He became a movie star playing The Man With No Name, and today his name
is known around the world. Measured by longevity, productivity, and
profits, Clint Eastwood is the most successful actor-director-producer
in American film history. This book examines the major elements of his
career, focusing primarily on his work as a director but also exploring
the evolution of his acting style, his long association with screen
violence, his interest in jazz, and the political views - sometimes
hotly controversial - reflected in his films and public statements.
Especially fascinating is the pivotal question that divides critics and
moviegoers to this day: is Eastwood a capable director with a photogenic
face, a modest acting talent, and a flair for marketing his image? Or is
he a true cinematic auteur with a distinctive vision of America's
history, traditions, and values? From A Fistful of Dollars and Dirty
Harry to Million Dollar Baby and beyond, The Cinema of Clint Eastwood
takes a close-up look at one of the screen's most influential and
charismatic stars.