Spike Lee, Clint Eastwood in Spat over WWII Movies

• May 22, 2008 05:21 PM ET
• by movienews

Spike Lee has called out Clint Eastwood over two of his World War II-era films because they do not include any African-Americans cast as soldiers.

Lee specifically cited Flags of our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima. He made the comments in Cannes while promoting his own WWII film - Miracle at St. Anna - which tells the story of an all-black U.S. division based in Tuscany, Italy.

"Many veterans, African-Americans, who survived that war are upset at Clint Eastwood," Lee said. "In his vision of Iwo Jima, Negro soldiers did not exist. Simple as that. I have a different version."

When Eastwood - also in Cannes promoting his upcoming movie, Changeling - was asked to respond to Lee's comments, a moderator instructed reporters to limit questions to Eastwood's movie. - J.R. Whalen