Q: Think of a popular movie of the past decade. Change the last letter in its title. The result will suggest a lawsuit between two politicians of the late 20th century — one Republican and one Democrat. What's the movie and who are the people?Maybe we should focus on what the politicians had in common rather than their differences?
Edit: What I found more interesting was their first names are GERALD and GERALDine
A: FORD V. FERRARI --> FORD V. FERRARO
There was no actual lawsuit between these two.
For once, my initial answer was correct.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteThough I suppose we could just turn the page on this to get this convoluted answer.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteBlaine, harumph. You know I will just double down anyway ;). WW
DeleteOooooh.
DeleteI thought tmi too, but this is an excellent metaclue.
Agreed. Between this one and the one below, WW is on a roll this week!
DeleteCrito and Lancek, merci. Crito, I never met a clue I didn't like ;-).
DeleteIf I'm correct, the book the movie is based on was a childhood favorite.
ReplyDeleteA subsequent comment told my my initial solution had to be wrong.
DeleteA Sunday afternoon nap, having cleared my mind, I now believe I have the intended answer.
Over 770 correct answers last week
ReplyDeleteYou will immediately notice something about the first names of the politicians.
ReplyDeleteRob, this factor is especially noted as one dines out.
DeleteGreat 🧠🧠...
DeleteWell, not so great on this side, but I did write my clue before seeing yours.
DeleteThe wording of this puzzle was a bother. Instead of movies, I tried to think of lawsuits between Republicans and Democrats.
Actually one of the names of the pols is not the original name.
DeleteThere's a feature of the answer that practically screams to be the centerpiece of a clue. But it's already been clued. So I'll just note that the parties have been realigned since the late twentieth century.
ReplyDeleteDoes James Ellison work for Staples? Because that was easy. It’s going to take me longer to figure out a clue. I love WW’s!
ReplyDeleteNeither politician was elected president.
DeleteInterestingly, there are a few lawsuits between Republicans and Democrats right now that involve a relevant term.
ReplyDeleteThat would be GERRYMANDERING.
DeleteI found this difficult as I know very little about contemporary films. That said and having consulted some lists, I now have the answer.
ReplyDeleteBut as for clues, all I could think of is that it's not Washington or Lincoln.
Let me set you straight...
DeletePretty straightforward puzzle - there ought to be more than 1000 correct answers this week.
ReplyDeleteBig Noise from New_____
ReplyDeleteOops, that doesn't work! I'll see if I can get it straightened out by Thursday.
DeleteI was thinking of Newburgh NY, Geraldine Ferraro's hometown, but Geraldine doesn't quite anagram to "large din". Crito found the perfect anagram and Musing link paraphrased it well. Further down the page, I thought Flip Wilson and Matt Damon were a bit too revealing, so I interjected an intentional misspelling of "hey!", alluding to Christian BALE, as well as the Ferrari horse logo and the Ford Mustang.
DeleteNeither was elected to the last office they sought.
ReplyDeleteI haven't started searching yet, but can someone define "past decade?" 2011-2020? 2016-2026?
ReplyDeleteAgreed that "past decade" is ambiguous, but it means the past ten years.
DeleteThanks Dr. K! Now, on with my search.
Delete
DeleteScarlett, the film was released in 2019, so the correct answer to your question about the meaning of “past decade” in the puzzle’s wording was that it could have actually meant either 2011-20 (a standard “decade”) or April 2016-April 2026 (the past ten years). But if I had answered your question correctly and said it could be either, Blaine might have removed it as tmi. It would have narrowed the possible years of the film from the ten years the puzzle stipulated to just the period between April 2016 and December 2020.
The puzzle also works with two Canadian politicians, one Liberal, the other Progressive Conservative. (The former is less well known.)
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly, it does.
DeleteTake the name of one of the politicians. Remove the last 3 letters of the first name. Repeat what is now the last letter of the first name. Remove all letters of the last name except the first, middle, and last letters. Rearrange to get the name of another politician.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I'm put in mind of Joni Mitchell.
DeleteStart with Geraldine Ferraro. Remove the last 3 letters of Geraldine to get Gerald. Repeat the D to get Geraldd. The first, middle, and last letters of Ferraro are Fro. Geraldd Fro is an anagram of Gerald Ford.
DeleteJoni Mitchell, as in “The Circle Game.”
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFlip Wilson
ReplyDeleteʍoɹpooM
DeleteLOL
DeleteMatt Damon
DeleteHay!
DeleteI now feel compelled to put PIN to paper.
ReplyDeleteAfter Word Woman so graciously sent me an unasked for blog pin in the mail, and I both thanked and told her I would wear it at the Friday afternoon conversation group I joined three weeks ago it came to pass yesterday. Normally I do not wear anything I can properly wear a lapel pin with, but I informed her I would on this occasion and see if anyone noticed and let her know how it turned out.
Several hours ago (Saturday) I informed her via email that Friday afternoon I did as described, and while the pin was obvious to all in attendance for three hours, no one asked me about it. I also mentioned that I do not recall anyone ever commenting on any lapel pin I have worn, and I was not expecting any different outcome with this pin, no matter how attractive.
Tonight, (I am writing this Saturday evening) after returning home from a wonderful night out at the magnificent Meany Auditorium on the U of W campus here in Seattle, where I attended a solo classical guitar performance by Pablo Sáinz Villegas, from Spain. I arrived at my seat five rows back from the stage about twenty minutes early. As I moved to my seat I had to pass in front of two women my seat was just to the left of. The first was an elderly lady who must have been the mother of the middle aged lady to my right as I sat down. In order to open a conversation, as I was passing in front of them, I commented on how coincidental it was we should each be reading the same thing. A lame joke, I know, but it worked, and we began a conversation. After a couple of minutes the older woman farther to my right, leaned forward and asked me about the Rubic’s Cube pin on my lapel. She could only have caught a brief glimpse of it as I walked in front of her, but she obviously had no difficulty in seeing what it was, and wanted to know about it.
I thanked her for asking and told her I was surprised at her noticing. I then went on to explain to them how this pin came about in great detail. They were impressed, and I almost forgot to mention they are both from Ukraine. Perhaps others here have also had unexpected, similar experiences.
I don't get the joke about reading the same thing.
DeleteAs each person enters the venue he is handed the program brochure.
DeleteHow was the concert? Nice story, SDB.
DeleteThanks, Natasha. It was outstanding.
DeleteMy computer found an *actual* lawsuit between the entities named in the movie title!
ReplyDeleteNo clue here, but I always had deep enmity for BOTH of these politicians, despite their political differences. Perhaps I'm too vindictive a person.
ReplyDeleteAre you going to be the president's human sock puppet?
DeleteI wrote a letter to one of these political figures one evening, but overnight, my wife went into labor with our first child. The letter, having faded in importance, was never mailed.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you need one if you've got a horse?
ReplyDeleteStraw poll: If you had to look at a list, do you submit the answer or admit defeat?
ReplyDeleteHow can I solve a puzzle like this without looking at a list when I do not pay any attention to the popular movies, and have never heard of most of them?
DeleteI see nothing wrong with looking at lists.
DeleteI have no problem with lists, but I do with AI
DeleteResistance is futile. We will be assimilated.
DeleteOn air contestants have mentioned consulting lists now and again. I have no problem with it (although I like to give myself a chance to solve without using them.)
DeleteOnce you have the answer, the Democrat is most closely associated with another Democrat who help thrust them into the spotlight. Take that other politician's last name, change the final letter to an alternate letter, replace it within the name keeping all others in the same order, and you will get the name of a vehicle very closely associated with the film.
ReplyDeleteI finally got it! I was going too fast through movie lists and almost missed it. My clue: Yellow
ReplyDeleteI believe I have the intended answer, which is consistent with most of the clues above. However, I was initially distracted by the use of the word “lawsuit” in this context. While “lawsuit” is ok in casual speech, there are better legal terms that describe this event. Anyone agree?
ReplyDeleteThe term "lawsuit" is a dead giveaway. How can you be confused? Every legal action has the same format, and there's literally only one movie in the last 20 years that fits. No one agrees.
DeleteYou must be aware that some of us do not pay any attention to modern movies. I sometimes enjoy a Hollywood film, but I mostly watch independant and foreign movies and am totally unaware of what most here are wasting their time watching.
DeleteTo back up that above post here is what I posted yesterday on my Seattle library website and giving half a star rating to Lawrence of Arabia that released in 1962.
DeleteApr 21, 2026
This movie came out in 1962 when I was 17 and rather ignorant of this subject. I, of course, loved it on the big screen and it caused me to read as much as I could find on T. E. lawrence and continue to do so ever since, including Seven Pillars of Wisdom, and numerous well researched and filmed documentaries. I have always thought about watching it a second time, but only did so at this late stage of my life. I knew I had a very well made docu-drama in my DVD collection and decided to watch it after I heard some mention of Lawrence on NPR the day before. This caused me to obtain the 4 hour DVD from the library, and I spent 2 evenings watching it. I knew it was most likely going to be poorly researched, and inaccurate as almost all Hollywood movies are, but I was not prepared for this travesty of what should have been a somewhat accurate portrayal of this amazing individual. There is nothing remotely true about this depiction of Lawrence. The filming and scenery along with all the made up incidents and lies are Oscar material, but you will learn nothing of importance from this joke of a movie. It is trash made only to make a buck. I had to force myself to finish watching it. Fortunately I had a bottle of port to ease my pain. Shame on those who praise a movie for its accuracy when they know nothing at all about its validity.
Spanky McF - After seeing the solutions posted today, I finally understand your comment. I had a different solution! (See below.)
DeleteLorenzo, more of a leisure suit than a lawsuit? ;)
ReplyDeleteSign in a lawyer's office: "Suits pressed while you wait."
DeleteOur president Donald Trump,
ReplyDeletedeserves something like a tree stump
That is rather thick,
and also might prick,
Shoved up his ample fat rump.
Since Blainesville is a major home for all talk of Puzzle Fun, may I introduce the 800-pund gorilla in the room -- a public puzzle editing failure by the Grey Lady?
ReplyDeleteHas this been brought up here already? What would Esai Morales or Sela Ward say? Did James Agee address this, or Langston Hughes in "I, Too"?
New York Magazine loves to dish dirt on the Times, for obvious reasons.
https://www.vulture.com/article/new-york-times-crossword-error-reactions.html
Sounds like they are blaming the interns again. 🤪
DeleteFord vs Ferrari >>> Gerald Ford & Geraldine Ferraro
ReplyDeleteMy Hint:
"Flip Wilson" He is known for dressing up as Geraldine.
FORD V FERRARI, GERALD FORD, GERALDINE FERRARO
ReplyDelete> The puzzle also works with two Canadian politicians, one Liberal, the other Progressive Conservative. (The former is less well known.)
Rick Ferraro, and Doug (Sr. or Jr.) or Rob Ford
FORD V. FERRARI, GERALD FORD, GERALDINE FERRARO
ReplyDelete“…it’s not Washington or Lincoln.”
—> Gerald Ford famously said, “I’m a Ford, not a Lincoln.”
I’d never heard of the film (nor, obviously, seen it). I found it in a list of contemporary films.
Ford vs. Ferrari>>>Ford v. Ferraro
ReplyDeletePresident Ford pardoned Richard Nixon on September 8, 1974. That night, I wrote a letter to President Ford explaining why I felt he should have let Nixon go to trial for his crimes. My wife went into labor overnight and our first child was born September 9th. I never got around to mailing that letter.
I’d initially worked backwards from Bush v. Gore. Taking Bush as a synonym for Jungle and noting that Boor rhymes with for Gore, I came up with the movie The Jungle Book. OOPS!
Ford v. Ferrari, Gerald Ford and Geraldine Ferraro. My hint said that my "initial" answer was correct. The politicians have the same initials and the initial six letters of their first names are the same.
ReplyDeleteI wrote, “You will immediately notice something about the first names of the politicians.” This was before I saw Blaine’s hint, which was better; mine was explicit, his was subtle.
ReplyDeleteFord v. Ferrari->Ford v. Ferraro
ReplyDeleteThe politicians are Gerald Ford and Geraldine Ferraro.
Ford v. Ferrari, Gerald Ford, Geraldine Ferraro
ReplyDeleteDidn't love this puzzle.
I also wrote that I had disdain for both politicians.
I was young but politically aware when Ford pardoned Nixon. I was told that this was "so that our nation could move on," but always felt that our nation could only move on if Nixon were made to pay a price for his crimes.
I was of voting age come 1984, when Gerry Ferraro became the first woman "from a major political party" to run for President. (Shirley Chisholm was first)
I was a New Yorker (Ferraro was from Rockland, actually, but ran from Queens) and many of us felt her husband was "mobbed up." And then she committed a HUGE marketing and PR blunder, which I saw even years before I would become a marketing and PR professional.
Ferraro and her husband announced they would release all of their tax returns "within a month," but continued to change their story, especially about the import of her husband's returns.
The campaign destroyed any bump they had from the announcement, their messaging was faulty, and Ronald Reagan/George Bush (the elder) beat Walter Mondale/Gerry Ferraro in a romp.
Ben v. Ford AND Ferraro, but I digress
I submitted something else entirely:
ReplyDeleteWonka > wonky “suggesting” the case of Bush v Gore that involved wonky analyses of hanging chads.
I chose to post my objection to the use of the term “lawsuit” in this case, as a real-time example of wonkiness.
WW, I found confirmation of my answer in your comment about turning the page, which I thought referred to the ballot design flaw that cost Gore the election. As such, it would have been an excellent hint!
ReplyDeleteLorenzo, see below. I am a fan of pentimento clues, mais oui? Not a surprise I am sure. ;-)
DeleteMy clue was "yellow". While Ferrari is iconic for Rosso Corsa (racing red), the official company color is Giallo Modena (Modena yellow). Yellow is the background color of the prancing horse emblem and represents Enzo Ferrari's hometown of Modena.
ReplyDeleteLove their Balsamico, but it's deep purple brown.
DeleteYou can almost taste it!
DeleteI put my clue in the form of a question, Art: "Why do you need one if you've got a horse?" This is a variation on the famous "Why A Duck?" scene in "The Cocoanuts" where Groucho is showing Chico some blueprints:
ReplyDeleteGROUCHO Look... look, suppose you were out horseback riding and you came to that stream and you wanted to ford over. You couldn't make it, it's too deep!
CHICO Well, why do you want with a Ford if you got a horse?
Chad Graham's "Condrumbstuck by Chuck" feature (always a discerning-puzzle-fan favorite!) shall be proudly displayed on this week's edition of Puzzleria!
ReplyDeleteHis "quintet of quizzicals" this time features Five “Enlight’ning” Appetizers, titled:
~ “...Clothed in celestial vestments,”
~ “Franklin Vetoes? Teddy Svelto?”
~ “Could this just be the Perfect Word?”
~ “If at first name you fail, try, try a second, ‘Sir’!", and...
~ Ursine arson?
We will upload Chad's "High-Voltage Challenges" this very afternoon... as soon as we verily can.
Also on this week's menus:
* a Schpuzzle of the Week titled “Shiny Happy People Laughing...”
* a Soda Fountain Hors d’Oeuvre titled “The Gift of the ‘Ma-jerk’”
* a Boldness & Brass Slice titled "Fingers Sans Hands?"
* a Turn Up the Volume Dessert titled “Leafing through the ‘Lexicon of LOUD’!” and
* at least eight riffs of this week's Will Shortz and NPR Weekend Edition Sunday puzzle, created by James Ellison, titled, "Gerald versus Geraldine!"
We invite you all to "Join-Us-Won't-Chew-&-Why-Don't-Chew?" to Chew on our always-tasty smorgasbord of the mysterious!
And to try weathering Chad's "Conundrumstriking Thunderbolts from the Blue"... which are invariably accompanied by thunderclaps of applause!
LegoElectrified!
I forgot to mention that six riffs of the NPR FVF Puzzle were contributed by Nodd, with one from Plantsmith.
DeleteLegoWhoHasBeenBlessedWithTerrificTeriffers
My post - “Pretty straightforward puzzle - there ought to be more than 1000 correct answers this week.” - when spoken, the latter part of “straightforward” sounds like Ford; and “ought to” sounds like “auto” to reference the racing car movie.
ReplyDeleteMy clue was: "I'll just note that the parties have been realigned since the late twentieth century."
ReplyDeleteAs Paul noticed, "realigned" is an anagram of "Geraldine".
Critco – I took your mention of realignment as reference to the flawed Florida “butterfly ballot” in 2000, which helped convince me that my answer (above) was correct. I guess we see what we want to see.
DeleteFor those who might have missed it, one of the best exchanges came early Sunday, when Word Woman posted a reference containing "V" that I thought was TMI. When Blaine took it down, she came back with "Blaine, harumph. You know I will just double down anyway ; )." She proudly signed it "WW." Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Lancek.
ReplyDeleteIt is Likely the post that tickled me pink er, blue, the most in 13.5 years here at Blaine's. From the stomping "Harumph!" to the V V V V smooshing together to a VV VV. Tickled me kyanite blue, I tell ya!
The reference to turning the page was to both GERALDINE Page as well as to the page turning drama around Bush v Gore.I like a good multi layered clue that works on more than one level 0 o⁰(which, if you know me here, is what makes the world go round for me.) >>>
Well, also Maxx Ortensio "Miso Happy" who I adopted Sunday from the lical animal shelter. He's truly what makes my world you 'round this very blue day.
Ben's news l.what a blue and, er, blue news day. >>>0[
Bereft. I say to cruciverbalists everywhere. Not a cross word to any one anytime. But THIS! OH MY!
A few loose ends here re: Kyanite 56, but I'm pleased as blue punch ;-)
WW signing off or it could be
VV VV
We'll never know. . .
.
Further proof, as if it was needed, that WW is our Very Vivacious Verbal Virtuoso.
DeleteSuperZee. Thanks, blushing here.
DeleteAnd sorry about the random typos. Ever since my phone was dropped into H2O, it inserts these random letters and symbols into my text.
Also, here's a photo of Maxx (see to the left). Miso very happy, indeed. ;-)
Ok. Maxx's photo is out there now in my thumbnail photo. He's a six year old, six pound Yorkie. Very smart, adorable and he knows it. He was surrendered at the local animal ahelter with no note. His history starts April 19th, then, i suppose.
DeleteRe: the Crossword Puzzle goof above (pointed out by Ben):
ReplyDelete"Shortz said that, once new templates are introduced, it will be impossible for a problem like this to occur again."
That's the most ridiculous and UNTRUE thing Shortz has said since he said Bobby could not have a lapel pin because Bobby consulted a list for the answer.
"IMPOSSIBLE FOR A PROBLEM LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN?" What an absurd and patently untrue thing to say. Mistakes can always be made. Always.
That got me bolding and italicizing both. On one sentence.
**************
Sheesh. I may need to design another lapel pin "THE IMPOSSIBLE IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE . . .EVEN IN SHORTZIAN NYT CROSSWORD PUZZLES."
We're gonna need a bigger lapel pin, though, right JAWS? ;)
Love to hear your thoughts, Zfolks.
WORD WOMAN
Unusually for me, I got this one so quickly that I forgot to post a hint!
ReplyDelete