Ray Fontenot isn't a name I'm familiar with. I'm curious to know if this is his inaugural puzzle.
The theme is an all-day film festival...the four theme answers are well-known movies whose last words capture the various "show" times.
20A: First showing at an all-day film festival? (1988) - Tequila Sunrise
25A: Second showing (1970) - Red Sky at Morning
44A: Third showing (1975) - Dog Day Afternoon
49A: Final showing (2004) - After the Sunset
I'm not much of a morning person...and definitely not a sunrise person...but I might have seen Tequila Sunrise--it looks somewhat familiar, and I like Michelle Pfeiffer. I saw the morning and afternoon shows. Liked one, really liked the other. Didn't see After the Sunset and couldn't tell you anything about it.
I always think themes are clever, in large part because I don't think I could come up with one. This was an easy theme, and once you got one theme answer, it was pretty easy to guess at least the endings. I was thinking Tuesday Afternoon at first. Likely confused because Tequila Sunrise was also a song.
[Digression following...At KC's request, I've posted some pictures of Dooley and Barnabas, along with our daughters. You can see them here. Thanks, KC.]
Esau makes another appearance at 53D, clued as Biblical twin. He's joined by Biblical liar (Ananias) at 43D.
Yesterday we had True/False Test. Today they reprise their roles--albeit separately--at 51D: Loyal (true) and 42A: Disloyal (false).
X is in the grid again today...at 57A Graph line (axis) and 49D: Pink-slipped (axed).
Favorite words in the grid:
35A: Crystal-lined rock (geode)
15D: Self-important sorts (tin gods). We all know one (or more) of those.
33D: Eco-friendly (green). I know someone who will be happy to see this answer. Be sure to check out his always-entertaining commentary on the New York Sun puzzle.
38D: San Francisco and environs (Bay area). I just looked at that as one word and wondered what in the world bayarea was...kind of like...well, never mind.
45D: Nissan, once (Datsun). I don't remember when that changed. I used to own a Datsun, I have never owned a Nissan...so it was some time between 1973 and now.
54D: Gallery-filled part of the Big Apple (SoHo). When we were in New York City a few years ago, I learned that Soho meant South of Houston Street...or the area south of Greenwich Village. It was a great place to meander...lots of shops, galleries, cafes, and other places to spend money.
Well, it's now ten of (29D: A little before the hour). Not so! (32D: "That's a lie!"). Okay, it's really ten after...but I wanted to use a couple of answers in a real sentence. I agree, that's pretty lame (2D: Poor, as excuses go). But no harm (52D: Damage) done!
Enough already! Good night...see you tomorrow.
Linda G
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2 comments:
Next time you and Don are in NYC strolling through SoHo, give a holler!
Delightful! If this is Mr. Fontenot's (his name is even fun to say) debut, I hope he will get more run.
Had DUEL initially instead of DRAW, maybe a small intentional trap? If so, I'm all for it. DUEL fit, but DRAW fit better.
Also enjoyed TINGODS. It's not up there with MRTOADSWILDRIDE, but I have a notion that the constructor is capable of hitting that height.
Lastly, my paper, the KC Star, does not publish the theme on the Mon - Sat puzzles. Maybe the theme is omitted from the Mon - Sat syndicated version everywhere? I'm starting to gain an appreciation for not having it, discerning it is like having a puzzle within the puzzle. And we do get the theme in the Sunday puzzle, which ruined me last Sunday. To be fair though, that was nobody's fault but my own.
KC
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