We’ve heard back from Owl Chatter’s Director of Puns, Brookline Carl, who conceded that his eyes glazed over when he heard the topic was pottery. His first response was to go out and get plastered. But he is deep into his research now, starting with No Joy In Mudville, the acclaimed novel about a community of disconsolate potters. He’ll also be reading the speeches of Henry Clay and the entire Harry Potter series, as well as looking into the exploits of Sir Amic, Knight of the Round Table. He’ll keep us apprised of how things are shaping up.
Here’s a young lady in a neat Harry Potter outfit:
Today’s puzzle has the theme at 61A: PICKY PICKY PICKY, and it’s about folks who “pick” things: VEGETABLE FARMER, BANJO PLAYER, and TEAM CAPTAIN. It also sticks in a couple of things you pick as short answers: NITS, SPOT, PEA (as in pea-pickin’), and ACNE(?). Missing is NOSE! Boo!
Here are two of our finest banjo “pickers:” Bela Fleck and Tony Trischka.
An ANGORA CAT was in the puzzle today: Meow!
As much as Owl Chatter tries to avoid becoming a platform for Trump, once in a while there is a quote so delicious it can’t be ignored. This time, it’s his version of the notion that “Christ died for you.” Speaking at the Faith & Freedom Coalition gala in DC on Saturday (for 90 meandering minutes, according to the Times), Trump said: “I’m being indicted for you.” Hallelujah!
Forty years ago this week, Twilight Zone: The Movie opened to, at best, mixed reviews. Vincent Canby called it a “flabby mini-minded behemoth.” But do you remember this? — On the same day it was released, grand jury indictments were unsealed against five of the filmmakers, including director John Landis, in connection with a stunt that went bad and killed three people: 2 children, ages 7 and 6 (Myca Dinh Le and Renee Shin-Yi Chen) and actor Vic Morrow.
Morrow’s character was a loud-mouthed bigot who was transported into various scenes in which he is the victim of bigotry, e.g., the Klan-era South, and a Vietnam battle scene. In Vietnam, he’s carrying two kids to safety across a river as a village explodes behind them. But the effects were f’cked up and the explosion caused a helicopter to crash and kill them. It later emerged that use of the kids violated child labor law provisions. Also, Landis was abusive on the set towards everyone and cavalier about safety requirements. Get this — he ordered the use of live ammo because he didn’t like the effect of fake gunfire. All five were charged with involuntary manslaughter, a felony. But, as the NYT put it, all were acquitted “thanks to a somewhat bungled prosecution and a seemingly star-struck jury.”
Despite the horrifying and damning elements of the case, Hollywood rallied behind Landis. Sixteen major directors — including Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard, John Huston, George Lucas, Sidney Lumet and Billy Wilder (but not Spielberg)— signed an open letter of support for him, and his career was not at all derailed. Landis directed the music video for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and the feature comedies “Trading Places” and “Three Amigos” in that period. After the trial, Eddie Murphy hired Landis to direct his 1988 comedy “Coming to America,” though they clashed during production; while promoting the film, Murphy was asked if he’d ever work with Landis again, and he (tastelessly) said “Vic Morrow has a better chance of working with Landis than I do.” But the film was a gigantic hit, and six years later, Landis again directed Murphy in “Beverly Hills Cop III.”
The Times says people are still dying on film sets as budget concerns take priority over safety. Those poor children died needlessly. Their parents filed civil suits and settled out of court. The same occurred with a suit filed by Jennifer Jason Leigh — Vic Morrow’s daughter. In an Owl Chatter exclusive, here’s Morrow carrying the kids in the scene before they were all killed.
Let’s end on a brighter note: The lovely Duchess of Sussex, Meghan MARKLE visited the grid today. What in the world does Harry see in her?
See you tomorrow!
The Wellington Files 