The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

‘Joey, Do You Like Movies About Gladiators?’

Posted on | March 15, 2010 | 15 Comments

Peter Graves is dead at age 83 and it’s odd that, despite his signature role as James Phelps, leader of the “Mission: Impossible” team, all I can think of is his later comic role as Capt. Oveur in “Airplane.”

Same thing with Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges and Leslie Nielsen, I guess. They made careers on their tough-guy images and then, with the aid of Zucker/Abrahams, got a second shot at fame by spoofing those images.

“Airplane” ranks with “Blazing Saddles” and “Animal House” among my all-time favorite comedies.

Category: Hollywood, humor, Uncategorized

Comments

15 Responses to “‘Joey, Do You Like Movies About Gladiators?’”

  1. Jenny
    March 15th, 2010 @ 7:14 am

    Here in Oz ‘Airplane’ was known as “Flying High” and is also one of my favourite movies. I recently bought the DVD and am proud to say my 17 yo daughter and her friends now call it one of their favourite movies. Some things are timeless! Seeing all those famous actors in the original spoof of disaster movies is always fun! Oveur and out Captain.

  2. Jenny
    March 15th, 2010 @ 2:14 am

    Here in Oz ‘Airplane’ was known as “Flying High” and is also one of my favourite movies. I recently bought the DVD and am proud to say my 17 yo daughter and her friends now call it one of their favourite movies. Some things are timeless! Seeing all those famous actors in the original spoof of disaster movies is always fun! Oveur and out Captain.

  3. Cakeman
    March 15th, 2010 @ 11:41 am

    Of course, Peter Graves will always be remembered by me as Jim Mewton, owner of the Broken Wheel Ranch on “Fury”. Every Saturday morning at 11, I’d never miss it (right before “Sky King.”

  4. Cakeman
    March 15th, 2010 @ 6:41 am

    Of course, Peter Graves will always be remembered by me as Jim Mewton, owner of the Broken Wheel Ranch on “Fury”. Every Saturday morning at 11, I’d never miss it (right before “Sky King.”

  5. Red
    March 15th, 2010 @ 12:04 pm

    Surely you can’t be serious.

  6. Red
    March 15th, 2010 @ 7:04 am

    Surely you can’t be serious.

  7. Mission Impossible Command
    March 15th, 2010 @ 1:30 pm

    Any knowledge and mention of you reading this comment will be denied.

    This blog will self-destruct in 10 seconds.

  8. Mission Impossible Command
    March 15th, 2010 @ 1:30 pm

    Any knowledge and mention of you reading this comment will be denied.

    This blog will self-destruct in 10 seconds.

  9. Mission Impossible Command
    March 15th, 2010 @ 8:30 am

    Any knowledge and mention of you reading this comment will be denied.

    This blog will self-destruct in 10 seconds.

  10. David Allan Coe
    March 15th, 2010 @ 5:39 pm

    Airplane is one of those movies that never gets old.

    I am serious…..and don’t call me Shirley.

  11. David Allan Coe
    March 15th, 2010 @ 5:39 pm

    Airplane is one of those movies that never gets old.

    I am serious…..and don’t call me Shirley.

  12. David Allan Coe
    March 15th, 2010 @ 12:39 pm

    Airplane is one of those movies that never gets old.

    I am serious…..and don’t call me Shirley.

  13. Cheney W. Halliburton
    March 16th, 2010 @ 12:54 am

    …..and don’t call me Shirley.

    All these rules. I can’t call you Shirley and I don’t have to call you Waylon Jennings or Charlie Pride…

  14. Cheney W. Halliburton
    March 16th, 2010 @ 12:54 am

    …..and don’t call me Shirley.

    All these rules. I can’t call you Shirley and I don’t have to call you Waylon Jennings or Charlie Pride…

  15. Cheney W. Halliburton
    March 15th, 2010 @ 7:54 pm

    …..and don’t call me Shirley.

    All these rules. I can’t call you Shirley and I don’t have to call you Waylon Jennings or Charlie Pride…