Rare High Plains Drifter vinyl shows up – and quickly goes

To be clear from the start, I love Radio Spots. Not just Eastwood Radio Spots, but movie radio spots in general. The format itself is probably something quite alien to the younger generation, so a short explanation. Basically, a Radio Spot is an audio trailer; different length versions were contained either on tape or vinyl (supplied by the studios) and sent to Radio stations for air play. They were never commercially available to buy. Today of course, they are extremely hard to find, a great deal were destroyed (by design) after they had their run to tie in with the film’s general release. It was purely a promotional tool.

So when they appear these days they don’t tend to stick around for long - as this particular one proved a couple of days ago. It would have been great to secure this piece of vinyl, as I have other Universal records for Two Mules, Joe Kidd and The Beguiled. But sometimes it just isn’t meant to be. It didn’t help having a Buy Now option ($59.99) (approx. £49.00) on it, but it doesn’t end there of course, add to that International postage, importation duty and it suddenly becomes a very expensive piece. However, before you could even deliberate over it, the vinyl record had been claimed by some very lucky person.

I have included here a transcription of one of the 60 second spots in order to provide an idea of how they were put together and ‘sell’ the movie. The narration would be overlaid over soundbites from the film and music; this would often be dramatic and different music to that used in the finished film.

 "He drifted into town one day. The strange man in a long black coat. He drifted past the shops and stores, past people who stopped dead in their tracks with fear and wonder. He drifted into a town of guilt, a town of suspicion, and hate and greed. He drifted by them all. This man whose face they didn't recognize, whose name they'd never know, but whose vengeance they soon suffered. High Plains Drifter! He drifted into town one day, and that town would never forget. Clint Eastwood, the High Plains Drifter, a Universal/Malpaso production, rated R, under 17 not admitted without parent."

Warner Bros presents the Future rare publicity brochure

I thought I would take the opportunity to post this very rare and very important glossy card folder/ brochure produced by Warner Brothers very early in 1971. It’s a large piece to capture by scanning, but one of our administrative team Steve Saragossi recently came up with these great images that really do it justice, so my thanks to Steve. 

So why is it so collectable? Well, a look inside among the many ‘in production’ ads, you may spot a certain Frank Sinatra lined up as Dirty Harry. Yes, this is the only ad that appeared linking Sinatra to the upcoming movie. Closer inspection also reveals that the assigned director at this time was Irvin Kershner (1923-2010). Sinatra of course had to pull out of the project after injuring his wrist. The thought of carrying the heavy .44 Magnum suddenly became an issue, and was not going to help aid his recovery. It’s a lovely historic document, and something that doesn’t come along too often – so my advice would be to grab one should you ever find one. I can’t even recall where or when I purchased mine – but I’m certainly glad I did.  

Clint Eastwood Photo Opportunity #19

It’s been some 3 months now since the passing of Hollywood legend, Kirk Douglas. In that time I was desperately looking for a picture of Douglas with Eastwood. It was a struggle, but luckily last week I finally discovered one of the two legends deep in conversation. It was taken during the AFI's 40th Anniversary Celebration Lunch. The event took place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on October 4th, 2007 in Beverly Hills, California.

Clint at CBS in the Sixties

Here’s a great collection of photos that I have had on file for a long time and I promised to post back in the August of 2018. Actually, it’s arguably a blessing I delayed it, as our correspondent Davy Triumph just recently came up with some additional photos from this same shoot – so I’m very grateful to him. 

These photos represent a very long day spent at CBS Television City in Hollywood, California.. It’s a fascinating collection which took place on April 5th, 1960. CBS certainly made the most of their man on that day - Clint can be seen dressed in casual clothing around various areas of the studio premises and then for some more formal publicity shots in the studio. Then there’s a costume change for a photo shoot of Clint in full Rawhide garb. One of these photos was finally used for his Cowboy Favourites album (and the basis of my original post here). And lastly, Clint is dressed formally in a dinner suite for what is described as being a Rawhide season / year-end holiday party, again held at the studios. It’s a really fabulous collection of photos. 

Jay Leno reveals Clint’s Cowboy Favourites LP on TV

Here’s a great little excerpt that was sent to me by our administrator Davy Triumph. By the clues given (the release of Letters from Iwo Jima and it’s Oscar nominations, the talk of the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI and Clint’s upcoming Golf tournament at Pebble Beach) I would have to date this as February 2007, quite probably the 5th. It’s a great lighthearted exchange, as Clint and Jay are old friends – as you may recall Clint used Jay and his show within Space Cowboys (2000). However, what really makes this clip for me, is the moment Jay questions Clint about his singing ‘career; and surprises Clint by pulling out his $500 dollar purchase of the Cowboy Favourites LP (1962). It’s nice to see a valuation of it on TV – just as much as seeing it actually on TV! I remember purchasing this album myself, way before this was ever broadcast and I paid somewhere in the region of $200. A reminder that the LP was later re-released in 2016 on  Brown Tobacco vinyl and on various CDs which has now seen the original Cameo release fall more considerably in price. However, it’s a great moment, Clint’s embarrassment when they choose to run a sound bite from his album version of Cole Porter’s ‘Don’t fence me in’ is a moment to savour. 

               

Clint Eastwood on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson – April 3rd 1973

I must thank our member Jayne Smart for bringing this newly posted interview to my attention. It’s a great piece featuring Clint and long-time host of The Tonight Show, Johnny Carson. Always light-hearted, Clint had just appeared on the Academy Awards for 1973, and of course, that infamous opening monologue which Clint was pushed into presenting on Charlton Heston’s behalf. Heston was caught on the highway with a flat tire. Clint had to struggle through Heston’s speech with all of the Moses references, The Ten Commandments et al. Clint explains of the manic mayhem that was going on back stage. Reading from ‘idiot cards’, Carson reminds Clint about his desperate plea to ‘flip the card man, this aint my bag’ - which is all great fun. Clint was also there promoting his latest film for Universal, High Plains Drifter. The clip from the film has been edited out. 

                                          

Clint Eastwood Photo Opportunity #18

I’ve always liked this shot and think it makes for a great Photo Opportunity. Taken during the production of Pink Cadillac (1989), the picture shows Clint with Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams. Adams appeared in a brief cameo role as Gas Station Attendant. It’s not commonly known how this came about, but Adams does appear on the soundtrack album singing the track Drive all Night.

I don’t know what deal was finalised first, if the track came about after the cameo or the cameo after Adams had agreed to appear on the soundtrack album? Nevertheless, it doesn’t detract from the fact that it’s an excellent photo and great that it was captured to mark the event.  

‘C’era una volta Sergio Leone’ and its stunning poster!

Rome recently paid tribute to the celebrated Italian film director, producer and screenwriter Sergio Leone (1929-1989) with an exhibition at the Ara Pacis museum. ‘C’era una volta Sergio Leone‘ (Once upon a time Sergio Leone) was organised by Cineteca di Bologna and curated by its director, Gianluca Farinelli.

What made his features so remarkable was his ability to combine art, cinema, and culture reinventing a popular genre like the western. “Today’s cinema owes him”, says Farinelli. According to him, most contemporary filmmakers cross their path with Leone’s genius to learn from it – Coppola, Scorsese, Ang Lee, John Woo, Eastwood, and Audiard. Even Tarantino, who, when he wants that specific close-up, tells his cameraman: “Give me a Sergio Leone.” The Italian director was a filmmaker of enormous complexity. His cinema allows many different aspects to coexist on the screen. An example of this is the oxymoronic suspension of time, in which music is the only one to speak. In the Ara Pacis exhibition, open until May 3rd, there is the music of Ennio Morricone. But there is also the silent cinema. The one of Charlie Chaplin, as well as the one of Roberto Roberti, Leone’s father, and his mother, actress Bice Waleran. In ‘Ladri di Biciclette’ he plays a small part, a seminarian with glasses, in the rain. The sequence runs on a screen in the first of the five sections of the exhibition: ‘Citizen of the cinema‘.

A beautiful poster was created for the exhibition, using the original Italian artwork for A Fistful of Dollars. Which reminds me - I must congratulate our admin member Davy Triumph who this week won this rare 60” x 40” version. It’s a real beauty.

Rare Dirty Harry / Magnum Force Photos

As well as posting these on their dedicated pages, I thought they also deserved a place here as a new post. These 28 superb photos contain some incredibly rare images. Among them are shots taken during the filming of the school bus jump from the bridge, the opening credit sequence from the rooftop in San Francisco and from the final Quarry sequence. There are also a couple of others from Dirty Harry including Don Siegel setting up the flick knife opening and a great shot of Clint at the Charlie Russell murder scene. If that isn’t enough for you, I have also included 6 shots from the sequel Magnum Force. 3 of these shots are particularly interesting as they are from the cut sequence in the Bowling Alley Car Park. There is also a rare shot of Clint with Felton Perry, director Ted Post and possibly script supervisor, Hope McLachlin. Finally, there is a couple of Clint taken during the shipyard climax and possibly at Point Molate, Richmond, California.