Father-in law

[poliphilo]

Yesterday afternoon we met the in-laws. Joe and Sara have been together now for over a year, but this was the first time the two sets of parents had met.

Everyone was anxious. What if the old folks hated one another on sight?

In the event everything turned out splendidly. We sat on the decking,  drank beer and  made conversation. Yes- even I, Mr Unsociablity, made conversation. It was a lovely afternoon.

Sara's dad has this amazing story about how he was working in a shop in Guilford, Surrey- the dullest town on earth- and sold a microwave to a fat, little guy with a ponytail who turned out to be Marlon Brando. Marlon Brando buying microwaves in Guilford! Does anyone out there have an explanation?

On a self-regarding note, I guess this means I've passed the point of no return and become the father-in-law.  I'm no longer Ben Stiller, I'm Robert de Niro; and I don't mean the Robert de Niro of Taxi Driver.

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think he doubted his talent. He didn't know where it came from and so, when people acclaimed him- at such a young age- as the greatest actor ever it just blew his mind. He was scared of failing, of not being able to repeat his success and so he became cranky and difficult and started undermining himself and his directors.

Laurence Olivier, a comparable talent, had technique to fall back on. He knew how to fake it. Brando didn't.