In 1966 Kirk Douglas visited the film school in Lodz. I watched a grainy black & white short film entitled Welcome Kirk which recorded the rather bizarre event. He was surrounded by film students and fans and had a translator who seemed to be part of the crowd.
I am still in the dark as to what brought him here, he himself seemed to be a little confused. It was certainly an unusual move considering that Hollywood had not long before been in the grip of Joseph McCarthy's Communist witchhunts and the Cold War was still at it's chilliest.
The film star wandered around somewhat bemused while the students had set up mock Wild West outposts and, donned in cowboy outfits, straddled horses and trotted around 'shooting' at each other. It was more Abbott and Costello than Gunfight at the OK Corral. Kirk entered into the spirit of it and - strapping on a six-shooter - demonstrated various gun pulling techniques.
Mercifully, there were no loined-clothed Spartacus impressions.
