Eastwood’s UK trip of June 1967

For some time now, I have been collating all of the photos I can find to illustrate Clint’s 1967 visit to the UK. Clint arrived at London’s Heathrow airport on Thursday, June 1^st 1967. He was in the UK for a total of 9 days to promote A Fistful of Dollars. It was of course released some 3 years after it was made, due mainly to copyright problems with Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo (1961). Most pictures from this promotional tour were captured at Heathrow where it was arranged through United Artists for Clint to be photographed with three beauties from the UA publicity department. These three girls, dressed in cowboy hats, ponchos and toy guns were Sue Melody, Sandra Marshall and Anita McGregor. Sadly, I have never come across any UK newspaper articles which cover this event.

During the tour Clint also stayed at The Albany Hotel on Smallbrook Queensway which is located in the city centre of Birmingham. It is unclear how long Clint was actually in Birmingham, but the two photos here were taken on June 5^th, one with his then wife Maggie.

There are also a couple of very famous photos which show Clint holding a silver tankard. In one he appears to be blowing the head off his beer – it’s a strange picture to say the least. Whilst the exact date remains elusive, we do know that these pictures were taken in Manchester.

The last of these pictures is a wonderful photo of both Clint and Maggie Eastwood on their arrival at Cardiff central railway station to attend a special press showing of A Fistful of Dollars. Again, it is unclear of the exact date in June. "When Eastwood arrived at the press screening at the Capitol Theatre, there really wasn't that much media interest. Local paper, the South Wales Echo, did get a shot of a bequiffed Eastwood, and his then wife Maggie, in the back of a car but that was about it. With his DA hairstyle and sober suit he looks like a throwback to the 1950s"

However, it was during this visit that Clint gave an interview to a 24 year-old BBC Wales journalist named John Humphrys. The interview has become something of a classic clip now, and is also included here.

I’ve always been fascinated with this visit, ever since I saw one of the Heathrow photos in Iain Johnstone’s book The Man with No Name, first published in 1981. Should anyone have any other additional information on this promotional tour I would love to hear about it and to add it here to this piece. 

Below: Clint visits Birmingham

Below: Clint has a beer in Manchester

Clint pictured in St Peter's Square, Manchester 12th June 1967 if this date is correct, it suggests that Clint's visit was longer than the 9 days stated above or that his arrival date is wrong...

6ft 3 Clint Eastwood pictured in St Peter's Square Manchester with Antony Rixon aged 18 months

Below: Clint in Cardiff, Wales

Below: Clint interviewed by John Humphrys

Friend of the Archive, author Steve Guariento was recently spreading the good word to his friend Sim Branaghan, Branaghan, author of the book; British Film Posters – An Illustrated History, (BFI 2006) asked Steve to relate this story to me and for us to enjoy.

John Grundy is today known as a TV presenter whose work is mainly featured in the BBC North East Region of England. However, as a young man, he was also assigned as Clint’s Tour Manager when he visited the North of England in 1967.

Above John Grundy:acted as tour manager for Clint in 1967

‘John Grundy, who admitted he had never previously heard of Clint, but forty years later he told me he was a thoroughly nice, and an unassuming fella. Grundy mentioned to me in an anecdote concerning a hotel somewhere in the North (he couldn't recall where), in which Clint claimed he'd enjoyed the best night's sleep ever.  He was a particular fan of the pillows, and begged for John to get him a couple somehow. John discreetly collared one of the hotel cleaners, and after a few quid exchanged hands was sneakily handed a couple of the treasured pillows. Clint was very pleased, and kept them for the rest of the trip. That's a true story!’