Vintage Mirabelle Western Star Picture Parade Magazine 1960

Vintage Mirabelle Western Star Picture Parade Magazine 1960

After a nice little tip off from friend of the Archive (and owner of 007 Magazine) Graham Rye, I was alerted to this wonderful old UK magazine from 1960. 

As the publishers stated: 

Meet the Westerners… They’re the brightest stars on TV – from “Range Rider” to “Wild Bill Hickok” to “Bronco” and “Lawman!”

Turn the pages of this book and see who’s who out West! Read all about the “Bonanza”, “Laramie” and “Rawhide” boys, the brothers “Maverick” and all the other stars you dig the most!

If you want to cut out ’n’ keep the Portraits, just snip around the dotted lines – you’ll find all you want to know about each Westerner on the back of the photograph. 

Clint Eastwood who plays Rowdy Yates in “Rawhide” is on our cover - you’ll find his story on page 10!

A really nice old magazine that, thankfully, remains fully in tact and with nothing cut from it’s pages. 

Absolute Power Rare Casino Chips

Absolute Power Rare Casino Chips

I was fascinated to stumble across these very unusual novelty Casino chips recently. They were produced to tie-in with the premiere release date of Clint’s 1997 thriller starring Clint, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris and Laure Linney. 

They are produced in the same clay material as regular casino chips and handle in the same way as standard casino chips. What adds to their rarity, is that they are samples, but only in terms of the fact that the reverse has the manufacturer name on them. 

We really have no idea as to how many of these were made – not a great deal I’d imagine, I’ve certainly never seen them come up before. I have to thank my No 2 on this site, Davy Triumph who surprised me with these – dropping through the door this morning made it a genuine thrill, so thank you sir. It’s a good feeling to know we have these unique novelty pieces preserved here. Oddities such as these are always great to feature, especially when relating to Absolute Power, a film that is often sadly overlooked.  

Below: The four different chips

Where Eagles Dare: Rare Style A Quad poster sells for a Bargain Price

Where Eagles Dare: Rare Style A Quad poster sells for a Bargain Price

According to a great deal of fans, the elusive style A UK Quad poster is arguably considered as one of the Holy Grails of Eastwood posters. Not many of us have it, most of us want it – and it rarely shows its face. 

On the rare occasions it does surface, it tends to reach a ridiculous price. In fact, the last one we remember was on 7th September 2023 when it fell under the Propstore Hammer price of a cool £2000. Yes, this was a linen backed example – but it served as a good indicator that this is still one of the most sort after of posters.

So, a few of us were a bit shocked to discover that one appeared (and almost immediately SOLD) today on the online auction site Ebay. So how did it pass unnoticed? Well, this seems to me as if the seller really didn’t have much of an idea what he really had – or at least aware of its true value? Instead, the seller decided to list it with a Buy Now price of just £229! Is it any wonder it was snapped up?

Below: Snapped up. The Rare poster picked up on Ebay today. 

While a great deal of us will be left sobbing into our pillows tonight, we can only hope that it went to a real fan – and not some leach dealer who is only looking to fatten up his profit margin. 

But hey, I’m not bitter. Well perhaps just a little (I jest).

My thanks to Davy Triumph   

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Clint’s costume - Up for auction

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Clint’s costume - Up for auction

Western film costumes like those worn by Clint Eastwood in 1966’s The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and Henry Fonda in 1968’s Once Upon A Time In The West hit the auction market.

Everyone wants to be The Man With No Name — the iconic drifter antihero portrayed by Clint Eastwood in director Sergio Leone’s 1966 spaghetti western classic The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. And although you can never really replicate Eastwood’s iconic stare or lightning-fast draw, fans with big pockets will have the chance to look the part, at least.

Propstore, one of the world’s leading entertainment memorabilia auctioneers, announced it will hold its annual live auction of film and TV memorabilia this November, with the items on offer expected to fetch over £10 million.

Over 1,800 rare and iconic lots — including a screen-matched sandtrooper helmet from Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) and hand-painted artwork by Robert McGinnis from the 1971 James Bond classic Diamonds Are Forever — will be sold during Propstore’s unique Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction over four days from Thursday, November 14 through Sunday, November 17th 2024, from 3 p.m. GMT each day.

Western fans will be particularly interested in The Costumi d’Arte Collection, collecting a number of iconic Western film pieces including those from 1966’s The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, 1968’s Once Upon A Time In The West, and 1972’ The Grand Duel starring Lee Van Cleef, in addition to other Western film memorabilia.

Registration is now open online at Propstore. Online proxy bids can be submitted on October 15, 2024. In-room bidding will be open to the public at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, London on November 14-15, 2024.

Online and telephone bids can be placed across the whole event. Global bids can be placed online, over the phone or via absentee bidding.

In addition, in-room bidding will be open to the public at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly in London, on the first two days of the event on November 14th and 15th.

Below: The Costumi d’Arte Collection: Blondie’s (Clint Eastwood) Duster Coat from The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966) Estimate: £60,000 - 120,000 (~$78,407 - 156,814)

Blondie – aka The Man With No Name – wore his duster during the first part of the film, as he teamed up with wanted criminal Tuco (Eli Wallach) to collect Tuco’s bounty and then free him from multiple hangings. This lot comes from the archives of the Italian costume company Costumi d’Arte.

Although it initially met with mixed reviews, the film is considered by many to be the greatest Western of all time, and it catapulted Eastwood to movie superstardom. This was Eastwood’s third time playing The Man With No Name, following Leone’s A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More.

Dusters are an iconic Western garment, and Leone was a particular fan, with costume designer Carlo Simi reporting that “dusters were a mania of his”. Quentin Tarantino, meanwhile, recounted that “Leone once said they were like a suit of armor”.

The beige double-breasted duster features two chest pockets and two slash pockets, which feature prominently as part of Blondie’s quick-draw action.

This item is likely to have been rented to numerous productions over the decades since filming. Some minor modifications and repairs may have taken place during that time. There is some wear from production use, including minor staining, discoloration and plucking.

Below: The Costumi D’Arte Collection: Blondie’s (Clint Eastwood) Shirt from The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966) Estimate: £40,000 - 80,000 (~$52,271 - 104,543)

Blondie’s (Clint Eastwood) shirt from Sergio Leone’s classic epic Western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Blondie – aka The Man With No Name – wore his distinctive black and white patterned shirt during the first half of the film, from the shooting of three bounty hunters to the stagecoach scenes in the desert. He also wore his shirt in the memorable scene where Tuco (Eli Wallach) returns to try and hang Blondie.

Eastwood wore two slightly different styles of this shirt in the film – one with pleated pockets and one with flat pockets – and this is the flat-pocket style. This lot comes from the archives of the Italian costume company Costumi d’Arte.

Although the film initially met with mixed reviews, it is considered by many to be the greatest Western of all time, and it catapulted Eastwood to movie superstardom.

This was Eastwood’s third and final time playing The Man With No Name, following Leone’s A Fistful of Dollars (1964) and For a Few Dollars More (1965)

The black cotton shirt has an interior label from Italian costume supplier Costumi d’Arte Peruzzi. It features two chest pockets, a grandad-style collar, and a white circles-and-spots pattern. This item is likely to have been rented to numerous productions over the decades since filming. Some minor modifications may have taken place during that time and the shirt has been repaired in several places since the production.

Below: The Costumi d’Arte Collection: Stunt Tuco Sombrero from The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966) Estimate: £10,000 - 20,000 (~$13,068 - 26,136)

A stunt Tuco sombrero from Sergio Leone’s classic epic Western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Tuco (Eli Wallach) stole his sombrero, along with a gun and $200, from the Storekeeper (Enzo Petito) as he sought his revenge on Blondie (Clint Eastwood). He wore the sombrero until he and Blondie disguised themselves as Confederate soldiers, most notably when he attempted to hang Blondie, before the building they were in was destroyed by cannon fire. This lot comes from the archives of the Italian costume company Costumi d’Arte.

Although it initially met with mixed reviews, the film is considered by many to be the greatest Western of all time. Wallach was a veteran of Westerns by the time he made the film, but the role of Tuco, aka The Ugly, was the most iconic of his long and illustrious career.

This straw hat was made for the production but differs very slightly from the ones seen on screen worn by Eli Wallach. It was likely worn by Wallach’s stunt double Luigi Ciavarro. The crown features a leather eagle decoration, based on the Mexican national emblem, and the sombrero has leather around its brim edge, with a leather chinstrap. The hat has worn from use and age, most notably tearing around the base of the dome. Some of the leather decorations are no longer present, and the leather has shrunk over time.

Below: Clint Eastwood Autographed Photo from The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966) Estimate: £1,000 - 2,000 ($1,307 - 2,614)

An autographed photo of Clint Eastwood from Sergio Leone’s Western Classic The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Eastwood autographed this photo of his iconic character - Blondie/The Man with No Name - in black ink. It is displayed in a custom-made frame. Dimensions: 76 cm x 86 cm x 3 cm (30” x 33.75” x 1.25”)

The autographs in this lot have been professionally authenticated by expert Garry King.

Below: Enzo Nistri Hand-painted Italian Poster Concept Art from Joe Kidd (1972) Estimate: £3,000 - 6,000 ($3,920 - 7,841) 

Italian poster concept art hand-painted by Enzo Nistri for John Sturges’ Western Joe Kidd. In the film, former bounty hunter Joe Kidd (Clint Eastwood) reluctantly agrees to help landowner Frank Harlan (Robert Duvall) hunt down Mexican revolutionary leader Luis Chama (John Saxon). The final version of this design was used for the film’s posters in Italy. Nistri has signed his name in black ink in the bottom border of the piece, which is rendered on paper and displayed in a wooden frame. Dimensions: 54.5 cm x 43.5 cm x 4 cm (21.5” x 17.25” x 1.5”) Sold without copyright.

Bonus Clint Eastwood Props

John Wilson’s (Clint Eastwood) Shirt and Production Clapperboard from White Hunter Black Heart (1990) Estimate: £2,500 - 5,000 (~$3,267 - 6,534)

John Wilson’s (Clint Eastwood) safari shirt and a production clapperboard from Clint Eastwood’s adventure film White Hunter Black Heart. Wilson wore a military green shirt throughout the film as he and his crew pursued an elephant. The cotton military green shirt features a label with Eastwood’s name printed and “16” handwritten over it in black ink. The clapperboard has Eastwood’s name and that of the film’s director of photography, Jack N. Green, carved into the slate. A set of 18 black-and-white stills of Eastwood in the film accompany the lot, many of which feature him wearing a shirt of this style. Dimensions (clapperboard): 28 cm x 24 cm x 2 cm (11” x 9.5” x 0.75”)

Walt’s (Clint Eastwood) Ranger Zippo Lighter from Gran Torino (2008) Estimate: £5,000 - 10,000 (~$6,534 -13,068) 

Walt’s (Clint Eastwood) ranger zippo lighter from Eastwood’s acclaimed 2008 drama Gran Torino.

Walt lit cigarettes throughout the film with his Zippo, and also used it as a decoy for a gun in the final scenes. He tricked the Hmong gang who terrorized his neighbours Thao (Bee Vang) and Sue (Ahney Her) into shooting him dead, causing them to get sent down for murder.

The metal lighter features a sticker with the yellow-and-black emblem of the US 1st Cavalry Division, in which Walt served during the Korean War. The lighter is sold unfueled, its spark remains functional. Dimensions: 1.5 cm x 4 cm x 5.75 cm (0.5” x 1.5” x 2.25”) 

These, and many other western costume pieces are contained in the full auction, details can be found HERE

My kind thanks to Kevin Wilkinson

The Clint Eastwood Archive Surpasses 2 million views

The Clint Eastwood Archive Surpasses 2 million views

I just wanted to acknowledge and thank everyone for helping us reach and surpass a landmark figure of 2 million views. I noticed a few weeks back that it was getting close and it seems that the announcement here of Juror #2 with its trailer and poster really boosted the visits. Proof enough that there is still plenty of interest in a new Eastwood movie, regardless of the rather cautionary and tame approach from Warner Bros. 

It was on Monday 29th January 2007 that I put together this little place, a site which I hope has been an invaluable source for fans. Almost 18 years down the line – I find myself quite proud of what we have achieved. 

Whilst Juror #2 continues to be rumoured as Clint’s final movie, I have no doubt that future posts regarding latest projects will tend to slow down. However, rest assured, there is still plenty of vintage material and plenty of pieces to post. 

So, a big thank you to everyone who frequents this site and helping it reach heights that I really never expected. 

Clint Eastwood's Juror #2 Trailer and poster!

Clint Eastwood's Juror #2 Trailer and poster!

At long last, it’s arrived! Here is our first look at Clint’s new film Juror #2. The website People posted the following:

Clint Eastwood is delivering a twisty new legal drama full of moral dilemmas. Juror #2 stars Nicholas Hoult as Justin Kemp, a "family man" who, "while serving as a juror in a high-profile murder trial, finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma, one he could use to sway the jury verdict and potentially convict — or free — the accused killer," per a synopsis.

Eastwood, 94, tells PEOPLE in a statement, "This is a film I would want to see, that I think a lot of people would enjoy. It looks at the gray areas between the black and white of everyday circumstances and makes you decide for yourself."

The director adds that it started with a "good script" by Jonathan Abrams and a "solid story that I thought would make a good picture."

He adds, "It really intrigues me when a story places a character in a moral dilemma, and this is one that we could all imagine ourselves in or relate to in some way."

The all-star cast includes Hoult, 34, plus Toni Collette, Zoey Deutch, Kiefer Sutherland, Gabriel Basso, Leslie Bibb, Chris Messina, J. K. Simmons, Francesca Eastwood, and more.

Eastwood says the cast and crew shared "all the laughs" on set.

"We had a really great group of actors, led by Nicholas Hoult, who I was really impressed with — he is what I think a movie star is," says Eastwood. "Everyone was very professional, came prepared and ready to work, but more than that they came and we laughed every day. Whether I’m directing or acting, I think it’s important to enjoy the work, and we did."

Juror #2 signals the return of Eastwood to the director’s chair. The Oscar winner’s most recent films as director and producer are 2021's Cry Macho, 2019's Richard Jewell and 2018's The Mule and The 15:17 to Paris.

Messina, 50, previously called Eastwood an “awesome” collaborator in a conversation with PEOPLE in December 2023. 

“I really loved him. Ninety-three years old and completely with it, great notes, up on his feet behind the camera — just a badass," the actor said. "You think you're going to get some tough guy and he is completely gentle and calm and fun and cracking jokes.”

Sutherland, 57, revealed on the BBC's The One Show in May that he earned his part in Juror #2 after hand writing a letter to Eastwood “telling him how much I admired his work, which specific films [I loved] and why… he was kind enough to give me a job. So, kids, learn how to hand-write,” he joked. 

“I had read in one of the trade magazines that he was directing his last film,” added Sutherland, “and I thought, ‘This is my last chance.’ ”

Juror #2 will have its world premiere as the closing night movie of this year’s AFI Film Festival on Oct. 27. It will release in select theatres Nov. 1st.

Below: The poster for Juror #2

Below: The trailer for Juror #2
               

Photo Opportunity #54

Photo Opportunity #54

Another month, another Photo Opportunity. I thought I’d kick off the month of October with this rarely seen still from the 1979 film Escape from Alcatraz. I have a full press kit for Escape from Alcatraz which was quite generous in terms of stills – but this particular one wasn’t included. 

The photo features Clint as Frank Morris looking slightly uncomfortable while his cell is being shaken down. Actor Patrick McGoohan (who played the Warden) can be seen through the cell bars. The Warden as portrayed in the film was a fictional character. The film is set between the arrival of Morris at Alcatraz in January 1960 and his escape in June 1962. 

Clint was drawn to the role as ringleader Frank Morris and agreed to star, provided Don Siegel would direct under the Malpaso banner. Siegel insisted that it be a Don Siegel film and outmanoeuvred Clint by purchasing the rights to the film for $100,000. This created a minor rift between the two friends. Although Siegel eventually agreed for it to be a Malpaso-Siegel production, Siegel went to Paramount Pictures, a rival studio. It would be the final time Siegel directed Clint.

Although Alcatraz had its own power plant, it was no longer functional, and 15 miles of cable were required to connect the island to San Francisco's electricity. As Siegel and Richard Tuggle worked on the script, the producers paid $500,000 to restore the decaying prison and recreate the cold atmosphere - although some interiors had to be recreated in the studio.

The film grossed $5.3 million in the U.S. during its opening weekend from June 24, 1979, shown on 815 screens. In total (according to Variety. October 22, 2001), the film grossed an estimated $43 million in the U.S. and Canada.