| I was just clearing through the checkout lane of a | | | | Ones, Spartacus, Trapeze, Operation Petticoat, Boston |
| supermarket and I saw him on the cover of a tabloid, | | | | Strangler, and about 130 others! |
| Tony Curtis, ailing, one-tenth of his former self, aided by | | | | During the late years of his life he picked up painting |
| his wife Jill Vanden Berg into a car, clearly a very sick | | | | and I saw some of his canvasses - they were not |
| man in a wheel chair... and the heading on the cover : | | | | bad at all. Heavy brush strokes with lively bright colors. I |
| "TONY CURTIS BATTLES FOR LIFE"... that really | | | | would have bought his and Tony Bennet's paintings if I |
| made me sad since he is someone that I have truly | | | | had the money. |
| appreciated through so many films during the 60s and | | | | He is 81 years old now. He lived the good and lucky |
| 70s. | | | | life, gave us many unforgettable films that have |
| A Hungarian by origin just like Zsa Zsa Gabor, TC first | | | | become a part of our collective memory. Now |
| appeared on the silver screen in the 1949 Burt | | | | perhaps he is waging his last fight, bravely, with dignity, |
| Lancaster vehicle, Criss Cross. Most people may not | | | | although seeing the broken old man on that tabloid |
| be aware of his presence but just pay attention at the | | | | cover makes my heart sink and makes me wonder if |
| night club dance scene and you'll see him as an extra | | | | there is any justice in life. |
| dancing in the background. But only 8 years later, he | | | | Is this the same charmer who performed his own |
| would be Lancaster's equal in the Sweet Smell of | | | | stunts in Trapeze. made us laugh in Some Like It Hot |
| Success, a bitter drama about "facts of life" in the big | | | | and weep in The Defiant Ones? Yes, he definitely is |
| city and publishing industry. | | | | and will always be. |
| Then came many films fast and furious and he shined | | | | I wish you well, Mr. Curtis. Whether you get well soon |
| in all of them including Some Like It Hot, The Defiant | | | | or not, thanks for the memories. Truly. |