Clint Eastwood was awarded the Legion d'Honneur by French President Jacques Chirac, according to ITV News.

Eastwood directed two movies about the battle of Iwo Jima, one told from the American perspective and the other from the Japanese.

Mr. Chirac described the latest films as lessons in humanity.

"At this side of the Atlantic ... you embody the best of Hollywood. In France, your films move millions of viewers because they are strong without being simplistic, lucid without being cynical", said the French President.

The “Flags of our Fathers” shows the invasion from the American perspective, while the “Letters from Iwo Jima” is a much lower budget alternative. It tells of the Japanese defence of the island and is in Japanese.

"Both stories are a sort of tribute to the common man - the person who is sent in there to do things and not necessarily knowing too much why. But it is not to question why, it is to do or die", said the Hollywood legend.

The Legion of Honour is France's highest order and has five classes. The Hollywood actor and director was awarded the lowest rank - that of knight.

The order was first awarded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804.

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