Comments on: Financial Times 14,017 by Dogberry

By: PeeDee

PeeDee — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:03:11 +0000

Thanks for dropping in Dogberry. Apparently in the original takes the full-bosomed Anita Ekberg was actually filmed cartwheeling upside down and topless in the Trevi fountain. Frederico Fellini had the scene re-shot upright and fully clothed when he realised that the cinema audience was not able to see her face.

By: Dogberry

Dogberry — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 14:04:23 +0000

I don’t suppose anyone is reading this any more but thanks for all the kind remarks. And thanks to Sil at #7 for the ingenious reading of 1dn. I liked the image of someone cavorting topless in the Trevi fountain but was quite unaware Anita Ekberg had actually been filmed doing so.

In case I get into trouble for posting under different names, BTW, I am of course the same person as Shed, I’m just wearing a different hat here.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Thu, 31 May 2012 12:15:43 +0000

Well, PeeDee, I just had to think of that famous scene in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (1960). As Wikipedia puts it: “Anita Ekberg’s uninhibited cavorting in Rome’s Trevi Fountain remains one of the most celebrated images in film history”.

By: PeeDee

PeeDee — Thu, 31 May 2012 07:01:18 +0000

Funny, I was expecting zero comemnts on this one, but it seems to have something that has really clicked with many people.

Sil – how is 1d almost &lit? ‘Trevi’ is the name of a fountain certainly, but it doesn’t have anything to do with going topless or standing on one’s head at all. Just standard wordplay really.

Lastly – I forgot to thank Dogberry in the preamble. Thank you Dogberry.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:46:47 +0000

And jmac, this one was also outstanding.
Two Biggles (or Johns, if you prefer) in a row, both high quality.

I agree with MikeC about the last-minute swop in 15d. My PinC called it ‘novel’, but ‘ace’ is probably a better qualification.
1d (TREVI) is almost an &Lit, very good surface.
7d (SHORTCAKE): another favourite.

Most enjoyable crossword.
Many thanks, PeeDee, for your blog and JY for your fine puzzle [even though we had some bums-in-disguise again - seems to be a favourite subject for setters called John .... ]

By: jmac

jmac — Wed, 30 May 2012 19:36:06 +0000

Yes, this was a lovely sparkling puzzle. Most enjoyable.

Re Sil’s query about so few commentators on Mudd’s puzzle yesterday, yes it was an outstanding puzzle. I wish I had said so.

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:29:24 +0000

Thanks PeeDee and Dogberry.

This was most enjoyable. Some superb clueing with beautiful surfaces. However, I’m afraid 21 was far too obscure for us.

By: MikeC

MikeC — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:52:28 +0000

Thanks PeeDee and Dogberry. The “last-minute” device in 15 was ace, I thought.

By: crypticsue

crypticsue — Wed, 30 May 2012 11:26:50 +0000

Just right for solving while watching over a long photocopying job. Lots to smile at so thank you to Dogberry and PeeDee too.