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!
