But this failure to get together was not from want of trying on Spielberg’s behalf. In his audio book Tales of Hollywood, storyteller Stephen Schochet explains that Hitchcock’s morning routine was once “upset by an uninvited young man hovering around the movie set” of his last film Family Plot’, released in 1976. The infamous director of Psycho and The Birds” is said to have called a crew member to have the trespasser removed. According to Schochet, that intruder was Spielberg, buoyed by the success of Jaws and anxious to meet his idol.Throughout his later life, Hitchcock repeatedly refused to meet Spielberg. The reason for his reluctance was only revealed when American actor Bruce Dern, who appeared in two of Hitchcock’s films including psychological thriller Marnie, released his autobiography. Dern says that he tried to convince Hitchcock to finally introduce himself to Spielberg: “I said, ‘You’re his idol. He just [wants] to sit at your feet for five minutes and chat with you’,” but Hitchcock refused, writes Dern. “He said, ‘Isn’t that the boy who made the fish movie?… I could never sit down and talk to him… because I look at him and feel like such a whore’.”
Maybe it’s because I’m from this area, but I was surprised to know some people thought Half-Priced Books started in Austin. Either way, she turns 50.
In keeping with the squirrel theme this week (I bet Texas squirrels make fun of NYC squirrels who complain about the heat just like us human Texans) – City tells New Yorkers: don’t panic about ‘splooting’ squirrels – Yes, it’s a real word. Here’s the science (and etymology) behind
This week, with temperatures reaching 95F (35C), the city’s parks department urged residents not to worry about the health of squirrels seen sprawling on the ground, legs extended behind them like a person whose arms gave out halfway through a yoga class. “On hot days, squirrels keep cool by splooting (stretching out) on cool surfaces to reduce body heat,” the department tweeted.
