The Pale Rider at High Noon

Spaghetti westerner Clint Eastwood took time off in ’68 when filming Where Eagles Dare to enjoy The Big Smokes roads on a latest and greatest Norton P11 Rambler

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A trusty A to Z to ensure your destination is gained on the same day, rather than later that week. Otherwise when crossing The Thames ask a bobby instead…

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It seems that The Man with No Name liked the twin three quarter litre moto so much that he is later seen on a blue high piped Commando..

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Back to that Alistair MacLean adapted adventure war movie. Still one of my favorites; combining Clint with Richard Burton was inspired. “Broadsword calling Danny Boy, come in, over”.

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The delightful and beautiful Mary Ure and Heidi Pitt as Allied Agents playing Bavarian Fraulein look on as Schaffer (CE) and Major Smith (RB) sup at their steins of lager. Moments of respite during location shooting allow our Harry Callahan sitting in an Austrian snowfield looking over the nearby Alps.

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Let’s have another look over that Norton 750…a popular motorcycle of the time and used to some sucess as a desert sled.

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“Well punk? Are you feel feelin’ lucky?”

3 Comments to “The Pale Rider at High Noon”

  1. Good article..
    The photo on the Commando.. from the architectural background and his uniform.. I would suggest “Kelly’s Heroes”.?
    That would be my best offer for “War Film/ amusing/witty/stylish”.. bestest in that class.?
    Autumn is back and it’s a Bank ‘oliday [monday next].. grey/damp/o’cast and CRAP.!!
    The car.. my lovely Alfa is playing up and has been sur le garage..costalottadosh!
    For the both of us.. have a ride out somewhere lovely, that lakeshore thing sounds fab’. I’ll just be here fed up, skint again, contemplating suicide! but not really.. just well fed up. Hey ho..
    Onward then.
    Regards
    B

    • I forgot about that other Clint WW2 filum. Good catch. We’re heading into a late summer heatwave next week; expecting 90’s. However not so humid and a draught coming off the respiteful lake.

      I will take the bike oot for a spin and get a few more photaes of riding ‘perfection’ as much as I can get here being somewhat city and water bound here. Ooh I’m jealous of you with the Pennines, the Lakes, Northumberland and Scotland on your doorstep…

      Hope the Alfa gets back on the road soon; those idiosyncratic continental autos!

      Take Care then pal! Dave

  2. David,
    I meant to say on the Kelly’s heroes thing.. I always loved Donald Sutherlands’ loopy performance as the spaced-out tank commander.. “Moriarty! always with the negative vibes!!” Wonderful
    If war films can ever be “amusing” then this is the one for me and I try to watch it whenever it is shown here.
    I would offer for realistic [NOT contrived..] and terrifying.. “Saving private Ryan” and for just plain terrifying “Shindlers’ list”.which for me conveys the full horror of the dark side of the master race. Can you imagine what life must have been like under them and what it would have been like here if they’d gotten in, and Britain had fallen after the Battle of Britain..?
    Have a lovely weekend bro.. and no, I’m NOT suicidal.. just my pocket book has had a battering and I’m fed up. Shit happens eh..
    B x

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