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.)
Continue reading David Elliott interviewed in San Diego Magazine
Tags: Burl Stiff, Chicago, Chicago Sun-Times, David Elliott, David Elliott Interview, Film Critic, Ginette Vicot, Irv Kupcinet, Jesse Jackson, Kup, Kups Column, Kups World, Larry Fine, Red Buttons, San Diego, San Diego Magazine, San Diego Union Tribune, Sid LuckmanFiled Under Interviews, News
Treasured Memories About Growing Up In Chicago, The Sequel: The Billy Goat Tavern
July 1st, 2008 by Scott Marks
How many nights did I close the Goats?
Long before John Belushi’s myth-making “Cheezeborger, Cheezeborger” transformed the Billy Goat Tavern into a tourist attraction, it was my bar of choice and it remained that way until the day I moved. It was the great equalizer, a place to drink with friends who hawked beer and Frosty Malts at Wrigley Field or catch a burger before hitting a screening with David Elliott. (Elliott never drinks…in public.)
There was nothing phony or pretentious about the subterranean watering hole. Buried beneath the Tribune Building in the bowels of Lower Michigan Ave., the Goat never saw the light of day. It was a spacious dive, it’s main room to the right as you walk in, the food court in the middle with an L-shaped bar off to the right. The nicotine lacquered walls were adorned with photos of many Chicago dignitaries.
Mike Royko wrote lovingly about the joint and many a night I saw the great Chicago journalist throwing back a few with everyone from Sun-Times pressmen to characters destined to influence his next Slats Grobnick column.
La Toitel (Credit Andrew Huff @ Flickr.com)
When I first started going there they actually had a live goat roped in a room located behind the bathrooms (Billy for boys, Nanny for girls). The hangout’s originator William Sianis was nicknamed “Billy Goat” for his uncanny resemblance to bovidae. Unfortunately, I never had the privilege of meeting the man. His son Sam Sianis, a stocky, flat-nosed Greek scrapper with the tail of his necktie forever tucked between the third and fourth button holes of his shirt, rose to power after the old Goat croaked.
Sam occasionally made an appearance at the grill (usually when the tour bus delivered a load of gawkers), doing his best imitation of Sianis-doing-Belushi-doing-Sianis. You could tell that the guy hated being reduced to a boneheaded stereotypical immigrant, but if it’s good for business…NO COKE…PEPSI!. On Saturday Night Live, the catchphrase was “No Coke…Pepsi,” while in fact the Goat served the most turned on Coca-Cola in greater Chicagoland. The high syrup-to-carbonation ratio of their pharmaceutical Coke was indeed invigorating. And a Boston coffee was always in order, particularly on those nights when it helped thaw the winter chill.
During my regime, a Greek fella named Paul was the chief burger flipper. This guy made the best goddamned double cheeseburger, so good that that’s what he called it. My pack and I would walk in the door, Paul would light up, hit the bell and yell out, “One goddamned double cheeseburger!” which was invariably followed by a softer, more sincere, “on a hard roll or bun?” I adore creatures of habit!
The horror…the horror… (Credit mnScouser @ Flickr.com )
Continue reading Treasured Memories About Growing Up In Chicago, The Sequel: The Billy Goat Tavern
Tags: Bar, Billy Goat, Billy Goat Tavern, Carl Grayson, Cheezeborger, Chicago, David Elliott, Hollis Crite, Irv Kupcinet, Jack Brickhouse, John Belushi, Marty McNeely, Mike Royko, Rock and Rye, Sam Sianis, Saturday Night Live, SNL, V.I.P. Room, WGN, William SianisFiled Under Rants
David Elliott honored by San Diego film community
March 31st, 2008 by Scott Marks
David Elliott shares a fundamental bonding moment with daughter Sabrina:
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.
Tags: Andy Friedenberg, Burl Stiff, David Elliott, Film Critic, San Diego, Union TribuneFiled Under News
Burl Stiff should replace David Elliott as San Diego Union-Tribune’s film critic
January 25th, 2008 by Scott Marks
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.
Tags: Burl Stiff, David Elliott, Newspaper, Replacement Critic, San Diego Union Tirbune, Union TribuneFiled Under Rants
KPBS Film Club of the Air - January 23, 2008
January 24th, 2008 by Scott Marks
Appearing monthly on These Days, the Film Club of the Air features local film critics Beth Accomando and Scott Marks discussing films in San Diego theaters.
Film Club: Oscar Nominations, David Elliott, There Will Be Blood, Cassandra’s Dream, War/Dance, The WaterhorseTom Fudge: The first new film we’re going to talk about during this film club of the air is There Will Be Blood, which was just nominated for eight Oscars. This movie is loosely based on a novel by Sinclair Lewis called Oil. The film is written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who’s known for making Boogie Nights and Hard Eight.There Will be Blood tells the story of a fictional oil man, named Daniel Plainview, who is portrayed as a pioneer in the American industry. He begins as a miner out West, but soon discovers that oil will become, by far, the most profitable of all the earth’s bounties. He works with a small crew putting up makeshift derricks. He eventually gains skill and a wide reputation, and he ends up in the oil fields of California. Along the way, he adopts the son of one of his workers who was killed in a mine, and in the town of New Boston, he strikes it rich with a huge gusher.Along the way, Plainview develops a relationship with an ambitious preacher, who worships money as much as any oilman. The preacher gets involved in a complex land deal with Daniel Plainview. In the end, let’s jut say that Plainview becomes very rich but very happy. This movie stars Daniel Day Lewis in the leading role, and newcomer Paul Dano as the preacher.There Will Be Blood is currently playing in area theaters.The next movie we’re going to talk about is a documentary about life among refugee children in Uganda. It’s called War/Dance. Most of the activity in War/Dance takes place in a refugee camp in the northern part of the county. The main characters are children from villages that are in the grip of war. Many of them had been abducted, or have seen their family members murdered by soldiers in a vicious rebel group called the Lord’s Resistance Army.
We see these children, and we hear their stories. But the overarching story in this documentary is about music and dance. The kids in the camp are preparing for a trip to Kampala, where they will take part in a national music and dance competition. In the course of the movie, we see them practicing, performing, and otherwise living life and enjoying life as best they can.
War/Dance opens at Landmark’s Ken Theater this weekend.
Our final movie is a family and children’s movie called The Water Horse. It’s a story that takes place in Scotland during World War II. A young boy lives in a manor house that is managed by his mother. His father is away at war. The boy marks dates on the calendar to keep track of the time he expects it will take for his dad to return.
The boy lives along the shore of Loch Ness, and one day he finds an oblong rock that turns out to be an egg. As you may have guessed by now, the egg contains a baby water horse, known to most of us as the Loch Ness monster. The baby monster hatches from the egg and adopts the boy as a parent. The monster grows and grows until he has to be returned to the Loch.
But there’s trouble in store for the monster, since the boy’s village is home to a British artillery unit, that’s looking for German subs. Is it possible the army gunners will think that the monster is actually a German sub, that’s arrived from the sea? This movie stars Alex Etel as the little boy. You’ll remember him if you saw the recent movie called Millions.
The Water Horse is currently playing in area theaters.
Filed Under KPBS Radio Shows
San Diego Union Tribune loses film critic David Elliott
January 16th, 2008 by Scott Marks
David Elliott is my friend, easily the most intelligent, compassionate and loyal influence on my life this side of my mother. We may disagree when it comes to certain films (the gag reflex still kicks in when I think of his ** review of Goodfellas), but if there is a finer writer practicing the art of film criticism for a daily newspaper in the United States, please forward me their reviews.
Anything I have to say concerning David’s termination would be fueled with both bias and bile. David wrote for the San Diego Union Tribune for going on 24 years and the paper’s recent attempts to increase profits by firing staffers stinks. As much as I would love to prick myself and bleed for you, out of respect for our near-30-year friendship, I will hold my tongue.
In addition to feeling a friend’s loss, what troubles me almost as much is the way film criticism has been cheapened over the past ten years. I still remember the 60s when critics battled over art. Ebert and Siskel with their goddamned thumbs helped transform an art form into an electronic tip sheet peppered with blurbs and one-liners.
Who will replace David? Wire copy. Editors figure that unlike plays or concerts, films pretty much open on the same day across the country. Why bother to pay a local critic when it is so much easier (and cheaper) to run with wire reviews? Never mind individuality or pride in ownership. In Chicago, a day didn’t pass where I failed to see the faces of Roger Ebert or Mike Royko or Irv Kupcinet leering back at me from buses and billboards. These journalists were star players and were treated as such. In the depths of their ignorance, the U-T pooh-poohs the concept of journalist as superstar. If you didn’t know that the paper employed a phenomenal critic, they sure in hell weren’t going to tell you.
Is film criticism so expendable that individual voices must be whittled down into a few souls fortunate enough to be syndicated? And what about the voices on the fountain of misinformation highway that want so much to court studio favor that they fawn over all things projected? These aren’t critics, they’re reviewers who fill a paragraph with plot description and stick stars at the top of the page.
As much as I love goofing on Burl Stiff’s column/society roll call (this guy should have the word “gift” printed across the top of each paycheck and they ax Elliott) you will never again see me carrying a copy of the Union Tribune. I’d rather read the Poway Penny Saver. If I need a Stiff fix there is always their impossible to navigate website which, even though it’s free, is still overpriced.
UPDATE
While my passionate anger keeps me from spilling my guts, that won’t stop me from finding other writers who are eager to discuss publisher David Copley.
In response to the recent spate of layoffs, City Beat’s Kelly Davis wrote a wonderful article discussing Mr. Copley’s extravagant lifestyle.
Here is a link to Kelly’s City Beat article.
Here is a link to my KPBS Film Club partner Beth Accomando’s thoughts.
How stands the Union now, Mr. Copley?
Tags: David Copley, David Elliott, Film Critic, Film Criticism, Layoff, Newspaper, San Diego Union TribuneFiled Under News
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