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Hi Jamie,
I knew it was a well-known quote and, therefore, that no one
would think my father made it up-- although thank you for clarifying
the source (I had forgotten where it came from).
RR was a fan of the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies, and
of movies in general. Our family has a persistent habit of liberally sprinkling
our discourse with each other using bits and pieces of dialogue from all
over the place; movies, television shows, books, opera, etc. Nothing is sacred--
we even have a few from classic TV commercials (like the old Alka Seltzer ones;
"I can't believe I ate the WHOLE thing..."). The accent or voice with which each
quote is associated must also be part of the delivery, though. It is surprising
how many times some line or other will be absolutely perfect for some weird
situation that comes up, and using it adds to the general hilarity. Dad started
it, but it's a Rosen family habit/tradition. We call it
"riffing".
Just for fun, here are a few more of my father's
favorites (see if you can guess the sources)...
Difficult you say, Sir? I wish to God it was
impossible!
It's my ONLY weakness.
Less and less I like this Jacobovski! [pronounced;
Yakoboffsky]
I just shoot them up, who cares where they come down? That's
not my department, said Verna Von Brown
I hate you, Clouseau! Every little bit of
you!
It's an EX-parrot!
It's just resting.
It's pining for the fjords! (to which the proper response is
"It's not PINING, it's PASSED ON! If you 'adn't nailed it to the perch, it would
be pushing up the daisies!)
[a whole bunch come from other skits done by that same
source, as well...] "How do you KNOW she is a witch?" "Are you insinuating
something?" "This is my theory, which is mine, which belongs to
me..."
She's not only merely dead, she's really most sincerely
dead.
A little old lady from Leningrad inwented
it.
He's obviously gotten his head caught in a mechanical rice
picker.
That music is a stench in the ear.
I always TRY to stay out of trouble.
Quotes are a Barrister's substitute for an original
mind.
Laddie, don't you think you should.... rephrase
that?
We're gonna need a bigger boat!
Judith
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