Roundy, not Romney
This is one of those six-degrees-of-separation deals based upon on a complete aural misunderstanding, but I feel it needs to be discussed and cleared up in this heated political season. I first saw Warren Beatty, Robert Towne and Hal Ashby's Shampoo in '74, before I was a journalist and had access to press kits and way, way before the arrival of the IMDB. So for many years I was under the impression that Beatty's hairdresser character, whose name was actually George Roundy (a mixture of "randy" and "roundelay"), was called George Romney.
George Romney and 10 year-old son Mitt in 1957; Warren Beatty in Shampoo
I've seen the film six or seven times since, and although I've had some slight hearing problems lately his last name has always sounded an awful lot like "Romney" to me. Naturally, I always thought it was curious that Towne and Beatty would choose this name given the existence of the real-life George Romney, the Republican governor Michigan (from '63 to '69) who run for president in '68, and whose son MItt Romney is currently running for the '08 Republican presidential nomination. But I also thought it might be some kind of intended anti-Republican jab, given Shampoo's political tone.
Anyway, the Romney thing was pure disorientation on my end and utterly meaningless. But then I figured, wait...I'll bet others have had this idea that Beatty's Shampoo guy is called George Romney. Then I realized that mishearing it wasn't my fault at all. It was the sound systems they had in theatres in the mid '70s, which were terrible.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on December 18, 2007 at 11:19 AM
comment #1
Lipstik Music
says ...
One of my all-time favorites. Beatty doesn't get enough credit for this. I miss Hal Ashby.
Posted by Lipstik Music
at December 18, 2007 12:06 PM
comment #2
actionman
says ...
One of the highlights of my Hollywood career has been meeting Robert Towne and briefly talking with him. Chinatown is one of my favorite films of all time.
Posted by actionman
at December 18, 2007 12:07 PM
comment #3
the king
says ...
CHECK OUT THE Q & A from Katie "the Stepford Wife" Holmes on CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/18/is.holmes/index.html
It made me physically ill.
Posted by the king
at December 18, 2007 12:20 PM
comment #4
jeffmcm
says ...
Wow, he looks just like his dad: an empty stuffed shirt with just enough gray at the temples to make him look distinguished.
Posted by jeffmcm
at December 18, 2007 12:32 PM
comment #5
jeffmcm
says ...
Yes, I know 'empty' and 'stuffed' are contradictory.
Posted by jeffmcm
at December 18, 2007 12:33 PM
comment #6
T. S. Idiot
says ...
George to Mitt: Son, how many boogers have you eaten today?
Posted by T. S. Idiot
at December 18, 2007 12:43 PM
comment #7
BurmaShave
says ...
jeffmcm, for the sake of this country, we should all be praying Romney pulls it out. The same nuts that could deliver Huckabee his primary routs could deliver him the Presidency. Seems unlikely, but it's scarily concievable.
Posted by BurmaShave
at December 18, 2007 12:45 PM
comment #8
Mr. Peel
says ...
I've seen SHAMPOO a lot and I've always heard Roundy. On the other hand, I've always been confused about whether Julie Christie's last name in the film is "Shaw" or "Shawn" and if Jack Warden's last name is "Karp" or "Karpf". However, I can't think of anything politically-related to say about that confusion. If they'd listed full character names in the credits, we wouldn't have this problem.
Posted by Mr. Peel
at December 18, 2007 12:52 PM
comment #9
jeffmcm
says ...
Burma, at least we know what Huckabee believes in (creationism, gays are evil etc). Everything that Romney believes in now, he didn't five years ago.
Posted by jeffmcm
at December 18, 2007 12:55 PM
comment #10
BurmaShave
says ...
I think he actually believes what he still did. On the rare chance he actually got into the White House I think you'd see him remoderate very quickly. He may be a soulless oppurtunist but he's a competent man with a long history of good management, and unlike Giuliani he's not itching to destroy the world.
Posted by BurmaShave
at December 18, 2007 1:07 PM
comment #11
BurmaShave
says ...
ack should ead "Still believes what he used to".
Posted by BurmaShave
at December 18, 2007 1:08 PM
comment #12
jeffmcm
says ...
Yeah, but Giuliani at least has the courage - call it arrogance if you prefer - to stick to his pro-choice/socially moderate positions and not apologize for them.
For the record, the only Republican I'd support if there was a gun to my head would be McCain.
Posted by jeffmcm
at December 18, 2007 1:09 PM
comment #13
lazarus
says ...
They're all evil in their own little ways. I will say this for Romney: he sure looks more presidential than any other candiate from that party, and most of the democratic ones, too.
Posted by lazarus
at December 18, 2007 2:40 PM
comment #14
rocco
says ...
...before press kits and IMDb...and credits?
Posted by rocco
at December 18, 2007 7:01 PM