Newman & Eastwood: The Summer of ‘69

Newman & Eastwood: The Summer of ‘69

I stumbled (purely by accident) across this little ad the other day, from a Universal pairing during the Summer of 1969. Starring Paul Newman and Clint on the same bill, I certainly would have paid a couple of bucks to catch this one. 

Again, it’s another strange pairing, which served very little purpose other than to promote two of Universal’s superstars. 

Winning was the latest of the two movies, a 1969 drama / sports film directed by James Goldstone and starring Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward and Robert Wagner. The film is about a race car driver who aspires to win the Indianapolis 500. A number of race car drivers and people associated with racing appear in the film, including Bobby Unser, Tony Hulman, Bobby Grim, Dan Gurney, Roger McCluskey, and Bruce Walkup.

Coogan's Bluff was made the previous year, and for me was certainly the better movie.

I found this small ad for The Washington Theatre, Royal Oak, Michigan – which sadly was just made up of text – we couldn’t have that, so I took the opportunity to have a play, and mock it up a little…

Below: The Ad in its original form

Below: The Ad re-invented 

Eastwood and Brando Together in One Show!

Eastwood and Brando Together in One Show!

Yes, blink and you may well have missed this double-feature which showcased Eastwood and Brando. There really wasn’t too much of a theme connecting these two movies, other than they were both Universal pictures. The Night of the following Day (1969) was co-produced by Elliott Kastner and Jerry Gershwin, both of whom would collaborate to produce Where Eagles Dare (1968). The Night of the following Day was a routine thriller starring Marlon Brando (with a hip blonde hairdo) and Richard Boone (who wasn’t). Filmed in France, around Le Touquet it tells the story of a kidnapped heiress being held hostage in a remote beach house on the coast of France. 

Coogan’s Bluff (1968) marked the first of five collaborations between Don Siegel and Eastwood. A far more enjoyable film starring Clint Eastwood, Susan Clark, Don Stroud, Tisha Sterling and Lee J. Cobb. Eastwood plays the part of a veteran deputy sheriff from a rural county in Arizona, who travels to New York City to extradite an apprehended fugitive named Jimmy Ringerman, played by Stroud, who is wanted for murder.

Before Hang 'Em High had been released, Eastwood had set to work on Coogan's Bluff, a project which saw him reunite with Universal Studios after an offer of $1 million, more than doubling his salary for the previous film. Jennings Lang was responsible for the deal. Lang was a former agent of Don Siegel's, a Universal contract director who had been eyed to handle Coogan's Bluff, which would be Eastwood's second major American film. Eastwood was not familiar with Siegel's work, but Lang arranged for them to meet at Clint's residence in Carmel. Eastwood, having seen three of Siegel's earlier films by then, was impressed with his directing and the two became friends, forming a close partnership in the years that followed.

Above: The double-bill was significant enough to warrant a quad poster release – a poster which is quite hard to come by these days. Also below are a couple of original newspaper ads promoting the double bill release. 

Rare South Korean Vinyl Album

Rare South Korean Vinyl Album

Once in a while, a piece sometimes comes along in which you form an instant liking. It’s happened a few times with me, but because the piece is so rare it often means that you could be waiting years – just for the opportunity of it coming along again…

I think it must have been a good 10 years ago when I first spotted this rare vinyl LP, and while I keep a pretty close eye on the markets, this one just didn’t appear to show itself that often. However, one look at that fabulous cover / sleeve photo – and it’s not hard to understand why it remained firmly in my head. WESTERN SCREEN THEME BEST 20 Vol.7, is a 1990 album, is not particularly anything extraordinary or special in terms of its content, a lot of average covers of themes, the like of which we have all heard before over a dozen other, similar type albums. This album was released on the short-lived Korean label, Seorabul Record Co. a company who were formed in 1975 and closed in 2004. It carries a cat No of VIP-20113.

The fact remains that this album’s appeal remains firmly in its packaging, and the use of the glorious cover photo of Clint from Coogan’s Bluff. Recently, I was extremely lucky to be contacted by a Korean Vinyl dealer who offered me it at a very reasonable price – in fact, the shipping was more expensive than the LP – but sometimes you just can’t afford to think about it for too long, ‘you snooze you lose’ as the idiom states. Needless to say, I snapped it up – I just didn’t fancy that long 10-year wait again – and very pleased I did.

REGARDING THE ARCHIVE

OK, thanks for all the negative responses in regards to Photo Opportunity #75 _ it has now been removed. It's funny, because I began the Archive (and in particular - Photo Opportunity) in order to try and bring fans something ‘new’ - and I have on numerous occasions - but you know what, the compliments and positive responses in comparison to the negative comments - which people are so quick to jump on, is becoming a bit tiresome. I was discussing with a close friend this morning (from my hospital bed) if it was really worth continuing? It feels like AI has really fucked up the world, I was never a fan of it, and it appears to have stripped away all integrity in determining if something is genuine or not? I'm proud that I've never posted junk on the archive - I've turned down invites from TV companies around the world because they've simply wanted to focus on 'how many affairs' or ‘how many kids Clint has' - fuck off, I'm not interested.... 

I've contributed to half a dozen good books and a very good documentary - that's fine with me. But I'm not happy with the state of technology - it's good, and it's clever - but how on earth can legitimacy be relied upon again? 

I thought about finishing it all on the archive - and discussed it this morning. However, I came to the conclusion that from here on, it will be utilising material that I know is 100% genuine, stuff that was gathered and collected long before this AI shit took hold. So there may be a Photo Opportunity every month, but try not to moan if it is something you've seen before - I've given up trying to source new(old) material. Thank 'technology' for that one. 

Yes, I know I made a typo with white rocks and white sands - I’m surviving on a couple of hours sleep a night and on Dialysis days I get absolutely NO sleep at all - but I continue to make the effect in order to present something for the 'fans'. YES I had all the same concerns about the star, the clapperboard, the belt buckle - do people really think I wouldn't? But I went with it - at worse I thought it may have been a stand-in for the Eastwood / Dern fight scene? I made a decision, and stand crucified for it. 

Anyway, expect much less in future, I really don't have time for this shit anymore.

Rare Dirty Harry Trade Ad

Rare Dirty Harry Trade Ad 

Here’s a cracking original Trade ad I picked up recently. It’s full page in size (approx. 11” x 8”) and originally appeared in the UK Trade magazine Cinema/TV Today on Saturday 6th May 1972. 

These ads often appeared for just 1 day only, and rarely present themselves these days. 

The Ultimate piece of Eastwood memorabilia? Harry’s 44 Magnum comes up for Auction

The Ultimate piece of Eastwood memorabilia? Harry’s 44 Magnum comes up for Auction

I suppose if you had to pick something that was classed as the ultimate piece of Eastwood memorabilia, I’m pretty sure the list would probably contain either the Colt pistol from the Dollar movies, perhaps even the Poncho? But also, among the ‘dream’ selection must be one of the 44 Magnum pistols as used by Dirty Harry. 

Well, a couple of weeks back it was Davy Triumph who sent me a link to this rather special auction piece. The stuff of dreams maybe? But I’m afraid I will have to stick to my replica (which itself is some 26 years old now).

Here’s the information provided by Heritage Auctions:

"Go ahead, make my day."

Sudden Impact (Warner Bros., 1983), Clint Eastwood "Harry Callahan" Hero Smith & Wesson Model 29-2 Double Action Revolver. Few firearms in motion picture history command the same legendary status as Harry Callahan's (Clint Eastwood) Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum. Across the Dirty Harry franchise, the massive revolver became inseparable from Eastwood's iconic portrayal of hard-boiled Inspector Harry Callahan - the uncompromising San Francisco detective whose cold precision, steely confidence, and razor-sharp one-liners helped redefine the modern cinematic antihero. 

Offered here is an original hero Smith & Wesson Model 29-2 used by Eastwood in Sudden Impact, the fourth instalment in the landmark Dirty Harry series, and the film responsible for immortalizing one of the most quoted lines in cinema history: "Go ahead, make my day." Serial numbered S317983 on the frame and butt, this formidable .44 Magnum revolver represents the very embodiment of Harry Callahan's screen persona. During the film's unforgettable diner sequence, Callahan confronts a gang of armed robbers attempting a violent holdup. After dispatching several assailants, Harry levels his Model 29 at the final criminal - who has taken a terrified waitress hostage - and calmly delivers the line that would become permanently embedded in the cultural lexicon. The scene instantly entered cinematic history, transforming "Go ahead, make my day" into one of the defining catchphrases of the twentieth century and forever cementing the Smith & Wesson Model 29 as one of the most iconic firearms ever featured on screen. 

The revolver features a blued finish and is chambered in powerful .44 Magnum calibre with a 6.5" barrel, serrated fixed front sight, and micrometre-adjustable rear sight. Additional features include a case-hardened hammer, grooved trigger, Smith & Wesson trademark logo on the right side of the frame, and finely checkered walnut grip panels inset with S&W medallions. Heavy, elegant, and unmistakably imposing, the Model 29 became synonymous with the Dirty Harry franchise and remains among the most recognizable handguns in film history. 

The revolver is housed in an attractive fitted wood display case with green felt lining and accessories. Provenance: From The Planet Hollywood Collection; Profiles in History Icons & Legends of Hollywood Auction 103, June 5, 2018, Lot 998. Accompanied by a COA from Planet Hollywood bearing a facsimile signature of founder and CEO Robert Earl. Condition: Very good. Retaining approximately 94-96% finish with honest handling wear and scattered areas of extremely fine pitting. Faint tracking line to cylinder. Few minor dings and scuffs to wood. The action has been modified to cock but not fire, with an internal safety engaging when the hammer is cocked back. Strong bore. The display case exhibits expected staining and discoloration to the felt interior consistent with age and storage. Special shipping arrangements via a federal firearms licensed dealer will apply. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.

The Auction, which finishes in 18 days, is currently at $31,000 w/ Buyer's Premium (BP) : $38,750.00. Next Bid Minimum: $32,000 (which is $40,000.00 w/ BP) – so, if you fancy an early Christmas present or thinking of simply re-mortgaging the family home – then have a go! 

If of course someone would like to buy this for the Archive to retain, then you have my deepest and most sincere gratitude and blessing… lol I’ll shut up now… 😄

Rare Where Eagles Dare British ads to tie-in with UK Empire release

Rare Where Eagles Dare British ads to tie-in with UK Empire release

Here are 3 very Rare original press ads all of which tie-in with the Royal premiere at the Empire, Leicester Square cinema on 22 January 1969 with Princess Alexandra in attendance. Unfortunately, Clint was unable to attend as he was in the middle of filming Two Mules for Sister Sara in Mexico.

Where Eagles Dare was a huge success, earning $6,560,000 at the North American box office during its first year of release. It was the seventh-most popular film at the UK box office in 1969, and 13th in the US.

The Ads are all of the large Variety, approx. 11” x 7.5”

Below: A Rare Ticket for the Gala event.