It's Not Always Easy

Cliff Robertson passed away this weekend.  He was best known for his acting, most particularly his Oscar-winning performance in Charly.  What Robertson should be remembered most fondly for is his stand against corruption, and how it cost him. 

In 1977, Robertson was notified by the IRS he hadn't filed on $10,000 paid to him by Columbia Pictures.  The actor had no idea what they were talking about, and learned David Begelman, the studio head, wrote a check to Robertson, then forged his name.  It was learned he eventually had done this with other people to the tune of $65,000.  Robertson was the only one who took action, and Begelman was sentenced to community service and a $5,000 fine.  He would eventually lose him job, but take over MGM.


Cliff Robertson


Robertson, who had been warned not to make this public, didn't work in Hollywood for four years.  Throughout all this, the friends who had told him, "Cliff, if you ever need anything, call me," refused to take his calls.  When he was finally hired again, he was never again a leading man.  Whenever he was in a film, the billing would be "and Cliff Robertson" or "with Cliff Robertson."  The thing is, everyone would say they knew he had been right, but-- and never finished their sentence.

MGM didn't fare well under Begelman, who eventually went bankrupt.  His contract wasn't renewed, and he committed suicide in his hotel room.

Actor/writer Chris Lemmon is Robertson's stepson, and he wrote of what a fine man he was.  He said that Robertson was always there for him, and he remembered that more than the man's acting ability.  Robertson's stand was a perfect example of what an outstanding  man he was.

He knew the consequences he was facing when he made his stand, yet he made it.  Yet to this day, he's remembered not only for being a fine actor, but for someone who was wronged by Hollywood.  On the other hand, Begelman has gone down in history as a thief and blackmailer (That's another story.).

Things might have been harder for him for doing things honestly, but I think I would have rather been Cliff Robertson than the 'successful' David Begelman any day of the week.  At least Robertson could look himself in the mirror with pride, and gave us an example to follow.

We need to remember that example every day, and follow the Robertsons of the world, not the Begelmans.  It's harder to follow the first, but the end consequences of the latter aren't worth it. 

Mizpah

Art Linkletter's Legacy

I was taking a walk down 10th the other day, and saw our neighbor watering his shrubs.  His little boy, who was about six, was watching him with a keen eye.  Finally, the boy had to ask.  "Whatcha doin', daddy?"

The father replied, "I'm watering the shrubs."

"Why?"  (Let's face it.  Everyone knew that was coming.)

Grinning, the man said, "So they'll grow." 

With an extremely perplexed look, the boy asked, "But daddy, why do you want them to grow?"

Now it was daddy's turn to be confused.  "What do you mean?"

"Wellllllllll . . . You put that stinky stuff on the lawn to make it grow and put all that water on it.  Then you put a whole lotta stinky stuff on the shrubs to make them grow and put a buncha water on them, right?"  His eyebrow cocked, the father simply nodded his head.  "And then, you cut the grass and the shrubs, cuz you say they're getting too high, and when the mower duzzint work, you use words like-"

"Never mind.  I get your point.  Er, why don't you go help you mother?" 

Innocently the boy replied, "She sent me outside."

By now, I was about to bust a gut.  But I was curious as to why this happened.  Matter of fact, so was daddy, who made the fatal mistake of asking.

"Mommy's making a cake, and I asked her why."  The father's face started to fall.  He knew what was coming.  "She asked what I meant, and I told her, 'Every time you eat a piece of cake, you say you shouldn't have done that, as it goes right to your hips.'  So she sent me out here."

Art Linkletter had a show entitled Kid Say the Darndest Things.  This young man would have been a star.  How refreshing children are, and we need to remember to watch our actions and words around them, as we often forget we are the ones who shape their lives.  Enjoy your life, but remember little eyes are always watching.  Mizpah.