Tony Curtis was always, in my mind, The Great Leslie, cunning yet honorable stuntman extraordinaire and archnemesis of the diabolical Professor fate. Adventurer, fencer, driver, and gentleman, Leslie was everything that every boy ever wanted to be. Plus...he had an AWESOME ride. I really really really want the Leslie Special. Sure, the color white would make cleaning the thing a royal PAIN, but it would soo be worth it. Besides, I intend to be fabulously wealthy, so I can just pay somebody to do it. Or, I can have my kids do it. Free labor!
But, seriously, The Great Race was one of my family's favorite movies growing up. To this day, every time my dad's family gets together, there will be at least one reference to us-my favorite being Uncle Dennis yelling "More Brandy! Throw more brandy!" in his best Prince Hapnick voice at one of our New Year's get-togethers. Seriously, though...what other movie has cowboys and Indians, suffragettes, car races, rockets, straightjackets, cars with cannons in the front, icebergs, princes, treason, plots, banishment, romance, seduction, the Eiffel Tower getting blown up by the aforementioned car with a cannon in front, and a BIG HUGE GIANT AMAZING PIE FIGHT!
Leslie aka Tony Curtis is the one in white who doesn't really get hit. You also get to see the car that I want-the white one-and the car with the cannon-the black one.
Yeah. This is what I grew up on. Is it any wonder that I'm the way that I am? It's still my favorite.
Next time I decide to get engaged, I'm having her watch this first. Both to warn her of who I am and to let me know if she can accept that.
Tony was cool, too. I mean, sure, he went through a ridiculous number of wives, but whatever. That's showbiz. What was cool is that he started out as a poor Jewish kid in the Bronx, and ended up as a movie star. Sweet.
RIP, Tony.
"Goodbye! Farewell, you good Leslie you. I hope you win, I hope you win!"
