Jack Elfrink Dot Com

I cry cry at movies more than any male ever should. I cried during Toy Story 2, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, and Miss Congeniality.

I cried when I watched “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island”.

“The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island” was the third made-for-television movie of Gilligan’s island after the cancellation of the series in 1967. In 1978 was “Rescue From Gilligan’s Island” where the seven of then finaly escape the island, but have trouble reintegrating into society. In 1979 was “The Castaways on Gilligan’s Island” where they once again are rescued, but this time everyone stays on the island and the Howl’s transform the place into a resort.This sets up “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island” for 1981. The whole script was founded upon the character of Thurston J. Howell III and his operation and management of the resort against the “bad guys” who wanted to do away with it. However, there were a never ending series of delays that pushed the start of filming back. While this was going on Jim Backus, who played Thurston J. Howell III, came down with Parkinson’s disease.

Backus had an amazing range as an actor. His comedic genius was showcased not only on Gilligan’s island but he was also the voice of cartoon character Mr. Magoo. His dramatic acting skills are probably best known in the portrayal of the inadequate father in “Rebel without a Cause”. His Hollywood career spanned 50 years.

But now, with the entire script for a movie riding on him, he was way to sick to preform fully. The script was rewritten. David Ruprecht played the role of Thurston Howell IV and took over the role of running the resort for the movie. Backus was only inserted in a single cameo appearance at the end of the film. It was all that his failing health could allow.

He did the take. The whole cast was on the set and was watching in pain as their friend for all these years stood in front of them. Dying before their faces. After the take, he called over Dawn Wells (Mary Ann). Years later, in an interview, she recounted the incident. Looking her right in the eye he asked her “Was I funny?
This comedic genius, soulful dramatic actor, and wizardly voice-over artist, who had spent his life and career knowing what funny was, had become so eaten away with disease that he know longer knew his own gift. He has to ask someone else to even know if he had been funny or not. He was the first of the original seven cast who died.

Whenever I watch the one scene he did in “Harlem globetrotters on Gilligan’s island”, I always break down in tears. It was the last scene that he ever shot on film. I know what he was going through, and what the people who loved him were going through, even though there is no hint of his suffering in his appearance on the screen. I just break down and sob

And now any time you see it, you will cry too.

It has been over 3 years since I have spoken with anyone in my family. My own life has become so much amazingly better since I broke off contact. My father was a devout catholic and was forever nagging me about my chosen faith. The rest of my family was just as much a downer for me (especially my sister). Getting away from them all was the best thing I could have ever done.
Still, I wonder what has become of them at times. My father was the last person in my family I was on speaking terms with. He was showing beginning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and the last time I ever spoke on the phone with him he had a bit of trouble remembering who I was. He talked about how he was thinking about moving into the veterans home as he knew he wouldn’t be able to care after himself much longer. When I called again a month later the phone number was no longer in service. I never bothered trying to track down any info from the veterans home.

Despite our problems between us, he was still the person in my family I was closest to. But I know I cant re-initiate contact with anybody in my family any more than a recovering alcoholic can have one last drink. I have to put my family behind me, even my dad. Sometimes I wonder where he is and how he is doing. Especially today.

Happy fathers day dad. I love you.

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 18th, 2006 at 7:01 am and is filed under Previous blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.