Clint Eastwood squinted like Dirty Harry when he took aim at Michael Moore, the New York Daily News reported.
"Michael Moore and I actually have a lot in common - we both appreciate living in a country where there's free expression," Eastwood told a star-studded crowd attending the National Board
of Review awards dinner, where the veteran actor and director picked up a Special Film-making Achievement prize for his latest film, Million Dollar Baby.
Then the Republican-leaning Eastwood told the lefty film-maker: "But, Michael, if you ever show up at my front door with a camera - I'll kill you."
The audience erupted in laughter and Eastwood grinned dangerously.
"I mean it," he added, provoking more laughs.
Sitting well out of range at a table at the back, Moore - who received a Freedom of Expression award for his anti-Bush polemic Fahrenheit 9/11 - chuckled.
Other NBR award-winners included Annette Bening for best actress in Being Julia, an absent Jamie Foxx for best actor in Ray, PS star Topher Grace and The Phantom of the Opera star Emmy Rossum.
Michael Mann was named best director for Collateral and Finding Neverland was best film.
Accepting the Career Achievement Award, Jeff Bridges gave a moving tribute to his wife of 30 years, Susan Geston.
