Morgan Freeman’s Early Roles: He Kept It Clean
There are so many slogans for products these days that tout their greenness and wonderfulness, I almost long to be told how awful something is…so awful that I just may want to try it. Before all of those freshmint and cinnamon flavors for the “kid in you,” Listerine was an antiseptic tasting substance that made you wonder why you gargled with it in the first place. The marketing geniuses decided to capitalize on it and tag it with the slogan, “It’s got the taste people hate…twice a day!”
Academy Award winning actor and narrator extraordinaire Morgan Freeman stars in this spot for Listerine, long even before the days of playing a bathing Vampire on “The Electric Company.” Yes. You read that right.
Of course, you have probably completely ignored that last bit and wonder what’s the deal with a bathing Vampire? Apparently, vampires enjoy bathing in their caskets due to heat retention. It is much warmer in there than running across the hall and properly bathing in the bathroom. Besides, there are too many lights in there.
Surely, this influenced Freeman’s decision to join the cast of the film Clean and Sober. He probably felt it was a bait and switch, as the film was not about “that” kind of clean. Luckily for all of us, Mr. Freeman started choosing roles regardless of level of personal hygiene products and has played a variety of entertaining and career defining roles.
What is your favorite “Before They were Famous” moments?
commercials, grooming products, oscars, stay healthy, vintage ads | Comment (0)Oscar Night
Tonight, as you already know, is Oscar Night. Every year not only do millions watch the Academy Awards telecast to see who won the office betting pool, it is a night for folks who don’t go out to the movies much to find out what movie will be a sure bet for their dollar this weekend when some films are re-released or still out in first run if they can chase down a theater that is still playing them. (Whew! That was a long sentence. Hopefully you are still reading.).
In all seriousness, though: Of course people are also watching to see the fashions of the night. I will make three arguments about that statement.
First, I am confident that there are more people out there who relish the fashion flops, intentional or no. Who remembers what Angelina Jolie wore two years ago. Nope. We remember Bjork’s Swan outfit, which probably goes down in history as the top most talked about dress. I have already seen Sally Kellerman’s outfit this year (note: I did not call it a dress), and am just waiting for the photos to hit the internet.
The second argument I make is that people far more watch to see the ladies fashions and are not as interested in men’s fashions. One may think that it is because there are only so many modifications that one can make to a tuxedo. I argue that when a man is impeccably dressed, no one notices the ensemble unless one is a tailor – you notice the man. A man has to really go over the top for you to talk about his outfit. (Remember Randy Quaid in a muumuu?)
Thirdly, I would argue that the clothing worn for award ceremonies are not nearly as influential in fashion as are the clothing worn in the actual movies. When there are trends for certain periods in films that come out, they are more likely to influence fashion. In days of yor, people watched movies to see what kinds of fashions were coming out, an designers knew that is where they could reach a captive audience.
At an award ceremony, you see someone wearing something for a fleeting moment but in film have much more time to ponder it and be influenced by it. Also, there is often more emotion connected with a favorite or powerful film.
Case in point: There was more than one aspiring Indiana Jones in my family, at least one Cary Grant wannabe and then also plenty of bratty youngsters (I was likely one) who defended their fashion choice because they saw it in a movie.
At any rate, get the popcorn ready and enjoy yourselves tonight.
Until Next Time,
film, oscars | Comment (1)
