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Robert DeNiro’s RAGING BULL Oscar® acceptance speech

October 8th, 2008 by Scott Marks

“I’m the boss, I’m the boss, I’m the boss, I’m the boss…”

For years I have been searching YouTube in hope that this would eventually surface. March 30, 1981 was the date set for the 53rd Academy Awards ceremony. It was also the date John Hinckley, Jr. attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan. For only the third time in Oscar history, the annual giveaway was postponed. (The show was pushed back a week in 1938 due to flooding in Los Angeles and the 1968 ceremony was rescheduled after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.)

Ironically, the reason DeNiro’s win came a day late was due in large part to Hinckley’s obsession with Jodie Foster and the role of a young prostitute she played in Taxi Driver. Hinckley had seen the film at least 15 times (this was before home video) and strongly identified with the film’s lead character Travis Bickle.

Hinckley had been following Foster around the country for years. Upon reading in People Magazine that Foster was attending Yale, Hinckley enrolled in a writing course in hopes of meeting his Iris…sweet Iris. Foster ignored his numerous letters and phone calls, and Hinckley became convinced that if he assassinated the president he could become equally as famous as Foster. He began stalking then-President Jimmy Carter, but the non-partisan Hinckley eventually had to settle for a Republican. In March 1981, Hinckley wrote three or four more notes to Foster who in turn handed them over to her dean. The Yale police department tried and failed to track him down.

Raging Bull received 8 nominations, but only Bobby and editor/apex Thelma Schoonmaker took home Oscars. The Academy robbed Marty because they’re miserable and their mothers take it up the $%**+#@ @$$! The only vivid image I retained over the years was DeNiro clutching his Oscar and saying, “I love everybody!” Seeing it again was like discovering the missing link to Scorsesedom…that, and those graven Giorgio Armani commercials I’ve yet to catechise.

“Huh?”

The biggest laugh comes when DeNiro thanks LaMotta, a man he spent 127 minutes depicting in a brutal and most denigrating fashion. Cut to a beaming Jake followed by a smattering of applause from the dignified congregation. Like any voting member would allow this animale into their home for dinner.

DeNiro couldn’t ad-lib a belch after a plate of Catherine Scorsese’s brasciole. He even begins his acceptance speech by goofing on his unscripted inarticulateness. His first platitude goes to the costume designer. “…I want to thank Bruno…” Bruno, who? Bruno S.? And whatever became of that Joey La Motta lawsuit? Who’d it have something to do with? Vickie?

Watching as the talent rende omaggio

Marty was backed by His beaming ex, Isabella Rossellini. After a crushing defeat, his gumad probably dodged a dozen or so hurled telephones when the couple returned home later that night. And am I the only one that misses His satanic beard? Betcha Isabella does to, when it’s late…and no one else is around.

Thanks to Bushido John for sending me the link.  Watch the acceptance speech here.

“Raging Bull” closing monologue and Scorsese cameo:

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Movie dads that won’t make father’s day

June 15th, 2008 by Scott Marks

1. The Butcher in Gaspar Noé’s I Stand Alone (1998)

Part of the reason I adore this movie is because I have always believed it to be a revisionist version of Taxi Driver only darker. This baby takes everything Travis has to give, pumps up realism — when The Butcher (Philippe Nahon) goes to a porn theater, you’ll witness more than some R-rating-friendly shadows dancing on the screen — and never stops moving towards its ghastly conclusion(s). Everybody steals from Scorsese, but few are capable of making it their own, thereby demonstrating an advanced state of cinematic enlightenment. Transplant Travis to Paris, have him hack meat instead of fares, give him a retarded daughter and ouila - out pops one of the vilest, most repugnant movies ever made (and my vote for feel-good picture of eternity!). After pulling a Joe Kennedy and throwing his daughter in a mental institution, The Butcher returns to Paris to find her. Alone in a hotel room with his daughter, the director provides his audience with two alternate conclusions: rape or murder. Rent the DVD and play along at home.

2. “The Lieutenant” in Abel Ferrara’s The Bad Lieutenant (1992)

If you haven’t already, go back and study the dialog during the opening car ride. We know nothing about “The Lieutenant” (Harvey Keitel) and Ferrara and screenwriter Nick St. John want to make a solid first impression. “The Lieutenant” and his two young sons (both sporting blazers that scream parochial school) make a hurried dash for the car. The boys whine that they were late because Aunt Wendy keeps hogging the bathroom. Turning on them as though they were refugees from Police Academy 5, Harvey barks,

“Hey — Listen to me. I’m the boss, not Aunt Wendy. When it’s your turn to use the bathroom, you tell Aunt Wendy to get the f–k out of the bathroom! What are you, men or mice?…Call me. I’ll throw her the f–l out!”

A few reels later he’s buck naked, smoking crack and crying like a baby. When was the last time you really saw your father?

3. Joey LaMotta in Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull (1980)

Jake (Robert DeNiro) is by no means Judge Hardy, but the father of the year award goes to the younger LaMotta brother. Unfortunately there isn’t enough quality screen time devoted to Joey (Joe Pesci) and his kids, but the thirty seconds we do get to spend around the family dinner table is magic. Joey points a knife at his young son and threatens, “If I see you put your hand in the plate one more time I’m gonna’ stab you with this knife. You hear me?” We never learn if Joey, Jr. got the message for no sooner is his dad about to bludgeon the tot with a butter knife, Uncle Jake saves the day by bursting into the house and putting his brother’s head through a glass door. Every day is Father’s Day in the LaMotta household, ya’ son of a bitch!

4. Wade Hunnicutt in Vincente Minnelli’s Home From the Hill (1960)

There were two venal Minnelli patriarchs to choose from, neither of whom had Liz Taylor as their on-screen daughter. Arthur Kennedy is pure scum in Some Came Running. On the surface he’s Parkman, Indiana’s #1 son, but his heart pumps silt. As much as he sickens me (in a good way), he is no match for Mitchum in Home From the Hill. Minnelli asks us to accept George Hamilton in the role of Robert Mitchum’s son. (And I goof on spielberg’s inability to suspend disbelief!) It’s great to watch Mitchum belittle the ever-fledgling actor, but all roads lead to Bob’s heated moment of comeuppance. Eighty-seven minutes in, Hamilton enters dad’s study/arsenal to make it known that he’s hip to the fact that one of the ranch hands is his half brother. Cool Bob easily deflects the news. After all, he sewed some oats with a tramp that gave birth by the side of a ditch. Hamilton follows with the line of his career: “She must have been some pig to crawl into bed with you.” Thawing momentarily, Bob stammers, “We’ll just let that…We’ll just let that pass in the heat of the moment.” Flustered Mitchum seldom appears on the menu. When it does savor it!

5. Jasper Hadley in Douglas Sirk’s Written on the Wind (1956)

“A great man! A giant of a man!” To hear his family speak you’d half expect Glenn Langan to walk in the room with Jonas Salk in hand. (Which reminds me, look at the size of the gusher on that guy! Talk about being oil-well hung!) Instead of a titan, Douglas Sirk portrays Jasper Hadley (Robert Keith) as an emaciated mouse. The inheritors to his throne are an impotent lush (Robert Stack) and a slutty daughter (Dorothy Malone) that makes Mitchum’s “sand hill tacky” look like Amanda Bynes. Halfway through the picture Old Man Hadley’s ticker gives out forcing him to take a fatal plunge down the family’s grand staircase. If a puny man falls in the middle of a mansion, does anybody hear? Are the chances worsened if his harlot daughter is blasting a molten version of Temptation on her Victrola? In honor of the day, let us end with a bit of patroclinous trivia: Milquetoast Robert Keith is the real life sire of strapping TV father (and dad to both Hayley Mills), Brian “Uncle Bill” Keith. Hmmm…Does that mean a Hamilton can father a Mitchum?

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New Photos Added: Jerry Lewis, Frank Tashlin, RAGING BULL, Mel Blanc, DRAGONSLAYER, Bette Davis, Aurora Model Kits, etc.

April 19th, 2008 by Scott Marks

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Woody Allen - Ad for The Maniaks (1966) comic book

Mel Blanc - 4 Photos

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Listen to Arthur, fatso!

Celebrity Endorsements:
Milton Berle for Suskana Mills, 1951
Bette Davis for Lustre-Creme, 1951
Bert Lahr for Blatz Beer, 1952
Carpet Padding Danny Thomas Style
Arthur Godfrey has the AYDS!, 1965

The Disorderly Orderly - Herald

Dragonslayer - 8 Color Photos

Jerry Lewis - 45 Photos

Groucho Marx - Comic Book profile

The Nutty Professor - 4 Page Contest and Entry Form

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Raging Bull - 8 Lobby Cards

Rio Bravo - Color Shot of Ricky Nelson

The Sad Sack (1957) - 4 Page Viacom TV Promotional Pamphlet (1965)

Frank Tashlin - On the set of The Disorderly Orderly

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Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em, mommy

Vintage ads:
Aurora Model Kits, 1964 (Universal Monsters)
Aurora Model Kits, 1965 (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman & Superboy)
Superman for Palisades Park, New Jersey, 1967
Pink Royal Typewriter Mattel Thingmaker, 1966
The Best of DC Comics on TV, 1967 (Featuring Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Superman & Aquaman)
Rocky and Bullwinkle for Cheerios, 1966
Phillip Morris Cigarettes, 1956
Oreo Cookies, 1951
Happy-Joe-Lucky Comic Strip for Lucky Strike Cigarettes, 1956
Blue Bonnet Margarine, 1956
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 1958

Which Way to the Front? - Herald

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Filed Under Image Blog

New Photos added: Jerry Lewis, TAXI DRIVER, Betty Boop, Jean Arthur, The 3 Stooges and more!

April 5th, 2008 by Scott Marks

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Is nothing sacred?

For the past month, Emulsion Compulsion’s burgeoning Image Vault underwent some minor tweaking to smooth a few kinks in the system. Now it’s back up to speed and better than ever with over 10,000 photos for your entertainment pleasure!

Every weekend, I will post a list of all the pictures added to the Image Gallery during the previous week. It’s a bountiful harvest this week. Enjoy!

  • Cartoon All-Stars - 15 Photos (Betty Boop, Popeye, Bugs Bunny, Felix the Cat, etc.)
  • Signed 1963 LIFE Magazine ad featuring Irv Kupcinet for Meister Brau Beer
  • The 3 Stooges - 19 Photos from Larry Fine’s autobiography Stroke of Luck
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