"Mr.ED" – EDITEDI read recently that the way they got the TV horse “Mr. Ed” to move his lips to simulate “speaking” was by smearing peanut butter on his teeth.
If I had done such a thing, the amalgamated “Don’t Mistreat Horses Society? Would have been on my neck in full assault for causing the steed unnecessary discomfort and possibly harmful neurological damage. The insult-riddled attack upon my poor judgment in doing such a dastardly deed against one of God’s creatures would be magnified out of all proportion and indicate clearly that I had performed a despicable crime of against the entire equine side of creation.
In the making of films one must know never to let a horse get shot. In our Civil War the loss of horse flesh one must make sure never to let a horse get in the way of any type of ammunition in flight, too near any explosions or be on the receiving end of some sneaky sniper's "ping" from far away. You don't "kill" horses. Humans? Well,that's another matter. If, as a filmmaker, you wish to remove a horse from action you simply place a trip wire across and send him sprawling seven ways from nowhere in sand and brush when his rider gets a flaming arrow shaft in his gazebo. And, never let a downed horse lie here. Film him or her struggling and thrashing about but make it obvious that the horse regained a foothold on Earth, regained purpose and establishing a goal for improvement centered on finding a new, safer and better place in which to live.
Its not unusual for men think animals might one day, speak to them in acceded language patterns I do believe there are moments in which us who has not felt a specific time when their dog was on the edge of saying something important. In a sense some do,at times, manage impart an idea an moments ahead of time make preparations to use the moments wisely. This deep-set awareness of that which is likely to happen; Call it "chance" if you must - but it seems to happen far to consistent to be accidental.
We all know Mr. Ed is other than what is made to seem to be, yet we listen to his parroted words intently. Of course the whole premise is "moot" as our lawyer friends say when a thing is passee - dead and gone. "Mr. Ed" was fifty years ago. Things have changed...the little kid who went fishing with Andy Griffith every time that old show started, is now the producer of mod films most of us don't care for at all. Words straight from the horse's mouth would seem to be a bit dated,too, I'd say.
Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net May 27, 2006[c477wds]
