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David Elliott interviewed in San Diego Magazine

July 24th, 2008 by Scott Marks

I’d like to say good evening, and how do you do, ladies and gentlemen. Kup’s world ends tonight with a bunch of bon mots from the lovely Ginette Vicot. (I’d like to point out that long before Jesse Jackson’s corresponding verse, this rhymin’ Hyman had such a funny meter to the roar of his repeater, if you catch my drift.)

It’s been pointed out to yours truly, that not unlike legendary prankster Red ” Aaron Chwatt” Buttons, my friend Donald, err, uhh, David, I should say, Elliott never got a dinner.

You can’t blame a guy for wanting to throw back a few farewell stingers with Burl Stiff and his fellow penman at the Tickled Trout. More than sedi…cough…sentiment and supper, I mean, Dave wanted a chance to bid farewell to his loyal readers who couldn’t wait to rip open the Night and Day section to peruse his latest cinematic missives.

I gotta’ tell you that David was always a good man when we worked together at the Chicago Sun-Times, and according to Essee a very capable wordsmith. I preferred schmoozing with the stars to watching their dreck pictures where I frequently caught some shuteye. If only Elliott had written more about Bears great Sid Luckman, because I never was big on movie reviews. Besides, who am I to critique someone else’s writing? Truth be told, Essee writes most of this crap…Anyway, I’d like to go on record as personally thanking Dave for never letting it be known that I once let loose a trouser fillip in his presence while ascending the Chicago Theatre in their cramped elevator. Yes sir, two rode together and one blew! Heh! Heh!

Since I already ran a photo of Dave and his lovely daughter Samantha, I found it only fitting to publish a shot of his son Tarvis. That Elliott is one loyal foot soldier. I don’t care how much Marshall Field paid me, you’ wouldn’t catch me dead wearing a chazarai Sun-Times t-shirt. Only Manny’s in Elmhurst for this reporter!

Now Ivan Bunny, there’s one for movies! I tell ya’ he sees everything. He was the one that saw Meet Dave. You know, just recently, Bunny’s bald spot finally filled in. I’ll never forget the day he performed a self-inflicted Larry Fine in my office. It was right after he read where Elliott proclaimed The Road to Perdition “the greatest gangster film since The Godfather.” Now I going to stick up for the man because for this reporter’s money Perdition far outclassed Marty Scorceske’s Goodfellows or Casino. I think it was even better than Stop! or My Mom Will Shoot and Feds. (By the way, Mary Gross is a Chicago gal, I might add.)

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San Diego Does Cannes!

June 13th, 2008 by Scott Marks


by Earl Stiff

While most Americans can barely afford to go to the can, Uncle Burl and his pals docked the wave nuzzling, gas-guzzling Happy Days at the Cannes Film Festival. Forget about Edy Williams topless in a fountain; this year’s celebratory vat of escapist merchandising culminated in one of my Uncle’s penultimate achievements.

With many a top writer recently thrown overboard or forced to walk the plank, The Union-Tribune commissioned mon oncle to sail with him to this year’s festival and show the world just how easy it is to cover the film scene. The paper was right, of course. Seldom has journalism been this simple.

Wait until you read this column. It fills my heart. It fills my world. Look at the suave figure Mr. Copley cuts standing next to that lovely rum heiress. Also in attendance, Christian Slacker, all taut and ready to tackle the role of “Dad” in anything the Disney Channel throws his way, with his silver-cupped companion and Cannes cutie Tamara “Big” Melons. What can you say about handsome Charles Brandy except that he is the new Villalonga, but who is that tasty Tanya glued to his billfold?

And doesn’t nice Dominic Dunne look happy, knowing he has finally made it to the social summit, his reward after all those dreary days at the O.J. and Bobby Blake trials. I understand that he likes to hand-feed his poodles tapioca while wearing a pair of ill-fitting Bruno Magli’s.

I don’t know about that tootsie Mary Bilge. I think she is part of the bilge crew from the boat. That Madonna is a vixen from hell (she spoiled my nice feelings about Evita Peron) and better keep her man-grabbing paws off Andrew Shelton!

As for the text, what can anyone say except it makes Capote eat dust and is even better than Sidney Sheldon. One gripe - Uncle Burl should have been above those smarmy media-hog kid photos as they detract a little from his luster.

The closing words about the meals, with that cute little insider joke about Joan Collins being thick around the center, is simply priceless. And sharing the page with that pet adoption ad was just the right touch, a real zinger!

Still, there are some out there, jealous of Uncle Burl’s eminence, eager to throw him under a Bentley. City Beat’s Loathsome toady Kelly Davis wrote terrible things, so did the Reader’s guttersnipe Don Bauder. Other human refuse leaving comments on Bauder’s scabrous blog were JustWondering, HellcatCopley, Portofinoan, and Johnny Vegas, all showing their ignorance.

Uncle Burl’s fingers bled after completing of this column. It’s been too long since the Maestro was afforded this much space and it’s safe to say never has one man done so much with so little.

Copyright 2008 The Shelter Island Lutheran Picayune

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David Elliott honored by San Diego film community

March 31st, 2008 by Scott Marks

David Elliott shares a fundamental bonding moment with daughter Sabrina:

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Photo Courtesy of The Walter Parks Thatcher Memorial Library

Local cinema shindig reels in the fun!
by Burl Stiff, Jr.
Society Columnist
March 31, 2008

For someone who spent so many hours in a darkened room, the view of Del Cerro must have seemed staggering.

The Cinema Society’s Andy and Beth Friedenberg opened their luxuriant hilltop home to the San Diego film community last night to pay tribute to former Union Tribune film critic David Elliott.

The evening’s guest of honor, looking sartorially splendiferous in his customary blue blazer and button down Oxford, worked the crowd while his wife, Union Tribune classical music critic Valerie Scher, held court with local publicists about her new Rated G column.

Landmark Theatre’s Chris Principio was there, so was David Swanson. As always, screening-mate Jean Lowerison wowed the crowd in purple. The Coronado Museum’s Joe Ditler talked Our Gang comedies with Citizen Video’s Holly Jones while the San Diego Reader’s film critic Duncan Shepherd was anxious to visit the Friedenberg’s opulent subterranean screening room.

Local publicists old and new joined in the revelry. Former Solomon Friedman reps Stacey Torgeson and Jennie Petro mingled with current Allied Advertising whizkids J. R. Cordray, Jennie Ogness Gendron, Cathy Pedlow, Andy Hart, Lindsay Flateur, Heather Secrist and Jen Curran.

Also in attendance, Herb and Roberta Ross (sans Brooklyn), the ever mirthful Fred Saxon and his bride Laurie, and the Review Express’ Diana Saenger accompanied by her better half Lou.

More were the San Diego library’s Ralph DeLauro, Ginette Vicot, Emulsion Compulsion scribe Scott Marks , Marion Kahn, Cinema Under the Stars impresario Doug Yeagley, the North County Times’ Dan Bennett and KGTV anchorwoman/San Diego Asian Film Festival director Lee Ann Kim who was gracious enough to sandwich in an appearance between broadcasts.

Andy and Beth’s daughter Erica, with help from her ten year old son Morgan, was responsible for the never ending hours d’oeuvre.

Unlike one of Chris Principio’s screenings, the cocktail party went a half hour over it’s anticipated 120 minute running time. No money was raised for charity.

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Burl Stiff should replace David Elliott as San Diego Union-Tribune’s film critic

January 25th, 2008 by Scott Marks

burl-stiff.jpg

Who will take over as Union-Tribune film critic now that David Elliott’s services are no longer needed? The logical choice would be Lee Grant whose weekly “Out Takes” column frequently ran opposite Dave’s reviews. In the past, book editor Arthur Salm, who wrote a very funny review of Untraceable in yesterday’s Night & Day section, has been called in to pick up the spillover.

Then it dawned on me. Why not let society guru Burl Stiff try his hand at reviewing? With all his insight into the world of high power glitz, he’d be a natural to take over the movie beat.

While at the Adams Ave. library, I decided to check out some of Burl’s greatest hits on microfiche and discovered that at one time he did review films for the U-T. In the early-70s Burl was assigned the opening of Bernardo Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris.

Hot buttered Brando
by Burl Stiff
Arts Writer

October 14, 1972

There was Bacon on the menu, but only during the opening credits.

Never mind the tango. Before it was over, the stomachs of patrons that asked for extra butter on their popcorn were probably doing the Mazurka.

Bernardo Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris, which opens today at the Guild Theatre, is not for the faint of heart. Several regulars of the Los Patronas Jewel Ball were seen making an early exit.

Marlon Brando is in it, so is Maria Schneider. Jean-Pierre Leaud does a devastating vamp on Francois Truffaut, while Veronia Lazar has the makings of a stunning corpse.

Also in the cast, Maria Michi, Giovana Galletti, Catherine Allegret, Luce Marquand, Marie-Helene & Catherine Breillat, Dan Diament, Catherine Sola and Mauro Marchetti.

Others were Peter Schommer, Rachel Kesterber, Ramon Mendizabal, Mimi Pinson, Darling Legitimus, Gerard Lepennec and Stephane Koziak.

Vittorio Storaro shot it (in Technicolor), while Mr. Bertolucci, Franco Arcalli and Agnes Varda all contributed to the script. The producer is Alberto Grimaldi and the saxophone score comes courtesy of Gato Barbeiri.

It took two to edit it (Franco Arcalli and Roberto Perpignani) and three to design the production (Maria Paolo Maino, Fernando Scarfiatti and Philippe Tulure).

The identical Gitt Magrini bathrobes worn by Mr. Brando and Massimo Girotti are smart and stylish. Ms. Magrini also appears in the role of Ms. Schneider’s mother.

The film is rated ‘X’ and has a running time of 136 minutes.

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