American Rebel
The Life of Clint Eastwood
-
-
3.7 • 37 Ratings
-
-
- $14.99
-
- $14.99
Publisher Description
In American Rebel, bestselling author and acclaimed film historian Marc Eliot examines the ever-exciting, often-tumultuous arc of Clint Eastwood's life and career.
As a Hollywood icon, Clint Eastwood--one of film's greatest living legends--represents some of the finest cinematic achievements in the history of American cinema. Eliot writes with unflinching candor about Eastwood's highs and lows, his artistic successes and failures, and the fascinating, complex relationship between his life and his craft. Eliot's prodigious research reveals how a college dropout and unambitious playboy rose to fame as Hollywood's "sexy rebel," eventually and against all odds becoming a star in the Academy pantheon as a multiple Oscar winner. Spanning decades, American Rebel covers the best of Eastwood's oeuvre, films that have fast become American classics: Fistful of Dollars, Dirty Harry, Unforgiven, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, and Gran Torino.
Filled with remarkable insights into Eastwood's personal life and public work, American Rebel is highly entertaining and the most complete biography of one of Hollywood's truly respected and beloved stars–-an actor who, despite being the Man with No Name, has left his indelible mark on the world of motion pictures.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Eliot, biographer of stars ranging from Walt Disney to Bruce Springsteen, tackles the life, career and artistic challenges of Clint Eastwood. In 1954, at age 24, Eastwood was married and working at an Oakland, Calif., gas station when he was brought to Universal by director Arthur Lubin and signed to a learning contract. After years of uncredited appearances and bit parts in B films, he finally got his break when he was cast as Rowdy Yates on CBS's Rawhide, seen for eight seasons (1959 1965). His role as the poncho-clad Man with No Name in Serge Leone's innovative westerns triggered a solid movie career, followed by the popular Dirty Harry series. In 1971, he made his directorial debut (Play Misty for Me) and later racked up multiple nominations and awards, including Oscar wins for directing Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby. Updating previous biographies, Eliot analyzes both box-office bombs and successes while also probing the "never-ending drama" of Eastwood's modus vivendi, his "financial empire" and his personal relationships. Married twice, Eastwood has seven children by five different women. Although Eastwood did not consent to be interviewed and key sources asked not to be named, Eliot documents a wealth of details in this well-researched, comprehensive biography that will not disappoint Eastwood's fans.
Customer Reviews
Eastwood has demons
You may have ‘heard’ of Clint’s past - but in reality Clint is/was a complete SOB to many in his life.
Changed my opinion of him as a person.
The Good, the bad, and the ugly
He's no saint. He never said he was. He did things his way. That is the shocking part of the story. How did he know or think he could succeed and pull it all off? He had no inside track, no friends in high places, and yet he decided he was going to be a star and he was. That was impressive enough. And then he proved he deserved it. That is the shocking part. He can't be happy about this version of his life, but he'd still be proud if he read it. If you idolize Clint, don't read it. If you want to understand the guy, you'll love it.
American Rebel, The Life of Clint Eastwood
I have loved Clint since I was 8 years old, when he played Rowdy Yates in Rawhide. It was very disappointing to find out what a womanizing hound he is, with no regard for anyone but himself. He has numerous illegitimate children that he didn’t care to acknowledge, and that is the exact opposite of the characters he embodies in his movies. He screwed over LOTS of so-called friends who gave him their time and talent to help him forge his career. And the way he treated Sondra Locke was disgraceful.
That being said, he is still one of my favorite actors, and it was interesting to learn what happened behind the scenes of his movies. The spaghetti westerns were excellent, Dirty Harry ruled, but in my mind, Gran Torino was one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.
Well written and researched, I bet Clint hates it!!