HE was, in the words of an respectful Editorial Diary in the Glasgow Herald, composed and placid, with a friendly manner and an imposing voice.

“He is patient with photographers; he has brown eyes; he is of medium build and is a strong handshaker. He also speaks Russian, which he learned from an actor with whom he once played in Paris.”

Yul Brynner’s visit to Glasgow in March 1959 for the Scottish premiere of his latest film, The Journey, excited much media and public interest. He had signed autographs for fans after landing at Renfrew Airport (just a week after Kenneth More had done the same when he arrived for the Scottish premiere of The 39 Steps).

This being Brynner, a lot was made of his shaved head and he was expansive not just on that subject but on a handful of others, too. He was full of praise for Deborah Kerr, his co-star in The Journey (“one of the most brilliant women of the stage and screen.”) He discussed his passion for collecting stamps: “I love collecting them.

It’s a hobby you start quite innocently, and then you find you’re stuck with it.” He also showed that he had a realistic understanding of the place of film stars. “The most important job of all in a film studio,” he said, “is that of the director. He is the real storyteller, the actors are only his mouthpiece.” He added that it was, however, his intention to direct a film in Mexico.

The Journey’s Scottish premiere took place at the Regal Cinema in Sauchiehall Street.