Tuesday 30 March 2010

Early Eastwood TV and Movie bit parts

I wanted to get this post started in order to post several posters and lobby card that I have either in my own collection or on file. This post covers a 10 year period, between the years 1955 - 1965 and does not include Rawhide which has its own dedicated page. Here you will find all things connected with the following films or TV appearances:
"The Danny Kaye Show" .... Himself-Guest (1 episode, 1965)
Episode dated 6 October 1965 (1965) TV episode .... Himself-Guest
CBS: The Stars' Address (1963) (TV) .... Himself
"Pantomime Quiz" (1 episode, 1962)
... aka "Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz" - USA (alternative title)
... aka "Stump the Stars" - USA (new title)
- The Rawhide Cast (1962) TV episode
"Mister Ed" .... Himself (1 episode, 1962)
- Clint Eastwood Meets Mister Ed (1962) TV episode .... Himself
 
"Here's Hollywood" .... Himself (1 episode, 1962)
- Episode dated 23 March 1962 (1962) TV episode .... Himself
"Disneyland '59" (1959) (TV) .... Himself
"Maverick" .... Red Hardigan (1 episode, 1959)
- Duel at Sundown (1959) TV episode .... Red Hardigan DVD
Above: The Maverick episode is available on DVD, it actually comes as an extra on the Special 2 Disc edition of Unforgiven
Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958) .... Keith Williams Rare 16mm full print
Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958) is also now available on Blu-ray disc in its full Regalscope ratio
Lafayette Escadrille (1958) .... George Moseley
"Navy Log" .... Burns (1 episode, 1958)
- The Lonely Watch (1958) TV episode .... Burns
Escapade in Japan (1957) (uncredited) .... Dumbo Pilot
"West Point" (1 episode, 1957)
- White Fury (1957) TV episode
"Death Valley Days" .... John Lucas (1 episode, 1956)
... aka "Call of the West" - USA (syndication title)
... aka "The Pioneers" - USA (syndication title)
... aka "Trails West" - USA (syndication title)
... aka "Western Star Theater" - USA (syndication title)
- The Last Letter (1956) TV episode .... John Lucas

Above: Death Valley Days, This is the very rare U.S. Laserdisc containing 4 episodes from the show including The Last Letter which starred Clint. Made in b/w, 26 minutes
Below: Death Valley Days Broadcast December 8th, 1956
            
The First Travelling Saleslady (1956) .... Lt. Jack Rice, Roughrider
Below: Clint as he appears in The First Traveling Saleslady
Below: A couple of great shots during the production of The First Travelling Saleslady with Clint's Mum and Dad and with Ginger Rogers
Away All Boats (1956) (uncredited) .... Marine (Medic)
Below: How Clint appeared briefly in Away all Boats
Star in the Dust (1956) (uncredited) .... Tom, ranch hand
... aka "Law Man" - USA (alternative title) DVD
"Highway Patrol" .... Joe Keeley (1 episode, 1956)
- Motorcycle A (1956) TV episode .... Joe Keeley
             
Never Say Goodbye (1956) (uncredited) .... Will DVD
Tarantula (1955) (uncredited) .... Jet Squadron Leader
... aka "The Giant Tarantula" - USA (informal title) DVD / Laserdisc
Lady Godiva of Coventry (1955) (uncredited) .... First Saxon
... aka "21st Century Lady Godiva" - USA (alternative title) DVD
Francis in the Navy (1955) .... Jonesey DVD
Allen in Movieland (1955) (TV) .... Orderly
Revenge of the Creature (1955) (uncredited) .... Jennings - Lab Technician DVD
Below: Swedish 1 sheet for Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958) this was one of the films that Sergio Leone viewed when considering Eastwood for A Fistful of Dollars, although he was not impressed by the movie he liked the way Clint moved 'cat like' as he described it. Eastwood would also later comment that he thought it was a terrible film.
I am lucky enough to own a complete print of this movie on 16mm.

Below: The 6 sheet poster for Away all Boats (1956) Clint appears as part of the Marine crew, as a medic and has just a single line. Not sure of any DVD release, but I only have a VHS recording from a TV broadcast.

Below: A rare fold out mailer for Escapade in Japan (1957) where Clint appeared briefly as an aircraft pilot. Again, not sure of any DVD release of this movie, but I do have a VHS from a TV broadcast.

Below: 3 Original Lobby Cards from Francis in the Navy (1955) where Clint had quite a large role as one of the Sailors (Jonesey) card Nos 3, 4 and 7 are shown below and each of them feature Clint. I have the DVD of the movie (scan to follow).



Below: Lady Godiva (1955) Original U.S. Insert, Clint appeared in a 'blink and you'll miss him' role as the first saxon. Nevertheless, I still have this movie on DVD (scan to follow)
Below: Never say goodbye (1956) lobby card set. I'm lucky enough to own this particular set where Clint played lab assistant Will, to Rock Hudson. Below are the complete set of 8 cards and a close up example of the title card. I also have this film on DVD (scan to follow)


Below: Tarantula (1955) was one of many films in Universal's second phase of monster flicks and has now become a classic of the genre. Clint appears towards the finale as the Jet Squadron Leader who lead a team of fighter jets to bomb and destroy the giant spider. Below is one of the famous lobby cards of the day. I own the movie on both Laserdisc and DVD (scan to follow)

Below: A Rare costume test shot of Clint when landing his first feature role in the 1955 3-D sequel Revenge of the Creature
Below: A rare shot from 1955, Clint attends a dance class at Universal Studios with John Saxon and Floyd Simmons

Lots more to come in this section, so check back soon!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

So, I'm sort of watching Death Valley Days and reading FaceBook.. and I hear this voice...WOW, a Very Young Clint Eastwood (1956) Death Valley Days..and he inherits two million dollars in the show... KOOL!!!! Not having a t.v. until the mid-60's I became a Big Fan of Rawhide watching re-runs on my neighbors t.v. (still do watch the re-runs on my t.v,)..LOL

..

Clint's archive said...

lol, it's a good one isn't it Jeanette :-) I remember my eyes lighting up when I first found that Laserdisc of Death Valley Days! Thanks for leaving a comment, I will be posting a little birthday wish for the man later, 87 tomorrow and still looking well!

Sandi Linn Andersen said...

I watched "The Letter" episode of Death Valley Days this afternoon. I'm hooked on the Western Channel. Tuned it to it recently during a long health issue. It has been great entertainment. I've taken to looking for famous stars that show up in episodes of Death Valley Days. Was surprised to see Angie Dickenson in one and today I spotted that familiar silhouette and voice of Clint Eastwood. Saw Jack Nicholson in another western a couple weeks ago and barely recognized him. Love the old westerns. Reminds me of the 50's and going to visit grandma and grandpa and westerns playing on the TV. We didn't have a TV so it was a treat to watch TV at their farmhouse.

Steve said...

I was watching Death Valley Days, and much to my amazement, Clint Eastwood appears. This is the only prominent bit part I have ever seen him in before Rowdy Yates/Rawhide. I recognized his voice. He had not idea how far he would go at this time.

Clint's archive said...

Thank you Sandi and thank you Steve, great stories!