Brando passed away

[MJD]

Re: Brando passed away

>Slim Pickens (Major King Kong) had a great scene in Strangelove, but clearly
>his greatest role was as Taggart in Blazing Saddles ("somebody head back into
>town and get a shitload of dimes")

Had to be something to that movie. My dad, whose cultural tastes tend to tandfman's even brought us to see it. It has just been released as a 30th anniversary edition DVD:

"The movie celebrates its 30th anniversary with a release of a special edition DVD this week (Warner Bros. Home Video), and Gilliam told me in a recent interview that, despite the film's satirical tone, it was just as tough for him to say the lines 30 years ago as it is today."

http://www.wsbtv.com/entertainment/3486964/detail.html

[gh]

Re: Brando passed away

How's this for a connection? Slim Pickens was born in Kingsburg, California. The most famous alum of Kingsburg High (I would have to guess) is Rafer Johnson!

[MJD]

Re: Brando passed away

"But Paramount studio executives objected to Brando playing a mobster and demanded he take a screen test. Brando obliged."

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common ... 01,00.html

[ShaunP]

Re: Brando passed away

OK, how about this as a link....

My mother, Jean Desforges, was European Champ in LJ (1954) and Olympic Medalist in 1952 and was Captain of the British Womens Athletic Team in the early 1950s, and quite well known at the time.

My father, Ron Pickering, was a school PE Teacher at that time, but later went on to be National Athletics Coach in GB in the early 1960s, and was coach to Lynn Davies, 1964 Olympic LJ Champion. He later became much more known as a TV Commentator for the BBC.

They were married in October of 1953 in East London, and because of my mothers fame at the time, it was quite big news, as 6000 well wishers turned up at the Church. This also warranted coverage in the popular media of the day, including the Pathe News Reel that played in the cinemas throughout the country.

They spent their honeymoon on the island of Jersey, and could see out of their window the local cinema down the street, where the advertising hoarding boldly stated:

"Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront....plus Jean Desforges Wedding Pictures"!

I know that it is a stretch, but it one of the favourite stories in the Pickering household.

ShaunP

[Daisy]

Re: Brando passed away

Shaun, great story. I never knew of your Mums track fame but your Dad was a true giant in British athletics. Good to read your thoughts here. Cheers.

[Brian]

Re: Brando passed away

In "A Streecar Named Desire," Brando wore a "wife-beater" underwear shirt that many in the sixties used as singlets, team name scribbled in magic marker on the front. That's about all I can stretch out of this.

[Brutal]

Re: Brando passed away

One of my little hobbies (not so much anymore) was taking favorite parts from movies and running them togeter on a video tape. That scene from "On The Watefront" where Brando...."I could have been a been a contender I could have been somebody instead of a bum which is what I am, let's face it"......wow! That precedes a little Billy Jack..."I'm going to take this right foot and put it right there (pointing to cheek) and there ain't nothing you can do about it".....hahaha!!!

I can see Brando riding up on the motorcycle in.."The Wild One"