This is a little scene from 12 Angry Men. One of the jurors is an ad guy, and boy does he let everyone know. He's like a one man urban spam operation. In some ways he's the personification of interruptive marketing. Pleased with himself, oblivious to others yet simultaneously desperate to entertain and mad for approval. And, I wonder, is this the origin of 'run it up the flagpole and see who salutes it'? Was it invented for the movie? (an exaggeration of a pre-existing phrase) Or was it already popular currency in Madison Avenue?
Is this the guy who also says "Let's throw is out on the porch and see if the cat licks it up" ?
Posted by: andrew | June 12, 2006 at 09:44 AM
Yes, the ad juror is superficial, indecisive and has no opinions of his own.
They nailed us.
Posted by: Scamp | June 13, 2006 at 10:50 AM
Genuine period Mad Ave argot...not invented for movie.
Interchangeable with, "Let's throw it against the wall and see if it sticks."
This was also the heyday of the ubiquitous "-wise" suffix in advertising, as in "Awareness-wise, the new campaign is boffo."
Posted by: Bruce Grant | June 14, 2006 at 03:57 PM
Hey Russell
Haven't seen it for ages but I remember really enjoying Agency when I was a spotty youth:
http://tinyurl.com/fx22e
Usually, films I remember fondly from long ago turn out to be terrible when viewed later, but who knows? It might be OK.
And as for the "-wise" suffix, you can't beat The Appartment:
"That's the way it crumbles, cookie-wise".
Posted by: Patrick | June 18, 2006 at 10:11 PM