I haven't imbibed for many a year so, as you would imagine, Pink Elephants are pretty scarce in my neighbourhood.
I think that I might be correct in saying that the first recorded use of the term "Pink Elephants" use by the American author Jack London whilst describing a drunk in the autobiographical novel 'John Barleycorn' (sorry about the Wikipedia link).
In the late 1800's the term was, I believe, 'being followed by pink giraffes'. It may well be that he decided to use this phrase, adding his own little twist, to-wit; Elephant.
Why am I telling you this?
Well, I have just finished watching that James Stewart classic 'Destry Rides Again' on TCM.
Marlene Dietrich and Brian Donlevy were his co-stars.
You all know the story:
- Sheriff killed after crooked poker game
- New sheriff is town drunk
- Sheriff calls for the son of the famous lawman, Tom Destry, for help
- Gun hating Destry Jr. comes to town to be a deputy sheriff
- Folks think he's a wuss
- A smart wuss
- Win's over the bad guy's (Donlevy) girl (Dietrich)
- Cleans up town
- Girl get's killed by bad-guy
- Destry kills bad-guy
- They all live happily ever after
And you are right, there weren't!
However, it became very apparent whilst watching scenes where Marlene Dietrich sings, that the man who cast her in the role of 'Frenchy' must have been drunk at the time.
Dietrich was, to make a long story short, his 'pink elephant'!
Dietrich was, to make a long story short, his 'pink elephant'!
What on earth was he thinking about casting her in a role that required her to warble?
Whereas, in her day, she was no doubt a talented actress, she was in no way a talented singer.
At this point I really must apologise to all hardened Dietrich fans because I really found it necessary to turn off the sound rather than listen to her sing all those flat notes.
As a point of interest ... I can't sing either!
I always enjoy Jimmy Stewart movies :)
ReplyDeleteI assume Marlene was in the film because the producer wanted to pork her.
ReplyDeleteHe must have been desperate.
DeleteFrom what I've read about Marlene I'm sure she did pork the producer. Never a fan of hers.
ReplyDeleteThere were a lot of 'stories' about her doing-the-deed to get her roles ... so I've been told.
DeleteEven now I often wonder how certain actors win the roles they play in movies. Case in point I have never really liked Julia Roberts, while I have not seen every movie she had a part in what movies of hers I have seen I am not impressed.
ReplyDeleteDon't knock Julia Roberts!!!
DeleteShe might not be a great actress, but she a mediocre actress with a very nice bottom!
And that, after all, was the producers' bottom line.
DeleteShe was a draw card for the producers, having her in the movie probably made it a hit before it was even released. Not a fan of hers.
ReplyDeleteI normally don't watch any of her films because I've never rated her as an actress. I suppose that in 1939 when "Destry ..." was made, she was already on the downward slope career-wise anyway. Maybe the did just cash in on her fading popularity at the box office.
Delete"They all lived happily ever after"?
ReplyDeleteWell, except for....
"girl gets killed by bad guy"
"bad guy gets killed by Destry".
By the way, hideous singers in movies continue to this day.
Remember Pierce Brosnan singing in 'Mamma Mia'?
Maybe you don't.
And that's a good thing. :-)
Actually, I do remember him singing. He was pretty brave to try. Lets just hope there is never a Mamma Mia 2
DeleteNot a Dietrich fan because I'm too young...ahem...to really know who she was. I do love that you used the word "warble" in a sentence. That is an awesome word. Now I need me a pink elephant.
ReplyDelete"PINK ELEPHANTS! Get 'em while they're hot, they're love-r-ly"
Delete