<Li> Manis as Clyde </Li> <P> The script, written by Jeremy Joe Kronsberg, had been turned down by many other big production companies in Hollywood . Most of Eastwood's production team and his agents thought it was ill - advised . Bob Hoyt, whom Eastwood had contacts with (through his Malpaso secretary Judy Hoyt and Eastwood's long - term friend Fritz Manes), thought it showed promise and eventually convinced Warner Brothers to buy it . An orangutan named Manis was brought in to play Clyde; also cast were Geoffrey Lewis as the dimwitted Orville, Beverly D'Angelo as his girlfriend, and Sondra Locke as Lynn Halsey - Taylor, the country and western barroom singer . Eastwood spoke about using the orangutan for the main role, "Clyde was one of the most natural actors I ever worked with! But you had to get him on the first take because his boredom level was very limited ." </P> <P> The film has a contemporary western theme, displaying the blue collar aspects of the western United States, with many scenes shot in rural locations, cheap motel rooms, industrial facilities, and honky - tonk bars . The film was shot on location, including the California communities of Bakersfield, North Hollywood, San Fernando, Sun Valley, Ukiah, and Van Nuys . It was also filmed in Colorado, including parts of Denver, Aurora and historic Georgetown . A few scenes were also filmed in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos, all in New Mexico . </P> <P> The film's title refers to the eponymous Eddie Rabbitt song from the soundtrack, in which the singer complains that his girlfriend turns him "every which way but loose"; i.e., he cannot bring himself to leave her although he is more of a freewheeling character . </P>

Where did they film every which way but loose