In watching the great Alfred Hitchcock directed and produced 1954 film, “Dial M For Murder,” yet again, I add some notes, as I am wont to do.
First and foremost, I deem the film as great, truly worthy of being cited in a ” Greatest Sports Legends” episode about Willie Mays.
I believe that episode opened with and certainly included– “1954 the year of Dien Bien Phu, Brown vs Board of Education, Dial M for Murder and Willie Mays.”
Next, a stretch, but 1954 in sports had a 7th game/NHL final overtime goal scored by Detroit’s (Red Wings) Tony Leswick. In “Dial M,” one of the character Swan’s (played so effectively, by the less publicized Anthony Dawson) aliases is Lesgate (pronounced Lesgit, I believe), which is close to Leswick.
Another “stretch” is that top billed Ray Milland’s “Tony Wendice” character has used the name “Fisher” in drawing Dawson’s Swan into a meeting.
After suffering two painful 7th game, final round defeats at Detroit in ’54 and ’55, the Montreal Canadiens won an incredible 5 straight Stanley Cup crowns. The dynasty (that word pronounced “Dinisty” on a PBS show about Henry the Eighth and the eventual Tudor Dynasty in England, that I scanned last night) began in the first full season, a great hockey writer named Red Fisher, reported about the Montreal Canadiens.
Finally in the great film, John Williams, so good as ” Chief Inspector Hubbard,” calls instructions to a “Williams” on his staff, as part of the climactic scene.
Frederick Knott wrote both the play and screenplay for the high quality and successful, “dial M for Murder.”
I do not remember much if anything, from last year’s first round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.
However, two years ago, in a most memorable Friday night such game, something happened for the first and only time, a 16th seed, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, took out highly rated and regional top seed, Virginia.
They did so convincingly. Much criticism, a bit too much was heaped upon Virginia basketball, which had a long history of big game failure.
Now two years later, they have a title, riding clutch play, big shots made and some unbelievable fortune to the ’19 crown.
They will not lose that crown in ’20, as there is no tournament.
Yes Virginia basketball, there is great fortune for you.
In a 40 season span (1980-2019), Virginia University founded by the “complex” Thomas Jefferson centuries earlier, managed to win one NIT (1980) and the aforementioned 2019 NCAA crown.
In the still decent, but clearly minor ’80 NIT, Ralph Sampson and Virginia won the final vs Kevin McHale (pictured above) and Minnesota University.
The next season McHale won the first of his three titles with the Boston Celtics, the last gained vs Sampson and the Houston Rockets in 1986.
In the next 3 seasons with Sampson, Virginia made it far as the national semis in ’81 losing to Al Wood and North Carolina and no further.
The superb 1997 film, “Good Will Hunting,” is airing on Showtime Two as of 8:40 this morning.
If you do not “catch” it then, look for it, as it will be shown again on one of the Showtime channels.
I really liked this movie and hope to watch it in its entirety soon, if not then, later.
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck not only have prominent roles, but wrote the screenplay. The great Robin Williams gave a marvelous performance.
The whole cast is great. Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgard and yes George Plimpton are among them. Gus Van Sant directed the acclaimed film.
I will add sports related, specifically Boston sports related notes, regarding the film in a future post.
Just in case, it is left to right, Matt Damon and Robin Williams, pictured above.
This note seems hard to believe, however, after the first three World Series (1903, 1905 and 1906) were contested between a pair of first time World Series entrants, the next 112 (1907-2019 with no W.S. in ’94), were not.
Additionally, since the Washington Nationals made the 2019 World Series, which they of course, won, there is no possibility of two first time World Series entrants meetings under the current format.
In fact, only the Seattle Mariners, among baseball’s 30 teams have never made a World Series appearance. They did make 3 ALCS appearances, losing to Cleveland (Indians) in ’95 and to the Yankees in both 2000 and 2001.
The loss in ’01 occurred after a record tying 116 win regular season.
Lou Piniella in a Yankees’ uniform, pictured above, has been in 5 World Series (4 as a player with the Yankees, his team going (2-2) and one as Cincinnati Reds manager, in which his team pulled off a shocking 4 game sweep of favored Oakland (Athletics).
Lou was the Mariners’ manager when despite a 116 win regular season, they failed to make the World Series.
In reviewing one of my cable television shows, I marvel in retrospect, at the prescience of one Al “Grampa” Lewis, as his opinions stated thirty plus years ago, both on season outcomes and sports trends held up.
One sports prediction he made and remember after the Boston Celtics’ title in 1986 and with the upcoming second pick in the NBA draft, who could have foreseen just one title in 33 (Larry Bird’s # and he won 3, a N.E. player now going elsewhere, “a man named Brady,” won six) seasons for Boston. Yet, that did manifest.
Mr. Lewis, always a great guest, predicted bad times for the Celtics after the ’87 season in which Boston made the NBA final.
Al Lewis in the backround in the photo above of “The Munsters” cast.
The 1987 show I viewed yesterday, “holds up” and Al Lewis as guest, is a big reason that it does.
Amidst the stoppage of so much, today a great episode of “What’s My Line?” that aired on Sunday November 6, 1955.
The mystery guest that night was the great Harry Belafonte.
Panelists were Dorothy Kilgallen, Fred Allen, Bennett Cerf and Arlene Francis.
John Charles Daly is the show’s host.
Enjoy and all keep calm.
A superb movie from last year is “Knives Out,” and I highly recommend watching it, as I did yesterday.
I certainly will not spoil your enjoyment and actually will reveal “nada,” regarding the intense plot.
Christopher Plummer is part of the great cast. That alone warrants watching it, but believe me, there is far more.
It is a compelling mystery and I must cite Daniel Craig, by name, for his stellar performance.
Del Shofner, a truly impactful and great receiver, who combined with quarterback Y.A. Tittle on great and “change the game,” New York Giants’ teams of the early 1960’s, died days back.
Shofner who wore Number 85 was 85 years old.
There is so much strife, especially now, but the ineptitude “stats only” thinking that left Del Shofner out of the not so esteemed Pro Football Hall of Fame is irksome, if not really important.
I was NOT a Giants’ fan, however, the memories of Marty Glickman a great announcer, calling a touchdown involving the superb Tittle to Shofner combination, is a lasting memory.
In opening a 1986 interview with Marty, I asked him to recreate such a call (he also intoned “good like Nedicks”) and that is another indelible memory.
Marty did so intoning “throwing deep for Shofner” and actually raising his arms, saying and “indicating” touchdown.
Del can now run deep, perhaps among the stars. He certainly was a transcendent player in glorious, better days.
Del Shofner, pictured above, began his NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams. Twice with them and thrice with the Giants, Del was an All Pro selection.
Those seasons (’58,’59 and ’61-’63) were all years/seasons the Giants won the NFL Eastern Conference crown.
One can make the case Ed Walsh had baseball’s greatest pitching season and that Harvey Haddix turned in the greatest pitched game.
Surely each feat is among the best.
I link Ed Walsh and Harvey Haddix, as stated in yesterday’s post, (Dorothy Schiff has “spun” more times than any hit record), because Walsh died on the day Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitched 12 perfect innings (vs the 2 time N.L. champion, hard hitting Milwaukee Braves) only to lose, on May 26, 1959.
Walsh hurled a post 1900 record sure to last many moons, if not forever, 464 innings and won 40 games in 1908.
Harvey Haddix, pictured above, won 2 games in the 1960 World Series, including game 7.
Something called the coronavirus has made it “necessary” to cancel many events, including all in the world of major sports. That includes the NCAA Basketball Tournament.
I “react” with lots of sports nostalgia, which I am wont to do anyway.
Upcoming, as I pondered “distinguish between Ed Walsh and Ed Plank,” two great early twentieth century pitchers, I noticed “Big” Ed Walsh died on the same day (May 26, 1959–I noticed the date and thought correctly) Harvey Haddix lost a game, despite hurling 12 perfect innings.
Tomorrow, more to link Ed Walsh and Harvey Haddix with other notes.
Meanwhile, NOW seems a good time not only to reflect, but to read and expand one’s horizons, certainly beyond sports and especially beyond the incessant, “same thing” sports talk, that permeates the airwaves.
Ed Walsh, pictured above, both once won 40 games in a season and hurled well over 400 innings in another. More on this great, tomorrow.
