MONTEREY, Calif. -- The mayor with the fast draw, Clint Eastwood, is joining a 7-foot rabbit in a gala salute to the shy, awkward star of dozens of romantic comedies, war films, dramas and westerns, Jimmy Stewart.
Superstar Eastwood, who is also the mayor in neighboring Carmel-by-the-Sea, will present Stewart with a lifetime achievement award at the conclusion of the Feb. 18-21 second annual Monterey Film Festival.
Ironically, no spotlights will be allowed to sweep the sky for the event at Carmel's Sunset Center. Despite a plea from Eastwood, Carmel's City Council voted 3-2 to outlaw the lights.
'It was the feeling of the council that spotlights are not in keeping with the village atmosphere,' said the lawmakers. Councilman Robert Evans added, 'It's kind of a Hollywood atmosphere, if you'll forgive the expression.'
Eastwood, who announced he wouldn't seek another term in the April election, said he'd moved to Carmel to escape the showbiz glitter, but he thought an exception should be made for Stewart. 'For one hour, I don't see what the big deal is,' he said.
The festival's executive director, Mikel Pippi, said as an alternative to spotlights, he's having 700 people show up with flashlights to brighten up the black-tie event.
Dubbed 'Movie Magic,' the festival presents 60 films from 14 countries, including nine starring Stewart, ranging from the 1954 'Glenn Miller Story' to the lovable 'Harvey,' where he played the tippler Elwood P. Dowd, who adopts a 7-foot invisible rabbit.
Other Stewart films being screened during the four-day festival are 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,' 'Vertigo,' 'The Man Who Knew Too Much,' 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,' 'Anatomy of a Murder,' 'Bell, Book and Candle' and 'Rear Window.'
'Harvey' will be shown prior to Eastwood's presentation of the Golden Cypress Award to Stewart at a dinner attended by many of the actor's co-stars and admirers, including local residents Doris Day and Joan Fontaine. Lurking around will be a tall, hopping and very visible white rabbit.
Stewart, whose shy, gawky screen presence is the antithesis of Eastwood's tough 'Dirty Harry,' persona, won an Academy Award in 1940 for 'The Philadelphia Story,' and was nominated for performances in 'Harvey,' 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,' 'It's a Wonderful Life,' and 'Anatomy of a Murder.'
He's also a real-life hero, having served 18 months in combat during World War II, and becoming a B-24 bomber squadron commander who flew 20 missions over Germany. He was promoted to colonel and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with two clusters, seven combat stars, and the Croix de Guerre with palm from the French government.
Celebrities appearing at the awards banquet include Julie Adams, Bill Harris, Tab Hunter, Doug McClure, Rex Reed, Katherine Ross, Ben Gazzara and Angie Dickinson. French cinema stars Maurice Jarre and Roger Vadim, honored earlier in a salute to the sister Deauville Festival, were also attending.
Pippi said Eastwood was selected to present the Golden Cypress to the 80-year-old Stewart because 'he's one of our local boys.'
'He's a big fan of Stewart and I believe Stewart is a big fan of Eastwood,' said Pippi. 'I wanted to honor somebody we considered a legend in American cinema.
'Mr. Stewart is the American 'Everyman' and when you think of him, you think of a body of work. His films are all wonderful. We wanted to thank him for his contribution to cinemaand for the hours of pleasure he has brought to American viewers.'
Surprises are in store for Stewart during the tribute, said Pippi, including a life-size portrait by the artist Rosamond. The dinner will be emceed by Bill Harris and Rex Reed, and Ralph Edwards will be on stage to anchor a 'This is your Life,' segment on Stewart's career.
The festival opens at the Monterey Conference Center with the premiere of the American film, 'Souvenir,' starring Chrisopher Plummer and directed by Geoffrey Reeve. Other films during the festival will be screened at various theaters in Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove and Salinas.
