The Cinema of Clint Eastwood: Chronicles of America (Directors' Cuts)

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. David Sterritt is chair of the National Society of Film Critics, film professor at Columbia University and the Maryland Institute College of Art, and editor of The Quarterly Review of Film and Video. He has published books on Alfred Hitchcock, Terry Gilliam, the Beat Generation, and many other subjects, and he was film critic of The Christian Science Monitor for almost forty years. 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. -- Provided By Publisher. Introduction: Play Mystic For Me -- Pros And Cons: The Case For/against Clint -- A Fistful Of Movies: Rowdy Yates And The Man With No Name -- The Rising Star: Clintus, Siegelini, And Company -- Any Which Way He Can: From Misty And Harry To High Plains Drifter And The Outlaw Josey Wales -- Portrait Of The Artist As A Major Player: From Pale Rider To Bird -- Invictus: From John Huston To Jersey Boys -- Eastwoods's Politics: 'leave Everyone Alone' -- Epilogue: 'if Somebody's Dumb Enough To Ask Me ... '. David Sterritt. Includes Bibliographical References, Filmography, And Index. Table of Contents ......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Introduction: Play Mystic for Me......Page 10 1. Pros and Cons: The Case For/Against Clint......Page 16 2. A Fistful of Movies: Rowdy Yates and the Man With No Name......Page 33 3. The Rising Star: Clintus, Siegelini, and Company......Page 65 4. Any Which Way He Can: From Misty and Harry to High Plains Drifter and The Outlaw Josey Wales ......Page 96 5. Portrait of the Artist as a Major Player: From Pale Rider to Bird......Page 149 6. Invictus: From John Huston to Jersey Boys......Page 170 7. Eastwood’s Politics: ‘Leave everyone alone’ ......Page 228 Epilogue: ‘If somebody’s dumb enough to ask me...’......Page 252 Filmography as Director......Page 255 Index......Page 267