A puzzle by ‘Gila’ this week. Will it prove to be a monster? If it does, at least they’re ‘normally not fatal to adult humans’, which is a relief.
The theme turns out to be unrelated to the smutty thought that crossed my mind; rather, it is ‘Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption’, a novella by Stephen King.
The ‘two key features’ and ‘reported departure point’, which are spelled out by the extra letters are:
ROCK HAMMER / LINDA RONSTADT POSTER / SHAWSHANK
I have no experience of Shawshank Redemption in any format, but my understanding is that the protagonist uses the first to create a hole, which he hides with the second, to escape from the third. This confirms that the theme is the novella, not the better-known film, since the latter apparently involves a Raquel Welch poster (I’m sure the producers convinced themselves that this change was essential).
The clashing letters (and non-clashing N) can spell out either ANDY DUFRESNE (the protagonist’s real name) or PETER STEVENS (his alias). It is the latter that is to be chosen, since it is this that he ‘becomes’ on THE JOURNEY SOUTH.
The choice is confirmed by the T of the journey’s destination, ZIHUATANEJO, which is to be highlighted, and can be found in the grid in the shape of an arrow pointing downwards, indicating the direction of travel.
I found this hard-going until I searched online for some very broad hints as to the theme, after which the grid filled rapidly. It’s a lovely set of tricks to use in a puzzle, and I also enjoyed the imaginative clueing, in particular the use of &lits.
Notation
(xxx) = definition
[xxx] = (anagram/homophone/container/etc.) indicator
XXX* = anagram
< = reversal
XXX = unused letter(s)
BEER=additional letter
Please post a comment if the explanations are not clear.
| Across | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| R | 1 | BEE-BREAD | BEER (Alcohol), BREAD (money) and food given to young workers (8) |
| O | 7 | EPOS | <{SO (Very good) POE (American author)} [rejected] epic poem (4) |
| C | 11 | FORESTALL | F (Fellow) has STALL (place for standing) [around] CORE (main) bar (9) |
| K | 12 | SEIZE | SE [Extremely] savage ZEK (Russian convict) I is [initially] [restrained] in hold (5) |
| H | 13 | FAVISM | V (See), HIS FAM (family) [embodies] a certain bloodlessness (6) |
| A | 14 | CEDE | ACE (Expert) <ED (journalist) [about] to give up (4) |
| M | 15 | RETIRED | REM (Rock band) TIRED (got bored) and stopped working (7) |
| M | 16 | PTOSES | Issues with eyelids? [Doctor] {STOPS ‘EM}*! (6) |
| E | 17 | ERNANI | ER (Queen) <INANE [rejected] (dull) work by Verdi (6) |
| R | 19 | REDCAP | CARP (Find faults with) [first] RED (Socialist) MP (6) |
| L | 25 | TOXOID | Treated poison is TO (at) X (times) OLID (rank-smelling) (6) |
| I | 26 | DZEREN | Antelope DIE when [eating] ZER |
| N | 27 | THURSO | [Cracking] TON (100mph), RUSH* [around] a Highland town (6) |
| D | 30 | DICTATE | DICED (Took a risk) [bagging] TAT (rubbish) for another, say (7) |
| A | 32 | SIJO | SI JA (Positive words from Spanish and Germans) [introduce] O (old) East Asian verse (4) |
| R | 33 | LETHAL | This OD [i.e. {LETHAL OD R}*] [possibly leads to creation of] DEATH ROLL (6) |
| O | 34 | EMEER | Islamic ruler is E’ER (always) EMO (introspective) [at first] (5) |
| N | 35 | PRELUSION | Introduction [generated] {US PR ONLINE}* |
| S | 36 | SALE | Market SALS |
| T | 37 | TANAISTE | Irish deputy AIN’T* [possibly] [overwhelmed] with TASTE (experience) (8) |
| Down | |||
| A | 2 | EVENTER | EVEN (Smooth) TEAR (race) for a horse (7) |
| D | 3 | EJIDO | E (European) J (judge) DID O (nothing) to create common ground in Mexico (5) |
| T | 4 | ROEDEAN | Sussex boarding school‘s DEAN (head of faculty) [set by] ROTE (7) |
| P | 5 | ERIE | Lake [depicted in] mastERPIEce (4) |
| O | 6 | A-EFFECT | In E the [end], appropriate {FACET OF}* [complicated] Brechtian theory (7) |
| S | 7 | ETERNE | Timeless old A (authoritarian) [in] E |
| T | 8 | PAISANO | One [transferring] {SPAIN TO A (America)}*? (7) |
| E | 9 | ELMO | Some feEL EMOtions for a children’s puppet (4) |
| R | 10 | ASCARID | Parasitic worm RID (expelled) [following] A (onset of abdominal) SCAR (injury) (7) |
| S | 18 | INDOORS | SIN (Crime) DOORS (opportunities) inside a building (7) |
| H | 20 | DREIDEL | Top DREI (3 in German) HELD* [out] (7) |
| A | 21 | PUNALUA | P (Priest) gets UNA (one Italian) <AULA (hall) [set up] for group wedding (7) |
| W | 22 | TOHEROA | TWO (Couple) O (love) [eating] HER (woman’s) A (ace) fish soup (7) |
| S | 23 | DISJECT | Tear apart and DISSECT (examine) J (journal) [inside] (7) |
| H | 24 | ARCHLY | Cunningly and HARSHLY (ruthlessly) [swap S (spades) for C (clubs)] (6) |
| A | 28 | RIEMS | I (One) [wearing] REAMS (a large quantity) of leather garments (5) |
| N | 29 | ALPS | A range of PLANS* [rewritten] (4) |
| K | 31 | TWIN | TWINK (A moment) very similar to another (4) |
This was the second EV in a row that I tackled. I have read the novella and I have seen the movie (a couple of times.) I’d recommend either to anyone. The movie is (and has been) number 1 on the IMDB for many years: http://www.imdb.com/chart/top?tt0111161&ref_=tt_awd. Only trouble is, of course, those who haven’t seen it now have a pretty good idea of the ending! But it’s still worth it as Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman deliver stunning performances.
I cracked the theme fairly early on but failed to finish 🙁 I still can’t actually see ZIHUATANEJO in the grid 🙁
Thanks Mister Sting and, of course, Gila
I’m afraid the theme for this one totally passed me by.
I’ve not read the book but have seen the film a few times (and I can recommend it to anyone) but I don’t think I would ever have finished this EV. A bit too obscure for my liking.
But thanks to Mr Sting and Gila anyway.
There are a couple of changes made in the film version that made this rather tough — not only did they tamper with the poster, but also Andy Dufresne’s alias in the film is Randall Stevens, not Peter. Made for difficulties with the final step until someone pointed out the dual role of the clashes that I hadn’t picked up on before. Still, an entertaining debut EV for Gila.
I only know of this film from the Family Guy version (where the poster is of David Cassidy). I completed the grid but couldn’t highlight ZIHUATANEJO. I got a sort of U shape at the bottom but the letters didn’t quite join up.