Sunday, February 24, 2008
WINNERS’ CIRCLES
Puzzle by Nancy Nicholson Joline, edited by Will Shortz
The encircled letters of the inter-related entries, ONTHEWATERFRONT [23A. Film (1954), actress (2003)]; PETERJACKSON [37A. Director (2003), actor (1962]; UNFORGIVEN [61A. Film (1992), actor (1958)]; CLARKGABLE [71A. Actor (1934), actor (1995)]; MARLEEMATLIN [94A. Actress (1986), director (1962)]; SHIRLEYMACLAINE [112A. Actress (1983), supporting actor (1999)]; SCHINDLERSLIST [17D. Film (1993), actress (1987)]; WHITECHRISTMAS [46D. Song (1942), supporting actress (1994)] yield the second half of their respective clues -- THERON, PECK, NIVEN, CAGE, LEAN, CAINE, CHER, and WIEST.
1-Across identifies the inter-related entries' common bond as THEOSCAR.
I don’t think I’ve seen OIL and OYL together in the same puzzle before, but then this OSCAR special is heavy on O’s -- SONATA, NONONONO, SOONER, ANO, OMA, OAT, OSHEA, RENATO, OOHS, OOF, NORELCO, LESOTHO, PANCHO, etc.
OEUVRES, ACTOUT, HECKLER, ART, OPENER, ABNER and LUM, AUDEN, ALDOUS, APU, TENNISON, LENO, HECUBA, LOUISA, and ALMA are other show-biz type entries -- although ALMA‘s clue (109A. Girl in Tennessee Williams‘s “Summer and Smoke“) seems inaccurate; Geraldine Page was 37 years old when she played Alma. She was nominated for the role as best actress in 1961, the year Sophia Loren won for “Two Women“. Nominated seven times, Page finally won the Oscar in 1986 for her performance in "The Trip to Bountiful", and died the following year.
Better late than never!
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The envelope, please! -- read Linda, Madness...Crossword and Otherwise
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