Corey Robin

Game meets game

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I’ve been meaning to write about one piece of writing for some time, but thanks to two others, I don’t need to.

The first is Frances Wilson’s biography of Muriel Spark, which I read in the fall and thoroughly enjoyed. I’d say more about how terrific it is were it not for the fact of…

…the second piece of writing, Audrey Wollen’s rollicking, gripping review of it in the current issue of The New Yorker. I couldn’t possibly improve upon Wollen’s piece, even if I wanted to or tried. The review is as terrific as the book, but don’t let its terrific-ness prevent you from enjoying the terrific-ness of the book. And if you doubt me about the terrific-ness of the book, or of Frances’s writing, which is among the most terrific there is in literary non-fiction, you should read…

…this third piece of writing, Frances’s review of Liza Minnelli’s autobiography in the current issue of The New York Review of Books. Pure Frances. If anyone can see past the spotlight of Liza Minnelli and Judy Garland, it’s Frances. Without drawing attention to herself, she somehow outshines Liza and Judy and friends, oh my.

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  1. Todd | #

    CUT TO: MEDIUM SHOT OF STAGE WITH ALL PRESENT

    PROFESSOR
    All right then. Miss Ginger.

    Ginger steps up for her speech.

    GINGER
    Thank you. (pause)
    First of all, I’d like to thank all of
    you wonderful people, for allowing me to
    be in this WONDERFUL contest.

    . . . .

    GINGER
    (O.S.)
    It really is a wonderful experience,…

    CUT TO: PREVIOUS SHOT

    GINGER
    …an…and it…jus…just makes a girl feel
    wonderful.

    CUT TO: CLOSE UP OF SKIPPER AND MR HOWELL

    SKIPPER
    Wonderful!

    CUT TO: MEDIUM SHOT OF GINGER

    GINGER
    Second of all, I’d like to thank all of
    you marvelous people, for allowing me to
    be in this MARVELOUS contest. It really
    is a marvelous experience, and it makes
    a girl feel marvelous!

    CUT TO: CLOSE UP OF SKIPPER AND MR HOWELL

    SKIPPER
    Marvelous! Marvelous!

    CUT TO: MEDIUM SHOT OF GINGER AND PROFESSOR ON STAGE

    GINGER
    Thirdly…

    PROFESSOR
    Thank you very much Ginger.

    CUT TO: CLOSE UP OF GINGER

    GINGER
    I…I’m not finished yet. For allowing me
    to be in this terrific contest…

    The professor walks in frame.

    PROFESSOR
    Ginger your time…

    CUT TO: WIDE SHOT OF STAGE WITH ALL PRESENT

    The professor starts pushing Ginger off stage.

    PROFESSOR
    …is up!

    GINGER
    It really is a terrific experience, and
    it makes…

    PROFESSOR
    Thank you very much.

    CUT TO: CLOSE UP OF SKIPPER AND MR HOWELL

    SKIPPER
    Terrific! Terrific!

    The skipper keeps whistling.

    http://www.gilligansisle.com/scripts/script38.html

    [I just couldn’t resist, what with all that terrific-ness.

    Todd]

    reply

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