It puts the box in box office

Clint EASTWOOD is no stranger to boxing, having portrayed bare-knuckle brawler Philo Beddoe in the comedies “Every Which Way But Loose” and “Any Which Way You Can” more than 20 years ago. He returns to the sweet science in “Million Dollar Baby,” a drama in which he plays ex-fighter turned trainer Frankie Dunn, a man who keeps people at arm’s length -- and he’s got quite a reach. Into his gym walks Maggie Fitzgerald, played by a chiseled Hilary Swank, who’s gone as far as she can in the fight game on raw talent and needs someone like Frankie to teach her the finer points. Paul Haggis wrote the script, based on stories in F.X. Toole’s book “Rope Burns.” “Baby” marks Eastwood’s 25th feature since his directing debut, “Play Misty for Me” in 1971, making him one of the most prolific American filmmakers of his time. Warner Bros. releases “Million Dollar Baby” on Dec. 17.