Review of Drucilla Cornell, Clint Eastwood and Issues of American Masculinity

Review of Drucilla Cornell, Clint Eastwood and Issues of American Masculinity (New York: Fordham University Press, 2009) 216 pp. The world easily recognizes acting idol Clint Eastwood (b. 1930). This American cultural symbol and veritable living legend was originally famous as ramrod Rowdy Yates within TV's Rawhide before earning filmic fame with his tough-guy charm and loner persona within Sergio Leonie spaghetti westerns, his Dirty Harry cop franchise and assorted genre pictures. However, Eastwood the film director is just as important for his morality tales of astonishing maturity, sensitivity and insight; albeit, less researched. And so it is to Drucilla Cornell's considerable credit that she turned her critical attention to the directorial accomplishments of this international symbol of effortless masculinity (alongside John Wayne, Gary Cooper and Sean Connery) to explore modern-day American masculinity.