Expert: Popcorn Guy - 4/24/2006

Question
This will probably be one of the toughest questions you'll be asked, so my apologies in advance.

One of my most favorite films of all time is Paramount's 1977 terrorist thriller, BLACK SUNDAY starring Robert Shaw.  I own this move and have seen it at least 5 times and will probably continue to see it again and again.  I prided myself on being able to remember specific lines of dialogues, scenes and even camera angles.  It's such rich amazing entertainment with no silly CGI or hectic overediting to muck up the works.  And I can't get enough of the deftly cued John Williams score.

I read a mildly favorable review from John Simon on BLACK SUNDAY, which posed this tantalizing challenge: Can you guess the line of dialogue that is a quote verbatim from T.S. Eliot?

Damn that man's insufferable encyclopedic knowledge!  I figure I can safely rule out the lines of dialogue that sound merely functional. ("I don't want to kill you, I really don't." "I told you about that man; I should have let him shoot you!"  "Canceling the superbowl is like cancelling Christmas!") For weeks on end, sound bites from the movie ran through my head as possible candidates, anything that sounds poetic or like rhyming verse.  

Frankly, I'm stumped.  Can you help a poor cineaste? (I'm in my 20's and none of my peers have ever heard of this film, let alone seen it.  Those I know who were actually around to watch the movie when it came out either have not seen it or don't remember anything except that darn blimp.)  I appreciate your help.

Answer
Hi, Augusto...

Gee, thanks.... like I'll be able to think about anything else but this for the next few days....

Gimme a day or three on this one... I'll have to talk to some of me more well-read colleagues....

I'll let you know when I find it... and, believe me, I will find it....

PCG