Juror #2 Original Featurettes

Juror #2 Original Featurettes

There seems to be a couple of featurettes circulating for Juror #2, each with a length of about 1 minute (terrific). One seems to be for the American market and seems geared up simply to publicise the Warner Bros, back catalogue…  While the 2nd looks pretty much identical with the exception of the release date of November 1st tagged on to the end. 

                

            

Juror #2 why is Warner Bros. burying its release?

Juror #2 why is Warner Bros. burying its release?

I see this story is circulating all over the web in various forms:

Clint Eastwood has consistently directed feature films for over 50 years. He is now 94 years old, which could potentially make the soon-to-be-released Juror #2 his final movie. Given his illustrious legacy, both in front of and behind the camera, it’s somewhat puzzling that Warner Bros. seems to be burying Juror #2, which will reportedly be screened in less than 50 theaters.

Juror #2 will premiere at AFI Fest on October 27th, and Warner Bros. will give the film in limited release on November 1st. Given Eastwood’s decades-long partnership with the studio, not to mention the billions in box office grosses over that time, you’d think the studio would treat Eastwood’s potentially final movie with a little more respect. Well, according to Variety, this is the respectful approach for the studio.

The film, which was produced on a budget in the mid-$30 million range, was originally conceived as a streaming release. Warner Bros. then elected to give the film a limited theatrical release after positive screenings. That said, the studio doesn’t believe the film will be a box-office success, with one source saying that "the decision to put Juror #2 in theaters at all represents a gesture of gratitude toward Eastwood."

Variety’s report states that the film is currently listing showtimes at four locations around New York City, five in the Los Angeles area, and just one in Chicago. It’s listing pre-sales in fewer than 25 locations across America’s 25 most populated cities. “‘Juror #2’ is releasing in the U.S., U.K., France, Spain, Italy and Germany with the full support of Warner Bros.,” said a Warner Bros. spokesperson. “The film will have its worldwide debut at the AFI Film Festival this weekend. “

Eastwood’s last film, Cry Macho, was a flop at the box office, grossing just $16.5 million worldwide against a budget of $33 million. However, it’s important to note that it was released in the midst of the pandemic during the first few months after theaters reopened. The studio was still disappointed, with CEO David Zaslav questioning why it was even made if they had doubts about the movie’s profitability. “It’s not show friends, it’s show business,” Zaslav was quoted as saying. You’re really only as good as your last film, even if you’re an icon.

It's all a bit disrespectful and depressing really… I wonder, what chance has this movie really got?  

Super 8mm mock ups

Super 8mm mock ups

I was discussing the beloved Super 8mm format with a friend over the weekend. There was always a certain charm about collecting and projecting an excerpt or ‘selected’ edited scenes from an Eastwood movie – long before the emerging video cassette tape. 

Thinking about it, there were plenty of titles that never did materialise on the format, so thought we’d have a bit of fun and create a few mock ups of what could have been.  

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. 

 

Dateline: September 1974 The Eiger Sanction 50 Years ago…

Dateline: September 1974 The Eiger Sanction 50 Years ago…

It’s hard to believe that principal filming on The Eiger Sanction wrapped up 50 years ago this month.

Principal photography began on August 12, 1974, in Grindelwald, Switzerland, with a team of climbing experts and advisers from the United States, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. After 5 weeks at the Eiger, the production unit travelled to Zürich to film the opening scenes of the film around the area of the Grossmünster cathedral and the Limmat River, the Münsterbrücke bridge, the Café Bauschänzli, the Kirchgasse, the Napfgasse, and the Restaurant Karl der Grosse. Aside from the location filming on the Eiger mountain and Zürich other locations included Monument Valley and Zion National Park in the American Southwest, and in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey in California. Filming was pretty much finished by late September 1974. 

Below: Clint on location in Zürich, Switzerland with his producer Robert Daley, September 1974

Clint Eastwood to receive award from Morgan Freeman

Clint Eastwood to receive award from Morgan Freeman 

Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman starred in the beloved western Unforgiven (1992), earning Eastwood the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Director.

Cowboys and Indians Magazine, September 27th, 2024

Clint Eastwood, a multi-time Cowboys & Indians cover star, will be presented with the inaugural Cultural Leadership Award this Sunday, September 29, at the 67th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, California.

The western star has sat on the board of the Monterey Jazz Festival for many years, and will be presented with the honour by long-time friend Morgan Freeman, who graced C&I's January 2010 issue. Eastwood and Freeman’s first collaboration was 1992’s Unforgiven, which won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Eastwood.

The pair would co-star again in 2004’s Million Dollar Baby, which earned Eastwood the Best Picture and Best Director awards as well as a Best Supporting Actor honour for Freeman. Their final collaboration was 2009’s Invictus, for which Freeman was nominated for Best Actor.

(Below: Long-time friends Morgan and Clint)

Following the award presentation, a musical project title, “Eastwood Symphonic,” will be led by Eastwood’s son and jazz musician and composer, Kyle Eastwood.

The project will feature Kyle Eastwood’s quartet alongside an orchestral ensemble performing themes from Clint Eastwood’s popular films like Flags of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima, Gran Torino, and Bridges of Madison County.

Eastwood’s Central Coast ties run deep — he moved there when he was drafted into the Korean War and trained at nearby Fort Ord, where he was discovered by crewmembers from Universal Studios, according to movie lore. Despite receiving a screen test shortly after (which reportedly went poorly), Eastwood took drama lessons until his first minor on-screen role in 1955. The actor earned his breakthrough role in 1958’s Rawhide series as cowpuncher Rowdy Yates.

Eastwood eventually purchased a home on the Central Coast, later being sworn in as mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea in 1986. 

My kind thanks to Dave Turner

Composer Mark Mancina scores Juror #2

Composer Mark Mancina scores Juror #2 

Mark Mancina (Twister, Speed, Moana, Tarzan, Bad Boys, Brother Bear, The Sea Beast) has this month completed scoring the upcoming thriller Juror No. 2. The film is directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, Gabriel Basso, Chris Messina, Zoey Deutch, Leslie Bibb, Cedric Yarbrough, Kiefer Sutherland, Francesca Eastwood, Adrienne C. Moore and Amy Aquino. The movie follows a family man who, while serving as a juror in a 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. Jonathan Abrams wrote the screenplay. Eastwood is also producing the project with Tim Moore (Sully, In the Land of Blood and Honey), Jessica Meier (The Mule, Richard Jewell), Adam Goodman and Matt Skiena, Mancina has previously scored Eastwood’s last feature, Cry Macho. Juror No. 2 will premiere next month as the closing night film of the 2024 AFI Fest and will be released in select theatres on November 1 by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Below: Mancina’s last collaboration with Clint was Cry Macho, a score that failed to connect with fans.

Christina Sandera Cause of death announced

Christina Sandera Cause of death announced 

Always a painful subject, but I’m posting this piece which I read from The New York Post which was published last week.

Clint Eastwood and his family had a rough time after the death of his longtime partner, Christina Sandera. Sandera died at age 61 on July 18. The Post exclusively confirmed her cause of death was a heart attack.

Clint’s daughter, Kimber Lynn Eastwood, spoke about the tragedy in an interview with Fox News Digital on Wednesday.

“We were all in shock, and it was all kind of a struggle in the beginning, but I think now the shock value is wearing off,” said Kimber, 60. “When somebody passes away that’s so close to you, you just, there’s just kind of a different vibe,” the “Wheel of Fortune” makeup artist added. “You just learn to live with it.”

Clint, 94, and Sandera were together since 2014. They met when Sandera worked as a hostess at Clint’s Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.

The “Million Dollar Baby” actor mourned his longtime love in a statement when news of her death broke over the summer.

“Christina was a lovely, caring woman, and I will miss her very much,” Clint said.

Kimber, who is the second-oldest of Clint’s eight kids, said that she’s continuing to live by her dad’s famous words, “Just be yourself,” following Sandera’s death. She also talked about what the Oscar winner is like as a grandfather of five. “My dad is great with all the grandkids,” Kimber said. “He’s older, he’s more settled in his life. He loves being a grandpa. He loves all of us.”

Since Sandera’s passing, several of Clint’s children have spoken out about the family tragedy.

His daughter Morgan, 27, posted a tribute on Instagram in July. She shared a photo of herself and her husband, Tanner Koopmans, with Clint and Sandera at their wedding, which took place one month before Sandera’s death.

“A devastating loss for our whole family,” Morgan wrote in the tribute, adding, “Thank you Christina for being a good partner to my dad you will be greatly missed.”

Clint’s son Scott, 38, gave an update on the family in an interview with E! News last month. “Everyone is great,” he said. He added about his dad, “He is doing OK. Thank you for asking.”

Clint and Sandera had a low-profile relationship, though she did go with the famous actor to various Hollywood events over the years, including the red-carpet premieres for “Sully” in 2016, “The Mule” and “The 15:17 to Paris” in 2018 and “Richard Jewell” in 2019.

Their final red carpet together was in November 2019 at AFI Fest. 

Clint Eastwood’s ‘Juror #2’ Lands Limited November Release Date After Closing AFI Fest

Clint Eastwood’s ‘Juror #2’ Lands Limited November Release Date After Closing AFI Fest

I suppose I should post this, if only out of loyalty towards the fan community - although I have to admit, my enthusiasm in regards to Clint’s latest film has probably never been so low. I know I’m not alone here, I’m hearing the same general thing from many fans. The seemingly lacklustre build up to Juror #2 has been incredibly disappointing, with advance publicity being virtually zero, it can only be described as poor. We can only surmise this is down to Warner Bros who seem increasingly reluctant to push and celebrate Clint’s latest project. There seems to be a feeling that if a film doesn’t feature some stereotypical comic book hero or is a special effects laden piece of crap - that it simply isn't worth the time of day. God forbid, if we are asked to sit through a human story or a drama that requires an ounce of thought? The times have certainly changed - and arguably for the worse. Diversity seems to have become a thing of the past, and I find that incredibly depressing. Anyway, for what it’s worth, here’s the latest on Juror #2 and it’s ‘limited’ release according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Warner Bros. is behind the 94-year-old filmmaker's film, which stars Nicholas Hoult.

Prolific filmmaker Clint Eastwood‘s thriller Juror #2 will open in select theaters on Nov. 1, days after making its world premiere as the closing-night film of the 38th AFI Fest.

The 94-year-old director’s new film stars Nicholas Hoult as a family man who, while serving as a juror on a high-profile murder trial, finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma he could use to influence the verdict and potentially convict, or free, the wrong killer. Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, Chris Messina, Gabriel Basso, Zoey Deutch, Cedric Yarbrough, Leslie Bibb and Kiefer Sutherland also star.

There’s been speculation as to whether Juror #2 will be a part of this year’s awards race, and that chatter will only increase now that it is opening during the heart of awards season and playing at AFI, just like his Oscar contenders American Sniper and Richard Jewell.

In this instance, however, the AFI Fest event is first and foremost intended to honor Eastwood’s long and iconic career, and it’s unclear if there will be an awards push for the film, according to sources.

(Below: Another picture of Clint on set - with a beard - which seemed to be the main focus of media attention during the production of Juror #2)

“There is only one Clint Eastwood — and AFI is proud to present the world premiere of this next chapter in his historic canon,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We are honored to bring the community together once again — artists and audiences — to celebrate an American icon.”

Generally, Warners makes Eastwood’s films available nationwide. So far, there are no plans beyond a limited run.

In 1996, Eastwood received the 24th AFI Life Achievement Award, and in 2009, he received an AFI honorary degree for his contributions of distinction to the art of the moving image.

The AFI Fest is presented by Canva, and runs Oct. 23-27. Juror #2 will screen at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Oct. 27.

Eastwood — who hasn’t said whether Juror # 2 might be his last film — directed from a script by Jonathan Abrams, and produced alongside Tim Moore, Jessica Meier, Adam Goodman and Matt Skiena. David M. Bernstein, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Jeremy Bell exec produced.

A UK cinema date is scheduled for November 1st. 

Photo Opportunity #53

Photo Opportunity #53

For our September Photo Opportunity, I’ve delved again into my personal collection of 35mm transparencies (more commonly known as slides). This particular shot is from a collection of extremely rare photos which I still believe remain unpublished – I certainly haven’t seen them in any publication. A few photos from this session have appeared, usually with Clint wearing a yellow polo style shirt, often with a cigar and in the grounds of a hotel or villa. It’s believed that these were taken around the summer of 1967 when Clint was in Europe on a promotional trip for A Fistful of Dollars. 

The card slide mounts carry the stamp of photographer Herbert Fried (born 21/06/1926 in Berlin-Wilmersdorf) (died 1980). There is not much known about the man, except for his legacy of taking star photos from the 50’s and 60’s and often with his trusted Rolleiflex. Of late, his work has started to stir a great deal of interest. 

Among the collection I obtained (probably some 30 years ago), are photos from this session that saw Clint outside on a Patio area surrounded by exotic looking plants and some less formal shots of him relaxed inside the hotel or villa in a setting that could be either Italy of Spain? The couple of photos I have previously seen published appear to have no details whatsoever – making it extremely hard to confirm the facts. Some of these photos can be seen on the A Fistful of Dollars page. For this Photo Opportunity I’ve chosen a photo that captures Clint in very relaxed mood in the bathroom area – probably preparing for the photo session. Please excuse the watermark, this is simply to protect the photo’s integrity. 

Film Icons: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach & More - 1997 interview

Film Icons: Clint Eastwood / Eli Wallach & More - 1997 Radio interview

Our U.S. correspondent Kevin Walsh contacted me this morning, pointing me towards this archival interview from 1997. Fresh Air is an American radio talk show broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States since 1985. It’s host Terry Gross had the opportunity to sit with Clint, Eli Wallach and our own Christopher Frayling to chat about the Dollar films and Sergio Leone. 

The 1964 spaghetti Western A Fistful of Dollars turned Clint Eastwood into a star. He had a famous squint in his closeups, but he told Terry Gross in 1997, it wasn't necessarily character driven. "They bombed me with a bunch of lights, and you're outside and it's 90 degrees, and it's hard not to squint."

We'll also hear from Eastwood's co-star in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Eli Wallach, who went on to play a bandit in several Westerns. Cultural historian Christopher Frayling tells us how the Italian director Sergio Leone broke the conventions of the Hollywood Western, and stuntman Hal Needham describes his most daring feats.

It makes for an interesting 50 mins – and well worth checking out HERE

My kind thanks to Kevin.  

Psst, got any spare tickets?

Psst, got any spare tickets?

Ever get the feeling collecting is getting, well, a bit stupid? Just when you think you’ve seen it all, something seems to pop up that makes you question people’s sanity.

Now I’ve seen Japanese cinema tickets come up for sale before. They are usually nicely designed and usually carry a nice couloir image or poster art – but it’s a ticket stub, right? Because of their novelty value, it’s not unusual to see them sell for around $20 - $30 max. So, I was a bit shocked when our friend Davy Triumph spotted this little one up for grabs – an original Japanese ticket for Dirty Harry. Nice little object, fair enough… Then I saw the price tag attached to it… US $798.00 (£606.54) and the seller even has the Cojones to add a postage rate! 

Honestly, check yourself into hospital…  

A Fistful of Dollars: Rare European Ad Blocks

A Fistful of Dollars: Rare European Ad Blocks

Some time back I discovered these rare ad blocks for A Fistful of Dollars. Although some of these designs use some of the relevant artwork which was used on finished poster designs, it’s nice to see them in the context of these ads. However, there was one that was completely new to me – a Spanish ad which crudely illustrates a pair of hands reaching out to a stack of dollar coins (get it?). A curious design, which I don’t believe ever made it to a poster – perhaps this was used in the Spanish press as an early teaser design? The Teatro Principe ad is another Spanish block which featured previously used poster artwork.

The second 2 advertisements (Per un pugno di dollari) appear to be Italian. The Metropolitan utilises previous poster art, while the Colosseo Eliseo La Perla ad appears to use a photographic source for its design. The tagline translates as ‘Take a good look at this man's face: he is the architect who brought spectators from all over Italy to applause and who caused all attendance and box office records to fall’

Great vintage pieces that are worthy of a place here.