The 1979 movie The In-Laws was a perfect showcase for the character acting talents of the late Peter Falk.
That movie flew under the radar and didn't really catch on until long after the theatrical release. At least that was my experience, having missed the first run but catching it a few years later at a theater specializing in old or overlooked movies. And what a surprise it was.
Fast forward to the other day. TCM has a practice of showing movies starring the recently deceased, and consequently, The In-Laws got some face time.
The movie starred Peter Falk as a rogue, possibly disgraced, CIA agent whose son was about to get married to the daughter of a successful, mild mannered, and accommodating dentist played by Alan Arkin. Within minutes of their first meeting, Falk's character has Arkin's character up to his eyeballs in illegal intrigue.
No plot spoilers here, just a punch line spoiler. (Aside -- It's hard to find a good joke about the Bay of Pigs, the half-assed attempt by the Kennedy administration to displace Fidel Castro. It failed. And Castro and his enablers took full advantage of the opportunity to embarrass the U.S.)
But the movie pulled off a Bay of Pigs joke. Just about the time the dentist realizes he is in deep do do, Falk tried to reassure him by impressing him with his friendship with the late President John F. Kennedy. Falk had a photo of JFK on his office wall inscribed with, "Thanks for your help. At least we tried. JFK." The dentist was impressed. But then Falk tells him why he was being thanked:
Sheldon: You were involved in the Bay of Pigs?
Vince Ricardo: Involved? That was my idea.
Not quite the reassurance he was hoping for. But it sure was a funny scene.
Anyway, that's the only spoiler you'll get here. See the movie for the full effect. And as for jokes about the Bay of Pigs, good luck. This is the best one the internet has to offer:
Travel tip: Avoid any Latin American Tour named Bay of Pigs, Two.
See what I mean?
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Posted by: memphis implants | January 27, 2012 at 04:11 PM
needed a link to that joke for a post. great minds think alike -- "The In-Laws" is one of my guilty pleasures. cheers!
Posted by: Wry Mouth | July 23, 2012 at 02:06 PM
Wry Mouth, I loved that movie! Glad to know someone else did too.
Posted by: Geo | July 23, 2012 at 02:34 PM