Eastwood and Newman paired again / Misty World Premiere Ad

Eastwood and Newman paired again / Misty World Premiere Ad

It’s fair to say that both Clint and Paul Newman had crossed paths many a time. It was rumoured that Newman actually suggested Clint for the role of Dirty Harry. They joined up for that famous photo shoot in Tucson, Arizona when Newman was making the movie The life and times of Judge Roy Bean, and a few years later ‘Eiger’ became another project of shared interest at Universal. 

I’ve got to say though, I never had no idea of this particular pairing featuring Play Misty for Me and Newman’s Sometimes a great Notion (1971). Both films were made in the same year and both were dramas of sorts. Both were also Universal Pictures. Sometimes a Great Notion starred Newman, Henry Fonda, Michael Sarrazin and Lee Remick. 

I’ve also included here a couple more recently found ads for Play Misty for Me – you may notice one appears to be a ‘world premiere’. Whilst Play Misty for Me premiered in October 1971 at the San Francisco Film Festival. It opened in six cities on October 20, 1971, before expanding in November. However, the film also had a very early premiere in the United States in El Paso, Texas, on August 4th, 1971 – which seems to tie in nicely with this particular ad and justifying perfectly the wording of ‘World premiere’. The premiere was probably held at the Plaza – The Plaza Theatre opened September 12, 1930 for movies and stage shows, it had a seating capacity for 2,298. The theatre’s Atmospheric style beauty is equally matched by its glorious Spanish Colonial decor. A truly stunning movie palace, it is one of a handful of theatres that became part of the Save America’s Treasures program.

After decades as an entertainment venue for the city, the Plaza Theatre was narrowly saved from demolition in 1987 by the El Paso Community Foundation who raised $1 million for the theatre’s restoration. The city later took control of the Plaza Theatre and a renovation and restoration project was underway for several years to reopen the theatre.

Assisted by the Save America’s Treasures program, the Plaza Theatre received the help it needed to complete the renovation and reopened March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day), 2006.

I believe the ‘cinema park’ also featured in the ad was a 3-screen Cinema Park Drive-In which was opened on May 7, 1969, it was located on Montana Avenue in El Paso’s east side.

Below: Misty's official premiere when shown at the San Francisco Film Festival in October 1971