0:41:09
TOIL AND TROUBLE
Nice Macbeth theme, but we technically DNF'd on the O in HOREB (1D: Biblical peak) and OLINS (16A: Actors Ken and Lena). I guess that's what we get for being neither aware of minute details in the Bible nor up on whatever films or shows those two people are in.
I wonder if there is any connection between the direction HAWS (1A: Turns left), and YEE (81D: Cry before "haw")? (Yes.) And oh look, OLEIC 54A: ____ acid makes another appearance this week! Oh joy. And I tried to put in "FELICIty" for 76A: Girl's name meaning "happiness." I've never heard of anyone named FELICIA. (Phylicia Rashad doesn't count.)
UNUM (12A: One for the money?) was a clever clue, 94A: Second place? (TENS) is beautiful, and 49D: Army threats? (OCTOPI) is cute. WRITHE (77A: Squirm) is a good word. IONESKYE (80A: John Cusack's co-star in "Say Anything…" is good, weird-looking fill.
Interesting trivia about DURANDURAN (26A: Popular British band named after the villain in "Barbarella"). (It was Dr. Durand Durand in the movie.) And I love the oh-so-minimal nod to the Superbowl with TDS (62A: Super Bowl successes, for short).
Some good, some blah, a good theme… ok, it was fine. Now, on to the pregame!
- Horace
Untimed, but under 25 minutes, completed in an NYC Dean & Deluca while waiting for Phoebe to complete an audition for a summer ballet program, with a nice hot chocolate (not too sweet). I noted OLEIC again, as well as ULNAR, which has seen some use recently. Did not like HOW for "Modus operandi" - seems incorrect somehow. And OHI was poor (53D). ONEND does not seem like it means "ceaselessly" exactly. On the plus side, I liked BMINOR, an excellent nod to one of the greatest choral works of all time. TOODLEOO looked nice in the grid. TENS for "second place?" was clever. And the cluing for AVE (One of 17 on a Monopoly board) made a bad answer worthwhile. Finally, I liked that Mel Blanc's EPITAPH is "That's all, folks." Makes sense, and is clever.
ReplyDeleteOh, and the theme was fine, although not much of a mystery given the title. The only suspense was how to put the MACBETH into the circles. I liked that it was in the shape of a dagger with the blood dripping from it. "Is this a dagger I see before me?" Nicely done.
Totally agree about HOW. I considered calling it out in the review, and I'm glad you did here. I agree, as well, with all of your other observations. AVE especially.
ReplyDelete52:19
ReplyDeleteNo mention of Richard KIEL? Sue and I just saw him act (poorly) in an early "I Dream of Jeannie" episode during which I made note of his Bond character. 59A Bell or shell preceder (TACO) was nice for its hidden capital. BMINOR was great as was ROCOCO and TOODLEOO. I liked the DURANDURAN and EPITAPH trivia also. Finally, when I see KAHUNA I'm reminded of a great Adam West role as the Big Kahuna on some beach in "American Vampire." Classic.