clint is simply wonderful, this was one of his best movies I thought. The chemistry between them is great. I like how the romance develops replete with some twists that you may or may not see coming. Don Siegel is such a talented director, he always seems to make movies that not only movie right along but manages to get good performances from everyone involved. We need more directors like Siegel in this day and age. The music was trademark Ennio Morricone cowboy music, he is always spot on. This is the kind of movie that they just don't make anymore, perfect entertainment for a weekend on the couch. Catch it if you can.