True Crime Rare Japanese cinema ticket and souvenir booklet

Thank you to our Japanese correspondent Philip McLean for sending me these very nice pieces from Japan. A simple thing such as a cinema ticket is made to look like something very special when it comes from Japan, as does the souvenir booklet. The booklet is approx B5 in size (6.9"x9.8"). Many thanks Philip. 

Merle Haggard dies aged 79

I've just been informed of the sad passing of Country singing legend Merle Haggard. For the Eastwood family of friends, Haggard will be remembered for his contribution during Bronco Billy and his track Bar Room Buddies.

Merle Haggard has died after a series of recent health struggles. The legendary singer passed away on April 6, 2016, which was also his 79th birthday.

Haggard canceled tour dates in December of 2015 after he checked into a hospital and learned he had double pneumonia. In an interview later with Willie’s Roadhouse on Sirius XM, he said he was “nearly dead” when he was hospitalized for two weeks. He canceled shows scheduled for Jan. 30 and 31 after his double pneumonia returned. At the end of March, the legend announced he was canceling all of his scheduled shows for April on doctor’s orders.

According to Country Aircheck, Haggard had been in hospice care recently. The country icon’s manager, Frank Mull, reveals that he died of pneumonia at 9:20AM on Wednesday (April 6) in Palo Cedro, California.

Haggard was born Merle Ronald Haggard in 1937 just outside of Bakersfield, Calif., a town that he would help make famous with his revolutionary sound. His family struggled financially throughout his childhood, living in an old converted boxcar after their home burned down. After Haggard’s father died when he was 9, he turned rebellious, hopping a freight train to Fresno and getting picked up by the authorities when he was just 10, according to his official biography. He was in and out of reform schools and deemed “incorrigible,” and ended up in and out of jail as a young adult, culminating in a stretch in prison when he was 20 years old.

Haggard began to take music seriously while in prison at San Quentin, where he was on hand for the Johnny Cash performance that was captured for the iconic live album At San Quentin.

He began to make a name for himself in the club scene around Bakersfield after his release, developing a hard-charging approach to country music that prominently featured twangy electric guitars. He released his first single, a cover of Wynn Stewart’s “Sing a Sad Song,” in 1964, but it was Haggard’s own compositions that launched him as one of the most important and influential country hitmakers of his generation. He released a long string of deeply personal songs including “The Bottle Let Me Down,” “Branded Man,” “Sing Me Back Home,” “Mama Tried” and many more, developing a reputation as one of the most serious, hard-hitting artists in the genre.

Haggard maintained that successful streak through the 1970s and into the 1980s, scoring more hits including “If We Make It Through December,” “Ramblin’ Fever,” “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink” and “That’s the Way Love Goes.” He stayed active in his later years, touring regularly and releasing a new album, Django & Jimmie, with Willie Nelson in 2015, debuting at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Country Albums chart.

The legend’s personal life and health were frequently less stable than his career. He was married and divorced four times before marrying his fifth wife, Theresa Ann Lane, in 1993. He underwent angioplasty in 1995 to unblock clogged arteries, and in 2008 Haggard had part of his lung removed after he was diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer. He returned to the stage just months after that surgery, and remained active in performing until right before the end of his life.

Haggard was honored as BMI Icon in 1996, and recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2010. He won a slew of ACM, CMA and Grammy awards, and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977. Haggard was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994. 

RIP Sir.

The Golden Globes February 5th 1971

The Golden Globes, Los Angeles, California, February 5^th 1971. During his career Clint has been no stranger to the Golden Globes awards: So far, he has received 11 Nominations collecting 4 Wins, and the Cecil B. DeMille Award. 

Here’s a selection of photos from his first win for:

Henrietta Award World Film Favourite – Male winner Clint Eastwood

Henrietta Award World Film Favourite – Female winner Barbra Streisand

Below: Clint arrives with wife, Maggie

Below: Winners Clint and Barbra Streisand pose for the press backstage 

Below: From my collection, a large original b/w negative (colour positive shown above) My thanks to Ulrike Sigel.

The All-Star Party for Clint Eastwood 1986

I thought it would be great to post this entertaining tribute to Clint that was filmed in Los Angeles, California on Sunday September 28^th 1986, and aired on Sunday November 30^th 1986. At the time Clint was serving as mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea and finished his latest movie Heartbreak Ridge. Looking back over it just this morning, it’s a wonderful reminder of Hollywood’s golden era. So many great stars and directors are featured, Jimmy Stewart, Charles Bronson, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Sammy Davis Jr and Don Siegel  - all of whom are sadly no longer with us. More poignantly, the show marked the final public appearance by Cary Grant (who read out a personal message to Clint from President Reagan). The special aired one day after Grant’s death. CBS paid tribute to Mr. Grant with the following statement after the closing credits: "The All-Star Party for Clint Eastwood was taped on September 28, 1986 in Los Angeles. We at CBS extend our deepest sympathy to the family, friends, and fans or Mr. Cary Grant...actor, humanitarian. His contributions to the performing arts is everlasting."

Below: An original Press still of Clint and Bob Hope at the All-Star Party (thanks to Davy Triumph)

The show was broadcast in a one hour time slot and was written by Paul Keyes (as Paul W. Keyes) and directed by Dick McDonough.

Below: Clint with Don Rickles at the CBS TV Special All Star Party 1986

Below: Thank you to John for providing this link and to the original uploader, it is very much appreciated

                

Clint meets the King of Sweden - April 14th 1976

Thank you to my good friend and regular contributor Davy Triumph for supplying this great rare photo dated April 14^th 1976. Clint was among a group of stars who were invited to meet the King of Sweden, his majesty Carl XVI Gustaf. It’s nice to finally have a great image to accompany this story which I had from The Santa Cruz Sentinel and appeared in the issue dated April 15^th 1976 – Looking at the jacket and tie, Clint appears to be wearing his Dirty Harry outfit from The Enforcer - It’s an interesting moment in time – Thank you again Davy.

Gustaf caught a glimpse of the Old West and the New Hollywood and said he was impressed by what he saw. After a tour of the backlot sets of the Burbank Studios, including everything from Western streets to New York tenements, the monarch told a luncheon audience: "You've got everything here. After seeing all this, I think perhaps I should have come here immediately instead of touring the United States for two weeks. It would have been cheaper for the Swedish Foreign Office." The King's remarks were typical of the joshing tone at the film industry's reception for the 29-year-old monarch.

The luncheon featured comedy by Edgar Bergen, Chicago-born of Swedish parentage, who performed with his famed dummies Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. Bergen explained to Mc-Carthy that Vikings had dis- covered America 500 years before Columbus. McCarthy commented, "Columbus must have had a better press agent." . The King seemed delighted when Bergen and Snerd exchanged dialogue in Swedish. After one joke, Snerd commented, "That got a bigger laugh in Sweden." Earlier King Gustaf had toured the McDonnell Douglas aircraft plant where a DC9 and a transport plane are being assembled for Scandinavian J Airline Systems. The king flew by helicopter to the Burbank Studios and immediately transferred to a stagecoach loaned for the occasion by the Wells Fargo Bank. Together with the Swedish, ambassador to the United States, Count Wilhelm Wachtmeister, and his wife, the monarch had a 15-minute tour of outdoor sets where such films as "My Fair Lady," "The Music Man," "Bonnie and Clyde," "Blazing Saddles" and "Casablanca" were filmed. Dressed in a conservative blue suit with black and gray tie, the king was escorted to Stage 25, where the John Wayne-Lauren Bacall film "The Shootist" was recently made. The elaborate Western barroom, complete with nude murals on the walls, was set for 200 luncheon guests. The king, somewhat reserved until lunchtime, brightened noticeably when seated on the dais between Miss Ullmann and host Ted Ashley, chairman of the board of Warner Bros. Also on the dais were Bergen, actors Clint Eastwood, Sidney Poitier and Charlton Heston, and Warner Bros, president Frank Wells. Among the guests were Ray Bolger, Lome Greene, Ricardo Montalban, Karl Maiden, singer Linda Rondstadt, Vincent Price, Milton Berle, Kathleen Nolan, Binnie Barnes, Mike Frankovich, William Wyler and Robert Wise. 

Vintage Japanese Newspaper cuttings

A big thank you to my correspondent in Japan Philip McLean who provided these unique advertisements, Philip has sent many other great pieces from Japan which I will also upload very soon. Your support is always appreciated Philip.

Below: An original advertisement for Paint your Wagon

Below: A double page advertisement for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

 Below: An original advertisement for Two Mules for Sister Sara

Coogan's Bluff: The missing scene

Just been going through some files and found this transcript of the Coogan's Bluff deleted scene. It appears after the early bath tub scene when Coogan is told to report to the Sheriff's office where he receives his orders to pick up Ringerman from New York. I'm lucky to have a full print of Coogan's Bluff on 16mm which actually contains this scene. Unfortunately the scene has never been restored for any Home format, which is a great shame. It would of been nice to see Universal restore it for the Blu-ray release, or perhaps include it as a bonus feature...

The scene did appear on this French lobby Card

Scene: The sheriff’s office. The sheriff looks out the window, sees Coogan’s Jeep with the two bullet holes in the wind-shield, he can see Coogan coming his way. Coogan, outside the office door, knocks.

SHERIFF: Come in.

Coogan enters, wearing shades.

SHERIFF: Forty-seven minutes late.

COOGAN: So?

SHERIFF: So you know what a new wind-shield costs? Installed? $44.50.

COOGAN as he takes off his shades: Is that what you want to ... talk to me about?

SHERIFF: Not quite.

He goes to desk, takes out papers.

SHERIFF: Governor’s warrant. Duplicate flight, duplicate record, James Ringerman.

COOGAN: Ringerman?

He takes the papers.

SHERIFF as he takes a cigar from a box on his desk and lights it: Remember Ringerman? Discharged soldier, stole a car down at Bisby? Armed robbery, service station? Picked up a little blonde some place. We found her dead, motel, busted neck. Apprehended November 3, escaped custody, November 9. Last fall. They picked him up in New York last week; they’re holding him for us. For you, that is.

COOGAN: Why me, sheriff?

SHERIFF: You’re the one who pinched him.

COOGAN: And you’re the one who lost him.

SHERIFF: Heffurnan lost him.

COOGAN: Well then, send Heffurnan.

SHERIFF: Are you telling me who to send?

COOGAN: I'm telling you that I was out there for three days.

SHERIFF: So? You had a nice, refreshing bath. Here’s the necessary information, where to go and who to see when you get there. Plus airline ticket vouchers. Get thrashing, Deputy.

COOGAN: What is it with me, sheriff?

SHERIFF: Well, let’s just say that I don’t like deputies who bust up my vehicles. You got a per diem in New York, I wanna see the bills. Any complaints?

COOGAN: No, no. I figure I came out ahead.

He helps himself to one of the sheriff’s cigars.

COOGAN exiting, smiling: You could have asked me to pay for the wind-shield.

Below: From my cuttings collection, I came across this from an old Radio Times when the BBC were showing Coogan's Bluff, it dates back some 30 years ago... I thought there was always something rather ironic about the image they decided to use, as it is from the cut sequence in the film.