Working from back to front as I always do, it looked like today's
NY Post was not going to provide any fodder for the blog -- until I got to page twelve and an article by Broadway columnist Michael Riedel about "Hollywood's Mr. Fix It." Eddie Mannix covered up a host of scandals involving big stars from the '30's through the '50's. Officially, he was a GM, later a VP at MGM. He was privy to all of Tinseltown's sordid secrets, and he used them to wield power. Here's the juiciest paragraph of the piece: "Spencer Tracy bedded Judy Garland when she was just 14. Mannix used that information to keep the alcoholic Tracy in line. Joan Crawford made a lesbian porno before she became famous. Mannix locked it in a vault. A drunk-driving Clark Gable probably killed a pedestrian in 1933. Mannix managed to pin the accident on a low-level studio employee." He also helped keep Jean Harlow out of the murder of her married lover, and made the death of starlet Thelma Todd, at the hands of one of his mobster friends, look a suicide. He was also involved in George Reeves' death. TV's
Superman was having an affair with Mannix's common-law wife, who was much younger than him. Reeves dumped the woman for a socialite and wound up with a bullet in his head, ruled a suicide. The Coen brothers have made a screwball comedy about Hollywood, and Mannix is one of the central figures. It opens Friday. Even the Coen brothers' weakest works contain great moments, and their best,
Miller's Crossing (1990),
Barton Fink (1991),
Fargo (1996),
No Country for Old Men (2007), soar. I know, I know -- how can I leave out
The Big Lebowski (1998). Frankly, my dears, I don't get what all the cult hoopla surrounding it is all about. Anyway, if the new flick is well-reviewed, I will be tempted to go to the movies for the first time since 1990, when I saw
Dick Tracy. Wow, I can't believe it was that long ago. I used to go to Saturday matinees just about every week. I'd much rather watch movies at home. The Coen brothers' work is only modestly successful commercially, so it shouldn't be too long a wait until
Hail, Caesar is out on DVD.
When I found a parking spot within 50 yards of a great spot and a woman bought a couple of paperbacks immediately, it looked like the floating book shop was going to be very success. Alas, she was the only one who bought. Many browsed but few chose to do anything but walk away empty handed. At least there was some entertainment nearby at the corner of 5th Avenue and 9th Street, where three men were preaching fire and brimstone. Several passersby commented on the overkill. I doubt Jesus would approve of the yelling.
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
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