daneldorado

Happy anniversary, Charlie! Charlie, a couple of weeks ago I posted a question here that never got answered, and I deleted it after realizing it was posted to the wrong thread. I'd like to test your collective wits with it again -- THIS would be the correct thread, except that the question has to do with television, not theatrical film. Would that be too d?class? for this board? Dan N.

"Is it Danny Trejo?" It sure is, Di. Durable Danny has appeared in more than 130 film and TV projects, with more in the pipeline. You kind of have to hand it to this guy. His bio says he was imprisoned for armed robbery and drug offenses, then "successfully completed a 12-step rehabilitation program that changed his life." Since then, he has parlayed his tough-guy looks into a hugely successful career as a supporting actor. His cousin, BTW, is Robert Rodriguez, director of such blockbusters as "Sin City" (2005) and "Spy Kids" (2001) and its sequels. But Trejo's film career was already ten years old before he and his cuz collaborated on a project... so, Danny's success ain't nepotism, it's art. Your turn, Di. Dan N.

No, not Woody Harrelson. Dan N.

As I mentioned earlier, I've been in more than 130 films and TV shows. Sometimes I have lines to speak, other times I don't. I'm one of those guys whose face is very familiar, but you may not know my name. Another hint: One of my latest movies is known by (at least) THREE different titles. Who am I? Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com

"Sin City" was on over the weekend on one of my cable channels. I watched a bit of it. It's not really something I think I could get into - it was very interesting, visually, of course, but all the frantic, violent, overblown plot points -- just too much for linear little me. So very much hitting and maiming and limb-twisting. A guy thing, I guess. I'd actually like to try to get through it again, just for the technical stuff - that was pretty amazing to look at. I've had this same debate with my wife. She's appalled at all the violence and bloodletting in SIN CITY (2005), and refuses to watch it with me. But I respond by saying: Hey honey, I wouldn't watch it either... if it was all gore. But it isn't gore, it's a... COMIC STRIP!!! Robert Rodriguez created this film based on the "graphic novels" by Frank Miller. I've seen the "graphic novels" -- they're just comic books, Judith... and believe me, they do not mirror real life. Just as the movie does not mirror real life. It's all a big joke. Gory, yes, but a joke. In fact, here's a stat that will give you pause: Although SIN CITY is rated "R" for lots of violence and some female nudity, how many of you know that there is NOT ONE USE in this film, of the "f" word or any form of it! In fact, the "sh" word is used only once, by Michael Clarke Duncan, and I have a feeling that was an ad-lib. Really! A violent, sexy movie that is out of bounds to unescorted youngsters, and yet makes NO USE of the "f" word. Gotta be a first. I'm such a big fan of the movie now, I can't wait until the sequel comes out. When it does, and if I like what I read from the movie critics, I will not wait for cable, I will go see this one in the theater. Dan N.

Nope, not Keanu Reeves and not Nicolas Cage. Neither Reeves nor Cage were ever imprisoned on drug charges, as I was. It's true that Keanu Reeves has a relative who is a film director: his stepfather. And Cage also has a relative who is a film director: his uncle. I, on the other hand, am first cousin to a film director. A pretty good one, too. Who am I? Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com

Oops, interest here seems to be flagging. Maybe this will help: Although I've only been acting for a little more than 20 years, I've already appeared in more than 130 films and TV shows. That's more than six projects a year. Who am I? Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com

Then it would be: Bonnie Franklin. Dan N.

Last night I watched the 1934 Busby Berkeley musical "Dames" on TCM. As everyone here knows, "Dames" is considered another pre-code musical, in the same vein as its predecessor Warner Bros. flicks "42nd Street," "Footlight Parade," and "Gold Diggers of 1933." After having enjoyed a virtual cornucopia of female pulchritude in those previous films -- all released in 1933 -- I expected "Dames" to follow in the same light. But no such luck. The songs, by Harry Warren and Al Dubin (and others), are just fine, especially Warren and Dubin's "I Only Have Eyes for You" and "Dames"... and the Berkeley magic is still mesmerizing, especially in the dance routines he devised for those two numbers. Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler are pleasant as the young lovers, and Joan Blondell continues to charm as the wise-cracking gold digger with a heart of, er, gold. But, about halfway through the movie, I began to detect a softening of the old pre-code sass. I checked the IMDb, and sure enough,"Dames" is NOT a pre-code movie. It was released in August 1934, at which time the Production Code had taken effect and was being strenuously enforced. (Enforcement commenced July 1, 1934.) So Warner Bros. had to trim back the pulchritude and go for more "wholesome" fare. An example: In the three 1933 films I mentioned above (all pre-codes), there were plenty of girlish gams on display. I figured this would be a given, in any Busby Berkeley film. But in "Dames," the girls -- all of them beautiful, but wholesomely so -- wear opaque black tights in the big production numbers, not the stockings and garters on such winsome display in 1933. Also: The driving force behind the film's admittedly thin plot is a crusade by multi-millionaire Ezra Ounce (Hugh Herbert) to ban "filth and degradation" from the American stage -- meaning, of course, musical theater. One is tempted to believe the scenarist (Delmer Daves) devised this plot as a rebuke to the Production Code's demands for "clean" movies. Ironically, the "naughtiest" line in the whole script is spoken by Ruby Keeler, and nobody knew it was naughty at the time. Reacting to her parents' insistence that she give up the stage, feisty Barbara (Miss Keeler) barks: "I'm free, white, and 21. I love to dance and I'm GOING to dance!" Strange, isn't it? Nobody in 1934 thought there was anything wrong with that line. Today, it would cause riots, Congressional investigations, and civil rights lawsuits. But remember: "Dames," a pleasant enough trifle, is NOT a pre-code. Dan N.

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I'll say: Victor Sen Yung. His distinction among Chinese-Americans would be that he has a memorial scholarship named after him, at Berkeley. Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com

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Judith, you make a good point about the word "Famous" in the title of this thread. And you know, if there were no such thing as the Internet, we could play the "famous lines" game all day long. Who said: "You can see now?" Who said: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn," and who said "Well, nobody's perfect?" All these lines are so famous, they would be answered in an instant. But there is a humongous repository of "Memorable quotes" in the IMDb, a frequent source for puzzlers on this thread. You can look up most any line and find it there. And I ask you: Where is the sport in THAT? Or you can google the line, and probably find it there. Again, I ask: Where is the fun in that? When I post a "famous line" poser to this thread, I always check to make sure the line is NOT shown in the Memorable Quotes section of IMDb... because that would make it too easy. Even so, a few weeks ago, I posted an obscure line to this thread (from "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?"), and Bill McCrary had no trouble divining the correct answer, simply by using deductive reasoning. Remember, with every incorrect guess, you get a new hint. And that brings you closer to the correct answer. I think the lines we pose should be "pithy" -- that is to say, they should have some special significance about them that suggests the correct film title. Don't quote lines such as "I love you," or "I'll see you later." Those are in every movie that comes down the pike. But when you find a quote that is meaningful in itself, and also provides a clue, however obscure, to the title of the film, I think that should be considered fair game for this thread. Maybe you'd like us to all pose questions like "Here's looking at you, kid"... and then everyone would be an expert. Cheers, Dan N.

"Mickey Rourke? http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000620/bio" Nope. I don't know where you are doing your research, but I can't find where Mickey Rourke is related to a film director, or where he held an amateur boxing championship, or where he was jailed on drug charges. Where does it show this? Dan N.

"Robert Mitchum" No, I'm not Robert Mitchum. Mitchum was never an amateur boxing champ, as I was. Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com

It's a brand new year, and it's been a week since anyone has posted here. Anyone got a new poser? If not, here's one: Do you know me? Although I've been in prison on drug charges, that hasn't kept me from working in a lot of movies. Maybe it's because my cousin is a well-known director. Or maybe it's because I'm a pretty good actor. Who am I? Dan N.

Holy flaming nitrate! It is now January the oneth, 2007... and, one week after the fact, NO ONE has posted the correct answer to my poser of December 25, to wit: "If you'll take the advice of a very old butler, sir... you should take the next boat train to Paris, and there you shall fall in love with the very first girl you see." Who said that, and in what movie? The answer is: Jose Ferrer, in "Deep in my Heart" (1954). In 1954, Ferrer was only 45 years of age. But, in playing the lead role of composer Sigmund Romberg, in "Deep in my Heart" he has a scene where he is explaining to his guests the plot of a new show he is working on. In a brilliant, brilliant scene, Ferrer plays ALL the parts, including that of the "very old butler." In case you've never seen "Deep in my Heart," be advised that IMHO it is the BEST biopic ever, even including "The Jolson Story." Okay, posters... Take it away! Dan N.

"Pulp Fiction (1994) Butch: Zed's dead, baby. Zed's dead. Turned out to be WAY too easy - just entered "Zed's dead" + quote, and voila!" Told ya it would be easy. The only thing you had to concern yourselves with is my clue about the above line being the FINAL line of the film's plot. As you know, "Pulp Fiction" is presented in non-linear fashion. There are three main stories in the movie, but they are not chronological. The "plot" of the film actually ends at the finish of the SECOND of the three segments. Therefore, Butch's comment to Fabienne is the final line of the PLOT. Okay, Bill... Take it away! Happy New Year! Dan N.

Bill, you are right... and you are WRONG. Yes, there are an astounding number of "Zed" characters in the movies. But no, Zed Bascomb is not the one we are looking for. Keep at it, though. You always come through, and my money's on you to figure this one out before 2007 is born. Dan N.

"Hi Dan how are you ? Is it from Sabrina?" Hi Carol... nice to hear from you again. No, sorry, the line about the old butler is not from "Sabrina." Happy New Year! Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com

"Bullwinkle?" I assume you're referring to "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle" (2000). No, that isn't the movie. Nice try, though. Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com

Apparently it isn't about wrestling, or nuclear reactors. My poking around has discovered that there is an electronic device, produced by ATI Technologies, called an "All-in-Wonder." Just trying to read up on it gives me a headache, but apparently the AIW X1900 is the latest wrinkle in media devices. I'm guessing that the All-in-Wonder 610 was an earlier version. Robert Rodriguez, who directed "Sin City" (2005), is an electronics maven. He created the film using actors performing in front of a green screen, then created a world of backgrounds electronically. I have no doubt the All-in-Wonder is one of his toys. Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com

Okay, now this one is SO EASY, I will be surprised if I don't receive half a dozen correct answers within the first hour. But I can't resist. The film maker was so clever with this one, I still marvel at his cunning. What film's plot ENDS with this line: "Zed's dead, baby. Zed's dead." That is the FINAL line of the plot. What's the movie? Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com

Hey, come on you holiday wanderers! I posted this "famous lines" question on December 25... you know: Christmas? Now it's almost the New Year, and there have been no nibbles yet. Once again, for those who have been reveling instead of trivia searching, here's the line: "If you'll take the advice of a very old butler, sir... you should take the next boat train to Paris, and there you shall fall in love with the very first girl you see." Who said that, and in what movie? Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com

"What to the following actors have in common? Hoot Gibson Mel Torme Danny Kaye" They were all licensed pilots. Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com