Rosebud blind

[davemarc]

> From: MASCARO at humnet.ucla.edu
> To: pynchon-l at waste.org
> Subject: Re: Rosebud blind
> Date: Tuesday, January 14, 1997 7:20 PM
> 
> (PPS  If Chris is correct about the audacious reference in *Rosebud* I
will stand at least 
> partly corrected.  Do you really think Welles had that kind of sense of
humor?)
> 
One of the best known tidbits of cinematic lore (folklore?) is that Rosebud
was Hearst's "pet" name for the clitoris of his mistress, the accomplished
Marion Davies.  (I'm sure Chris will correct me if I'm getting the anatomy
wrong...I'm kinda in a rush.)  Through his social connections, co-writer
Herman J. Mankiewicz was apparently in a good position to know that.  

The first time I saw CK I wasn't impressed; since then I continue to be
amazed by its brilliance.  The best film of all time?  I'd never go so far
as to claim that, but it's very, very rich--particularly for an American
film.  I saw some of it on television the other night and started digging
the Rashomon aspect--the retelling of the opera story, for example.  I also
noted how the cinematography exploits the notion of the "pleasure dome"
alluded to early in the movie.

Those who dislike CK may get a kick out of the newsgroup alt.cult-movies
(or something like that), where there's an ongoing thread called "The Most
Overrated Movie Ever Made"--or something funnier than that.

davemarc