I'm testing a theory that Victor Fleming's masterpiece "The Wizard of Oz" is so woven into popular culture that someone or something makes reference to it at least once every day. It comes up in conversations, songs, TV shows, ads, other films, colloquial saying, etc. For one year I'll be updating this blog each time Oz comes up. Check back daily to see if the theory holds water, or melts in it. (And try it yourself. You'll start to notice Oz everywhere, I promise.)

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Gilliam's handywork


Have you seen the movie Brazil? If not, I highly recommend it. It's one of Terry Gilliam's finest movies. It features several unexpected cameos by Robert DiNero as a rouge heater mechanic (that's the best way I can describe it).

If you've seen the film you know it features many "pipes". Pipes seem to be one of Gilliam's themes. Shortly after DiNero appears on screen, he is examining a pipe and comments:

Now that's a pipe of a different color.


He says it so quietly it's almost hard to hear (I have to rewind the DVR several times to confirm). But sure enough, it's an Oz reference.

p.s. The cover of this film used to freak me out when I was younger.

3 comments:

Brian Turner said...

I just came across your blog today. I had a Latin teacher my first year of college who told our class that one hears a reference to "The Wizard of Oz" every two weeks, a theory I adopted and continue to hold. It's a bit more conservative than daily...but I suppose if you try hard enough and watch enough TV/movies you might. Anyway, sometimes when I have free time I collect references to TWOZ, and that's how I found your blog. I think it's a great and fun idea--great work on it!

who cares said...

Thanks for the comment, Brian! I've been neglecting the blog for a week or two because I started a new job and it's been keeping me busy and exhausted. Yeah, once a day was more ambitious than I thought, but I'd say three a week wouldn't be a stretch so far. There have definitely been references between my actual postings, but sometimes I'm not near a computer or I forget what it was. Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

Anonymous said...

I like to go around the internet and make anonymous comments. I know it's sad, but I have trouble expressing myself in the real world.