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.<BR>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.