Posted on 08/03/2024 2:54:27 PM PDT by Twotone
When it looked like Tom Jones was going to dominate the 1963 Oscars, there was a concerted effort by Hollywood to prevent a British film from sweeping the awards. Never mind that the only truly British film to win for best picture had been Laurence Olivier's Hamlet in 1948; David Lean had won for Lawrence of Arabia the previous year, and with The Bridge on the River Kwai in 1957. Lean's producer, Sam Spiegel, was American, and had the backing of distributor Columbia Pictures behind him.
Lean was also a verifiable genius, but this looked too much like a British invasion on movie screens to match the one quietly bubbling under on the pop music charts, so a campaign was waged behind Lilies of the Field, a pious and right-thinking film though a dull one compared to Tom Jones. Lilies star Sidney Poitier ended up winning for best actor, but Tom Jones won for best picture, director, adapted screenplay and musical score. It was also the fourth biggest film at the box office that year, ahead of The Great Escape, Bye, Bye Birdie, Charade and Irma La Douce, but behind It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, How the West Was Won and Cleopatra.
(The last of which proves that you can nearly bankrupt your studio but still pack theatres with crowds who want to see a trainwreck.)
(Excerpt) Read more at steynonline.com ...
Actually thought this was about Tom Jones but alas, what do I know?
I wonder if he took his name from the movie?
That’s not unusual
I like that Tom Jones, too.
“I hate Tom Jones.”
“Well, Burt, whattaya gonna do about it?”
“I’m going to curse him by giving him this song to sing”
“Ha! Hilarous! He won’t sing it, though. It’s too silly.”
“I’ll convince him. And it will be a smash hit.”
“I don’t understand. What’s the curse?”
“Because his fans will demand it, he’ll have to sing it forever!”
And thus “What’s New, Pussycat?” was born.
LINK: John Mulaney Plays “ What’s New Pussycat” 21 Times On A Diner Jukebox
Weird.
It was a joke . Obviously not a good one. lol
My mom’s things she listened to all the time while cleaning the house were Tom Jones and Englebert Humperdink!
My dad bought a nice Sansui Stereo with Big Speakers when we lived in the Philippines, and my mom used it!
Heh, sometimes she would sing along (loudly) “PLEEEEEEESE RELEASE ME, LET ME GOOOOO...” and we would run for cover.
She might do something like sidle up to you and grab your face while she sang the mushy song, using you briefly as a prop! It was sure to provoke feelings of embarrassment as you squirmed away saying “Mooooommmm...”
Man, my poor mother was a crazy woman in those days, but she got through it and so did we all!
I know someone who played “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey over and over and over and over for at least 2 hours. I have an instant gag reflex anytime I hear any Journey song, but especially that one. And it’s overplayed these days. At every stupid sporting event. At any time someone doesn’t want someone to give up. It is repulsive.
I even hear it at Walmart when I’m shopping. Lord, please make it stop.
I take it your mom and dad were happily married all of their lives. Are they still around?
Biden's Song as sung by Tom Jones:
"He's Not Unusual To Be Confused All The Time"
It’s a terrific movie, notwithstanding the rubes making pop entertainment jokes.
I don’t LOL much but, that brought back memories
I got it. Good one!
There’s a running joke like that.
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