Hail and Farewell.

[Glenn Anders]

On this day, in 1906, John Huston -- Orson Welles' great friend and collaborator -- was born. Happy 100th Birthday to this underrated director!

And on this morning in 1962, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in Los Angeles. John Huston had given her "the big break" in his ASPHALT JUNGLE of 1950, and he had recently directed her last completed film, THE MISFITS. Marilyn Monroe's marriage to playwright Arthur Miller in 1956 had been the equivalent of Rita Hayworth's marriage to Orson Welles in 1943. The marriages were sensational combinations, from the public's standpoint, of beauty and brains.

Both women were regarded as the goddesses of their day. Both had come from troubled backgrounds; both were as unstable as they were talented and beautiful. Rita Hayworth lived on into dementia.

R.I.P.

Glenn

[ToddBaesen]

Here's an interesting Quiz on JOHN HUSTON films taken from NPR:

John Huston wrote or adapted the screenplays for many of the films he directed, and the best ones are full of crackling dialogue and quotable quips. Can you match the quotes below to this list of movies directed by Huston?

A. "If I'm going to be alone, I want to be by myself."

HINT: The line is delivered by a woman, not a hard-boiled detective.

B. "I understand you have taken exception to my calling you whores. I'm sorry. I apologize. I ask you to note that I did not call you callous-ass strumpets, fornicatresses, or low-born gutter sluts. But I did say "whores." No escaping that. And for that slip of the tongue, I apologize."

HINT: Another great line from the movie is "The last time that bear ate a lawyer, he had the runs for thirty-three days."

C. "Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges."

No HINT Needed

D. "After living in the USA for more than thirty-five years they called me an undesirable alien. Me. Johnny Rocco. Like I was a dirty Red or something!"

HINT: The speaker is Edward G. Robinson.

E. "I hope they don't hang you, precious, by that sweet neck. Yes, angel, I'm gonna send you over. The chances are you'll get off with life. That means if you're a good girl, you'll be out in 20 years. I'll be waiting for you. If they hang you, I'll always remember you."

HINT: The target of the comment is Mary Astor.

F. "Well I ain't sorry for you no more, ya crazy, psalm-singing, skinny old maid!"

HINT: The speaker won an Oscar for the film.

G. "I'll follow him around the Horn, and around the Norway maelstrom, and around perdition's flames before I give him up."

HINT: The line is from a screenplay by Ray Bradbury.

H. "Do I ice her? Do I marry her?"

HINT: Anjelica Huston was in this film.

I. "Now listen to me you benighted muckers. We're going to teach you soldiering. The world's noblest profession. When we're done with you, you'll be able to slaughter your enemies like civilized men."

HINT: Christopher Plummer plays a noted writer in this film.

J. "Experience has taught me never to trust a policeman. Just when you think one's all right, he turns legit."

HINT: The film featured a young Marilyn Monroe.

K. "You can't shoot me! I have a very low threshold of death. My doctor says I can't have bullets enter my body at any time."

HINT: The cast includes William Holden, George Raft and Orson Welles... none of whom deliver this line.

Match to these films

1. 'The Maltese Falcon' (1941)

2. 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre' (1947)

3. 'Key Largo' (1948)

4. 'The Asphalt Jungle' (1950)

5. 'The African Queen' (1951)

6. 'Moby Dick' (1956)

7. 'The Misfits' (1960)

8. 'Casino Royale' (1967)

9. 'The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean' (1972)

10. 'The Man Who Would Be King' (1975)

11. 'Prizzi's Honor' (1985)

[Glenn Anders]

Is this a contest, Todd?

[ToddBaesen]

Yes, this is a contest and the winner gets a free dinner with noted Orson Welles expert and author on flawed filmmakers, David Thomson at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Of course, airfare to San Francisco must be paid separately by the winner, unless you are already a resident of San Francisco.

Please submit entries to Tony c/o Wellesnet, who will weed out any fake entries from among David Thomson's circle of friends. Unfortunately, this precaution is needed, as I have it on good authority, that Mr. Thomson really prefers dining by himself in front of the mirrors at the Fairmont (I guess this way no one can disagree with him)...

Plus, he apparently thinks it's such an Orson Welles thing to do.

[Glenn Anders]

What a deal! WHAT A DEAL!

Like David Thomson, I'm such a trusting soul. I think the movies are real.

I'll get my entry into Tony this very minute.

I've been waiting the word.

And I know Tony and Larry will show no prejudice.

Glenn