tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post5598406813378754073..comments2024-03-24T13:26:57.317-07:00Comments on Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule: JULY IS DOUBLE SECRET PROBATION MONTH!Dennis Cozzaliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-43140249065938491292008-07-02T23:35:00.000-07:002008-07-02T23:35:00.000-07:00Hmph--Dennis, at least you didn't have to endure t...Hmph--Dennis, at least you didn't have to endure the disappointment of having a tiny photo of yourself in the original book (mine is similarly well-pawed; a fraternity brother in 1978 gave it to me as a gift, and it made the rounds), and then have that part of the book excised for the reissue last year--as I did. Whatever! Bring on the 30th anniv. celebration!Blaaaghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02999418852009670980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-87757539001145373882008-07-02T22:32:00.000-07:002008-07-02T22:32:00.000-07:00I do indeed remember the movie tie-in book, which ...I do indeed remember the movie tie-in book, which was just re-released last year as well. My original copy is well-worn, and my best friend re-upped me when the "29th anniversary" version came out last year. I remember enjoying those stories a lot. (I also remember anxiously pawing my way through the book hoping that my picture would appear in it somewhere; it did not.) <BR/><BR/>And thanks for the reminder about that <I>Star Trek</I> story. I read it when I was about 13 years old for the first time-- it was one of my first encounters with a more sophisticated, untethered voice in parody, one that was clearly occupying a world far beyond that of <I>Mad</I>, and it didn't hurt that it was tied so closely to a pop culture phenomenon with which I was more or less familiar. (I didn't really hit my <I>Star Trek</I> phase until I got into college, however.) My Internet search for Miller's article as a stand-alone downloadable was unsuccessful, but I did find a place where you can <A HREF="http://tinyurl.com/55d9q8" REL="nofollow">buy the issue</A> of <I>National Lampoon</I>-- the Science Fiction issue from 1972-- in which it was featured.Dennis Cozzaliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-50131685546251338752008-07-02T22:16:00.000-07:002008-07-02T22:16:00.000-07:00At the price you can hardly go wrong with The Real...At the price you can hardly go wrong with The Real Animal House. It's not all you could hope for, but it ought to be of interest to any aficionado of the movie. The biggest weakness is interpolating the short stories rather than writing a new book from the ground up, which may simply be a reflection of how much energy Miller was willing to put into it. (Actually, the short stories were used much better in the movie tie-in book, if you remember it.) It's not all boys of summer in their ruin, either; most of the brothers led very fruitful lives (it was an Ivy League college, after all), and an enviable sense of camaraderie lasting over the years comes through. Actually the college stories were never my favorites among Miller's Lampoon work; they don't have nearly the inspired filthiness of "The Night Before the Last Day They Filmed Star Trek," for instance.Robert Fiorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06357467040644448167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-27755274495348079292008-07-02T21:37:00.000-07:002008-07-02T21:37:00.000-07:00Robert, are you saying there's something else goin...Robert, are you saying there's something else going on other than the exploits of a bunch of fictional frat boys that's worth discussing tonight?<BR/><BR/>Well, I agree. I've incorporated your link to <I>ZEITmagazin</I> into my brief post about the rediscovery of <I>Metropolis</I>. I've only ever seen a very bad 16mm print of this movie and a not-very-good DVD transfer. The thought of being able to see it in its original form, regardless of what shape the new/old pieces are in, is more good news from the movies than I ever expected to get in my lifetime.<BR/><BR/>But back to Chris Miller, I've heard good and bad things about this memoir. It definitely sounds like it's lacking the "fun" of the movie and the original short stories, though I wonder if Miller just miscalculated as to whether the fun translates from uncensored reality quite as easily. I would be surprised if there were any element of the conscious cautionary tale at work here.Dennis Cozzaliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-16226459097557239122008-07-02T20:23:00.000-07:002008-07-02T20:23:00.000-07:00Following up, it appears I underestimated. This s...Following up, it appears I underestimated. This seems to say they've found everything:<BR/><BR/>http://tinyurl.com/4f4qpoRobert Fiorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06357467040644448167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-26138431418954857372008-07-02T19:59:00.000-07:002008-07-02T19:59:00.000-07:00You probably are not aware, as it was almost publi...You probably are not aware, as it was almost published in secret, but Chris Miller, one of the co-writers, has a book called The Real Animal House, which combines the autobiographical short stories from the Lampoon with a memoir to fill in the gaps. (Reality intrudes -- the constant carousing led to some serious drinking problems for a number of his cohorts.) The hardcover can be had from Amazon for little more than the shipping cost.<BR/><BR/>And I hate to raise the level of discourse, but a huge chunk of the missing footage from Metropolis has been found in Buenos Aires, like around 20 minutes. When the last restoration was shown in L.A. I asked the fellow who restored it what the chances are that more footage would turn up, and he said it was unlikely at this late date, but there's always the chance. Would that there was such a chance for Ambersons or Greed.Robert Fiorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06357467040644448167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-59652811967165473562008-07-02T11:25:00.000-07:002008-07-02T11:25:00.000-07:00"I think I'm in love with a retard.""Is he bigger ..."I think I'm in love with a retard."<BR/><BR/>"Is he bigger than me?"<BR/><BR/>Awesome! This sounds great and I can't wait to see what goodies you have waiting to unleash us all.<BR/><BR/>Btw., I've linked your celebration of all things ANIMAL HOUSE to my blog as well:<BR/><BR/>http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2008/07/july-is-double-secret-probation-month.htmlAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-72787197071784259862008-07-02T10:26:00.000-07:002008-07-02T10:26:00.000-07:00Eroslane: I usually make it over to If Charlie Par...Eroslane: I usually make it over to <I>If Charlie Parker...</I> a couple of times a week, but I had not seen this great photo yet! Thanks so much for pointing the way! (And yes, I second your Curse of the Truncated Blogger URLs. What's even worse is when you try to paste a whole address in the comments section to create a link instead of using the TinyURLed version... disaster.) <BR/><BR/>Robbie: I think you're right. Bring on the future! (Or at least the DVD!)<BR/><BR/>DID: I'll continue this. "You're worthless and weak! Now drop and give me 20!"Dennis Cozzaliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-78769006603577646462008-07-02T02:20:00.000-07:002008-07-02T02:20:00.000-07:00OK, I'm the less intellectual one in this group so...OK, I'm the less intellectual one in this group so I'll leave you with one more line of dialogue because it truly is one of my favorites:<BR/><BR/>OTTER: Come on, Flounder. You can't worry forever about your mistakes. You fucked up. You trusted us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-88030773690541998752008-07-02T02:19:00.000-07:002008-07-02T02:19:00.000-07:00We'll definitely be talking about 'Speed Racer' th...We'll definitely be talking about 'Speed Racer' thirty years from now, no question. -- Robbie KendallAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-37790628837829764162008-07-01T22:14:00.000-07:002008-07-01T22:14:00.000-07:00Curses Blogger and their truncated urls:Here's the...Curses Blogger and their truncated urls:<BR/><BR/>Here's the Tiny URL to the Leone picture I just mentioned.<BR/><BR/>http://tinyurl.com/3wlw73Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-37171844502630211962008-07-01T22:12:00.000-07:002008-07-01T22:12:00.000-07:00Off topic...I'm sure someone has shared this link ...Off topic...<BR/><BR/>I'm sure someone has shared this link of Leone with you already, but just in case not.....enjoy.<BR/><BR/>http://tsutpen.blogspot.com/2008/06/artists-in-action-382.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-68175528547458994392008-07-01T10:44:00.000-07:002008-07-01T10:44:00.000-07:00Gentlemen, was it over when the Germans bombed Pea...Gentlemen, was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! Let the favorite lines festival begin!<BR/><BR/>Bandit: I also remember <I>Malibu Beach</I> (1978), a fine Crown International sex-and-sand epic starring Daughton that came out the same summer. But he didn't get to punch Tim Matheson in that one!<BR/><BR/>Steven: I just read your excellent piece, and I'll be linking to it tonight. I really like your points about the Deltas flirting with academic disaster all the while knowing that the draft board awaited them should they flunk out or get tossed out of school, and especially the run-in at the Dexter Lake Club. Many people have cited the alleged racism of that scene, and while there may be an element of that at play here the scene actually plays out not only accurate to the times but also at the expense of the white kids, who as you say are in over their heads immediately, no matter whether they know Otis Day ("Otis! My man!") or not. Nice piece, and a great addition to the celebration. Thanks!Dennis Cozzaliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-55305924854105883832008-07-01T09:31:00.000-07:002008-07-01T09:31:00.000-07:00It’s been years — decades! — since I saw Animal Ho...It’s been years — decades! — since I saw Animal House, but two things about it (well, three, counting Karen Allen’s nude scene) stick in my mind: it is a reminder of those long-ago days when the words National Lampoon were an invitation instead of a warning, and it is one of the vanishingly small number of films with parties that actually look like fun.<BR/><BR/>Let me put it this way: if I had to choose between going to the party in The Party, with or without Peter Sellers, or getting poked in the eye with a flaming stick, I’d have to think it over for a bit. But if I could be magically transported into that Animal House frat party? I am so there . . .<BR/><BR/>http://stevenhartsite.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/animal-magnetism/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-89965820656279089392008-06-30T20:23:00.000-07:002008-06-30T20:23:00.000-07:00In the immortal words of Otter: I anticipate a dee...In the immortal words of Otter: I anticipate a deeply religious experience.WelcometoLAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05490618592042119755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-86707628335352710982008-06-30T15:05:00.000-07:002008-06-30T15:05:00.000-07:00How awesome is the guy (James Daughton?) who plays...How awesome is the guy (James Daughton?) who plays Greg Marmalard? Surprised he didn't parlay that memorable turn into a Gregg Henry-esque career as supporting smarmballs. Lately one of the pay services has been offering up a 1982 T&A epic called "The Beach Girls," for which he's front and center. Amazingly I'd never heard of it... amazing, as I am the world's biggest fan of "Screwballs" and "Loose Screws."<BR/><BR/>Thanks to the early days of HBO, "Animal House," "Caddyshack" and "Blues Brothers" were in near-constant rotation and represented the Holy Trinity of Comedic Awesomeness even for a certain 8-year-old in 1981. Apparently I wasn't the only one, since it seemed like every kid in class was already quoting (and probably misquoting) them at that tender age -- with "Meatballs" a distant fourth, and "Stripes" joining the mix the following year when it hit The Box Office.<BR/><BR/>"You guys playing cards?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-23413874938121302232008-06-30T05:50:00.000-07:002008-06-30T05:50:00.000-07:00You know Mrs Dean Wormer makes a full face close-u...You know Mrs Dean Wormer makes a full face close-up appearance in "Frames of Reference" (from another movie she was in) but I don't think most of the people watching it knew that was her.<BR/><BR/>Speaking of Marion - " You can take your thumb out of my ass any time now, Carmine."Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05730146625671701859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-14960172831854921392008-06-30T03:21:00.000-07:002008-06-30T03:21:00.000-07:00Look, I made it here first!Hey Dennis, "Could l bu...Look, I made it here first!<BR/><BR/>Hey Dennis, "Could l buy some pot from you?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com