Mick the Magnificent

Mick, the magnificent:

Here we go again. In the movie, and in history, Spartacus was a Thracian, from Thrace, near Macedonia, this side of Greece. Ustinov inspected his "teeth", saying something like, "As go the teeth, so goes the man. This man is made of chalk.".Spartacus was referred to as the "Thracian", and that's why he was required to use the short Thracian sword in combat against the Trident that Draba had. The remarkable actor who played the head gladiator trainer, the freed slave, was none other than Charles McGraw, saying,"I think you want to kill me, slave. Give him a sword. Go ahead, try and kill me, slave. You have a sword, and I only have this piece of wood." Yes, I was in love with Jean Simmons for years, loving her work in GUYS AND DOLLS, ELMER GANTRY, THE BIG COUNTRY, and of course, SPARTACUS. There is a great story about Tony Curtis, bored with the months of shooting, saying," Who do you have to screw to get off this picture?"

Here are some trivia questions for you, sir. Who was the original director of SPARTACUS, who only managed to shoot the salt mines scenes before he pissed Kirk Douglas off and got replaced by Stanley Kubrick? It the climactic battle scene in the end, they used 8.500 extras. What country was it shot in, and how many weeks did they shoot? Peter Ustinov won an Oscar for his role. Was there ever any other actor that won a Oscar for a role in a Kubrick film? When Woody Strode, who I worked with in 1976, as Draba was killed by Olivier, and his body was hung upside down for the gladiators to walk past --was that actually Strode who hung there, or a replica? Jean Simmons originally turned down the part of Virinia. What actress was originally cast in the role, and then got fired by Kubrick? What other three famous actresses had turned down the offer to play Varinia before Jean Simmons finally agreed to do it? In 1991, they did a restoration of the film, and they put back in the snails and oysters scene between Olivier and Tony Curtis. But Olivier had already died, so what actor did they get to dub his lines for that scene? Who was the cinematographer that won an Oscar for SPARTACUS? He had conflicts with Kubrick. So much so that Kubrick did 90% of the camera work, but the credit went to the original cinematographer. Who was he? What actor did Dalton Trumbo want to play the Herbert Lom pirate role? Some of the battle scenes were done on the Universal lot. What goof showed up at the rear of one battle scene? What visual blopper did Tony Curtis manage playing Antoninius?

You start rambling there, big guy. First, I think you are talking about RAWHIDE, and yes, many up and comers did TV, all the westerns, especially BONANZA & GUNSMOKE. On RAWHIDE, Paul Brinegar played Wishbone. What good western actor played Pete as a regular character?

On Bilko, you are close on Doberman, it was Maurice "Gosfield". Al Lewis play a character called Bruno. On LONELY ARE THE BRAVE, correct sir on Gena Rowlands as character Paul's wife. The writer was Dalton Trumbo, again tied to KirK Douglas's production company, and keeping Trumbo off the blacklist. Dore Shary was more a producer than writer. The chopper pilot was Bill Bixby. Yes, now that you mention it, the horse's name was Whiskey. The one-armed man was sometimes actor, Bill Raish, who did the work on THE FUGITIVE. He also did a scene in SPARTACUS, where his "arm" was lopped off with a sword, but the censors cut the scene as too gruesome. I do not remember the "Dream" that Jack and Paul had, unless it was to get a small place, a ranch, and settle down.

IN STRANGERS WHEN WE MEET, yes, it was Barbara Rush who played the wife. In THE ODD COUPLE the cop was tall Herb Edelman. In NORTH TO ALASKA, Ernie Kovacs played "Frankie Canon". Now, who was the director of that film, and what year was it released? Who was the second lead actor to the Duke? What actress did a semi-nude scene in it? What pop star had a small role in it? No, it was not Frankie Avalon --he was in THE ALAMO.

Paul Newman and Steve McQueen only did one film together, THE TOWERING INFERNO. Paul Newman's first television role was in 1952, on an episode of TALES OF TOMORROW. What was his first motion picture in 1954, that always embarressed him? Long before the LEFT HANDED GUN, he played Billy the Kid on a TV show in 1955. What was it?

Jesus Christ, Mick --we have to quit meeting this way. You are wearing me out.

Glenn

Mick wrote:

Before we leave Spartacus, what part of the Roman Empire did Spartacus come from just like his father before they were enslaved? When Peter Ustinov first examined him outside of the salt mine scene what part of the body did he look at first to determine how strong of a slave he or the others would make? Spartacus was referred to as that ???????? slave by Ustinov and others which tells where he is from. Who played the ex slave who earned his freedom to become gladiator trainer & was drowned by Spartacus; Kirk used his experience as an ex ameteur and semi-pro wrestler, to drown him in thefood swill using a very good full nelson. I was an ameteur wrestler too so I appreciate that scene. Jean Simmons, what a fox!

I saw so many up and comers on tv who moved up the scale in front & behind the camera, I liked to read the credits, I know I will get cohfused on the where and when's. I know I saw Clint on Maverick before the big break as Rowdy Yates, Eric Fleming as Gil Favor and wishbone the cook was played by who? Yea, Al Lewis, the only man who was homelier than Yogi Berra, was an old vaudeville comedian working with Fred Gwynn, a Harvard or Yale graduate, and respected each others work but I suspect the deep conversations were limited. Fred always reminded me of George Plimpton another smart guy. Pvt Doberman was played by Maurice, the last name is suspect, Greenfield or Grossberg, somethiing like that. TV of the 50's & 60's what a great springboard for talent!Gena Rowlands, Paul's wife, was the actress. I think the writer was Dory Schari, don't know about chopper pilot, William Schallert was the deputy, who has been in a ton of movies & tv & is a past president of the Screen Actors Guild, Harry Morgan is the only other one that comes to mind that has been in more movies &tv.

What did Jack & Paul use to talk about becoming before reality ruined Paul's mind & friend Jack broke "into" jail to recreate their dream. The one armed man ih the movie and in the tv fugitive lost his arm in combat, I think at Anzio, and I'll be damned if I can remember his name. Remember the opening scene when Jack & horse " whiskey" were waking up & living free.In strangers, Walter was Felix the nosy neighbor & Ernie was the writer who Kirk was building that beautiful house for. Barbra Rush was Kirk's wife and she does a great job in her movies as the whining crying suspecting wife. I forgot who was Murray the cop in the Odd Couple but I see their poker game but not his face or voice. What was Ernie Kovack's name in North to Alaska? Too bad he died so early. Cliff Robertson played the drifter in Picnic on Broadway and I believe Picnic was his first movie. The studio big wigs thought William Holden was to old for the part but he had backing and clout performing an athletic young drifter. I loved the dance scene with the light brunette Madge with great background music. Roz Russell played a great love starved spinster to Arthur O'conell. Cliff Robertson was one of those up and comers I saw on tv. I saw him & Eve Marie Saint on the old CBS Playhouse Ninety in Days of Wine and Roses before the movie made it famous. I wonder how many talented people connected to the movies & the movies themselves had their start in tv or the theatre?What was the first movie that Paul Newman & Steve Mcqueen were in together? What was Paul Newmans first acting job on tv?

That's enough, I'm Spartacus Mick