Persistence of Double Vision: Essays on Clint Eastwood

By William Beard

What makes Clint Eastwood such an extraordinary screen presence? Clint Eastwood represents probably the single strongest icon of heroic masculinity in popular cinema over the past quarter-century. Yet this icon seems continually to deconstruct its own stature through ironic allusion and gesture. Perhaps there is more to this player of hyperbolic manliness than first meets the eye. William Beard examines Eastwood's unique position as cinematic icon and creative filmmaker. Award-winning director, producer, star, and now politician, Eastwood has evolved from problematic characters like the Man With No Name and Dirty Harry to become one of American cinema's best respected figures. Through detailed readings of many individual films, including the masterful Unforgiven and A Perfect World, Beard helps us to understand the is/not qualities of the charismatic Eastwood figure.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 088864356X
• ISBN13: 9780888643568
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: University of Alberta Press
• Length: 212 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Age Range: 18 years and up