导演伊斯威特被授予法国荣誉勋章

Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood has been made a commander in France's prestigious Legion of Honour.

好莱坞传奇人物克林·伊斯威特加冕法国声名显赫的荣誉勋章。

Clint Eastwood has promised he will learn French

French President Nicolas Sarkozy presented the 79-year-old actor and director with the decoration（装饰品） for his contribution to cinema.

Eastwood said receiving the accolade（赞美，表扬） was a "wonderful honour" and a "great pleasure" for him.

"I love France. I love movies, and I love the appreciation that the French people have for movies," he said.

The star promised he would be fluent in French the next time he returned to the country.

He jokingly referred to Sarkozy as "my president" after receiving the red-ribboned medal, and said he planned to go out and show off his award.

"As a commander of the arts and letters, I think I will go out on the streets of France today and throw my weight around（滥用职权，作威作福）," he said.

'Admiration'

President Sarkozy called Eastwood, "a myth, a giant, an example of the admiration we have for American culture".

Eastwood, came to prominence（突出） as an actor in films such as Dirty Harry.

But in later years he has turned to directing, making films such as Million Dollar Baby, for which he won the best director Oscar.

He starred in and directed the 2008 film Gran Torino, in which he played an old Korean war veteran who takes on a street gang（街党，街头匪帮）.

His latest movie, Invictus which is scheduled for release next month, is about Nelson Mandela and stars Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.

The Legion of Honour award was established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte to recognise outstanding merit（显著的功绩）.

It recognises military, cultural, scientific or social contributions to France, including those made by people who are not French citizens.

The former French President Jacques Chirac honoured Eastwood as a knight of the Legion of Honour in 2007.