Clint: The Life and Legend

by Patrick McGilligan

Book Overview

Like The Man With No Name, one of his most famous roles, Clint Eastwood has always had an aura of tight-lipped mystery. He has long been an internationally famous star, first of television and then of the movies, and he has more recently joined a select group of Oscar-winning actor-directors, including Orson Welles, Charlie Chaplin and Woody Allen. But the real Clint has always been an enigma-until now. With this gripping and scrupulously researched...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312290322
• ISBN13: 9780312290320
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 612 Pages
• Weight: 2.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 6.6" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A faux idol as a person

This is the best and no contemplative biography of Eastwood I had never read. No kisses in his ass. No sucking the dust. They're sources that talk whit care in prewing a possible menace. All of his girls-in-love were used as prostitutes in his films. Scripts that Eastwood realized whithout kowning them. A man of usura. And etc. It's not the artistic but the real man in his every day life what is narrated. Of course, american people don't like to see one of his idols cut down to earth as a man. I knew before the kind of Clint.

The Only 'True' Eastwood Biography

It's ironic that this biography received such poor ratings when it is the only true Eatwood biography among Eastwood books. The reality is that most people interested in Eastwood don't want to accept or consider that one of their favorite cinimatic personalities might actually be human with human failings. After reading 'Clint' I had a detailed picture of Eastwood the man and his career. The author goes to painstaking detail to capture Eastwood while painting a fascinating portrait of the Hollywood landscape. For such an encompassing biography 'Clint' is suprisingly well paced. Both times I've read 'Clint' I couldn't put it down. I first read 'Clint' 6 years ago when it came out and recently reread it it was so engrossing and enjoyable. If you want to keep thinking of Eastwood as a 'good guy' don't buy 'Clint.' If you want a clear picture of the man this is a fantastic read and book. 'Clint' is a must for those willing to look beyong the vail of the Hollywood PR machine.

Disturbing yet necessary-Clint's still Clint though...

I've read this book 4 or 5 times now and I still find it fascinating. Though there are some errors in it, it's still tarnishes Clint's reputation-somewhat. Despite being overtly negative, and sad for those of us who are big fans, Clint will still be Clint to the vast majority. I find it disappointing that he fathered so many kids that he wasn't really a father to, and that he could distance himself from people who were once his friends without so much as a backward glance, but the quote at the end of the book says it all, really. It says: "If you like Clint's films, that's all that matters". I agree, sort of. I just feel let down knowing that someone I admire so much has so many deep character flaws.

Wow! Ain't the Clint I knew !

... none of which prepared me for this excellent and hopefully well-researched book. ... The book is fascinating. Of course, one has to understand that no person's long life can be put under the lupe without disclosing some major negatives. (An anti-semitic remark, quoted in CLINT, disturbs me most of all.) In any case, I couldn't put the book down. On the Franklin Scale of 1-10, 10 being best: CLINT is a 10. ...

fascinating portrait

McGilligan has produced another great biography with his book on Clint. It's a fascinating portrait of the enigmatic Eastwood which looks at his films and private life. For those out there who have found Clint's recent films (including the over rated UNFORGIVEN)somewhat slapdash, Mr McGilligan's book provides some answers. While fans of Clint might find this bio somewhat harsh about their hero, it comes across as a reasonably fair portrait of the actor/director. This is a thoroughly gripping read and,as usual, the author has supplied his reference sources in great detail. Highly recommended.