Paint Your Wagon: Paramount Press Still Gallery

Paint Your Wagon: Paramount Press Still Gallery

A short time ago I was browsing through some folders and it occurred to me just how many varied stills were produced by Paramount to promote their epic musical Paint Your Wagon. Because there are so many, I thought it warranted a page of its own. They constantly seem to be appearing with varied scene shots, some behind the scenes shots and a great deal of support and extra cast members. There are obviously different types of these photos from all around the world, for example - some borderless (as here in the U.K.) and some which carry an NSS number to the front. However, all of these gathered together here are of the variety which carries the white Paramount information strip at the bottom of each still. Not only are they (imo) the most appealing, but also appear to be the most commonly issued format. I have absolutely no idea of how many different photos were produced all together, but I have a feeling it must have been quite an amount. As with our other dedicated photo gallery (Where Eagles Dare), I will constantly add and update to this gallery and adjust the count here in the description as it builds. You will find a few of these already exist here on the Archive on the dedicated Paint Your Wagon page which can be found here. I will leave them in place. Other formats of press stills can also be found there as well as different shots. Just to begin, I have uploaded 30 different press stills here.

The Film Music Society: A Very Special Fundraising Auction

The Film Music Society: A Very Special Fundraising Auction

I wanted to get this posted as soon as possible as it’s for a very important reason and has a link which is very close to my heart.

The Film Music Society has officially begun its fundraising auctions! Please help us spread the word about this marvellous piece of original title art from PAINT YOUR WAGON (Paramount, 1969).

We are so grateful to writer extraordinaire Julie Kirgo for donating this beautiful work of art in memory of its owner, her beloved husband Nick Redman (1955-2019), who would be so pleased to know that all proceeds will go to support The Film Music Society.

Nick was a huge Eastwood fan as well as one of the best overall Film Historians in the business – and we still miss him deeply. This one-of-a-kind piece of authentic Hollywood concept art was previously owned by the Oscar-nominated film producer, film music expert, and noted Hollywood western memorabilia aficionado and was donated by his lovely wife Julie to The Film Music Society for fundraising in support of film music preservation.

All net proceeds will support The Film Music Society

The Film Music Society is a 501(c)(3) organization formed by entertainment industry professionals in support of film music preservation and restoration - including scores, sketches, orchestrations, sheet music, recordings, production papers, journalistic writings, photographs and other documentation related to the history of the art form. We sponsor educational programs, concerts, screenings and seminars. Incorporated in 1983, the FMS is the leading organization for film music preservation in the world.

PAINT YOUR WAGON (Paramount Pictures, 1969) original hand-painted vintage concept art for the musical film’s opening titles designed by incomparable illustrator David Stone Martin.

Acrylic paint on photostat. The art measures 25.75” x 11.5”, assembled for display from two pieces. (Seam is lightly visible.) Matted in a 31.5” x 17.5” black wood frame and plexiglass with hanging hardware on the back. In vintage fine condition. The frame has a few minor mars and scratches; plexiglass has a small scratch near the bottom edge of frame.

The concept art was created to convey an idea or style for use in a visual medium project (such as film or video), upon which a final version is based and created for the project.

Celebrated artist and illustrator David Stone Martin (1913-1992) is best known for his unique style on more than 400 record album covers – predominantly jazz, from Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker to Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald – as well as countless covers and print ads for major magazines. His contributions in Hollywood were rare but vital, and include the graphic designs and paintings portrayed as the works of an institutionalized suicidal artist in The Cobweb (1955) and the four complex Toulouse Lautrec-inspired watercolours that illustrate Gaston’s fling through high society for the “Bore Montage” in Gigi (1958).

Paint Your Wagon was of course a film adaptation of the Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe 1951 Broadway musical capturing the California Gold Rush days of the 1850s, featuring such songs as “I’m on My Way,” “I Talk to the Trees,” and “They Call the Wind Maria.”

The film was directed by Joshua Logan, and starred Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, Jean Seberg, Ray Walston and Harve Presnell. The screenplay was adapted by Paddy Chayefsky and featured some new songs by Lerner and André Previn.

Being auctioned through Ebay, this piece is available for pick-up in West Los Angeles, CA (handling costs will still apply); or will be insured and shipped by UPS. Packaging costs are included in handling charges. This will only be shipped to addresses within the United States. Any questions should be addressed via the Ebay auction HERE.

Please remember, this is a charity auction. Therefore 100% of the proceeds will go directly towards The Film Music Society’s film and television music preservation and restoration. Your generosity will help to keep film and TV music alive!

Thank you. 

A Fistful of Dollars, Australian re-release Daybill

A Fistful of Dollars, Australian re-release Daybill

Whilst we seem to be on a bit of a Dollar trilogy binge at the moment, I thought I’d take this opportunity to post this image which I came across a short time ago. This is an Australian Daybill (typically 13” x 30”) poster promoting A Fistful of Dollars. It’s hard to date this one precisely. But by the clues this poster holds, the main one being the ‘United Artists – Entertainment from Transamerica Corporation’ logo, it’s quite probably a 1970’s re-release. United Artists used this particular logo from 1968 up until 1982. The NRC rating also confirms its Australian origin, and meant that the movie was "not recommended for children". New Zealand's posters were generally the same, but usually carried their own countries rating system.

A Fistful of Dollars Rare Make-up test shots

A Fistful of Dollars Rare Make-up test shots

I’ve been meaning to post these incredibly rare shots since someone sent me them a couple of months ago. The photos are likely to be test shots or final make-up shots taken in preparation for the incredibly vicious beating inflicted upon ‘Joe’ by the Rojo brothers and in order to extract information. 

These scenes were so vicious, that they were majorly trimmed by the censors (the BBFC) here in the UK. 

Subsequently, when the film was later shown on British TV networks such as the BBC, the full sequence was also still cut. It wasn’t until much later, and the emergence of Home Video, that this particular sequence began to be seen in a much fuller version. The make-up team on A Fistful of Dollars consisted of Alberto Gutiérrez and Sam Watkins, alongside uncredited assistant makeup artist José Luis Pérez. José María Sánchez served as the overall make-up department head (also uncredited). With these photos, we thought it was about time they deserved to be mentioned.

In the film, Joe of course manages to escape the confines of the Rojo’s and hides out until his wounds are healed and he is strong enough to make a return visit and settle the score. 

The beating hasn’t really become any easier on the eye over the years and still delivers a brutal punch, helped naturally with the aid of some pretty convincing make-up.

Below: A Spanish Lobby Card shows Joe left for dead after the Rojo beating

Below: From the film, Joe begins to make his recovery

Original French Clint Eastwood Ad blocks 1964 – 1972

Original French Clint Eastwood Ad blocks 1964 – 1972 

I obtained these from a seller in France a couple of years ago; I’d been meaning to scan them here for the Archive for some time now. There are 15 featured, all are various sizes. The first scan I had to pass twice and join due to its larger size. The films range from; A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, For a Few Dollars More / The Good the Bad and the Ugly, Hang ‘em high, Coogan’s Bluff, Where Eagles Dare, Dirty Harry and Joe Kidd.