Theme: It's an Honor Just to be Nominated - Tribute puzzle to Peter O'Toole. The starred answers, which are symmetrically placed (together with his names & the category he's nominated), are 8 films for which he's nominated for Oscar Best Actor but never won.
1A. *1964 : BECKET
7A. *2006 : VENUS
28A. *1968 : THE LION IN WINTER
43A. *1972, with "The" : RULING CLASS
65A. *1982 : MY FAVORITE YEAR
67A. *With 71-Across, 1962 : LAWRENCE. And OF ARABIA (71A. See 67-Across). Broken down for symmetry.
72A. *1969 : GOODBYE, MR CHIPS
96A. *1980 : THE STUNT MAN
112A. See 127-Across : BEST ACTOR OSCARS
127A. With 128-Across, performer nominated for 112-Across (he didn't win any) in all of the answers to starred clues : PETER. And O'TOOLE (128A. See 127-Across).
What a great symmetry! The constructors must be excited to discover the numbers of letters in various films. But luck alone wouldn't work. Takes skills to split certain entry & place each one in its perfect spot.
Very challenging puzzle for me. Not a movie person like Clear Ayes. Definitely needed Downs for most of the films.
Quite a few cross-references in the puzzle. The clues are tougher than our normal Sunday also. Take JAI (62D. "__ Ho": 2008 Best Original Song) for example. I am used to the "__ alai" clue. I do appreciate the fresh clue & Oscar tie-in.
Across:
12. Award since WWI : DSC (Distinguished Service Cross)
15. Try for a contract : BID
18. Dressed like Cinderella : IN RAGS
19. "Pardon my __" : FRENCH
21. Letter after pi : RHO. Before Sigma.
22. With 39-Across, soapbox racer, e.g. : ONE. And 39. See 22-Across : SEATER.
23. Concerned with pupils? : OCULAR. Eyes. Not students.
24. Shoemaker on a horse : WILLIE. Jockey. Bill Shoemaker. Faintly rang a bell.
25. 2009-'10 "At the Movies" co-host : A. O. SCOTT. Film critic for the New York Times. Stumped me.
27. Sprayed in defense : MACED
30. Prefix with gram : EPI. Epigram.
31. Venetian evening : SERA. Oh, always thought it means "will be". Que Sera, Sera.
33. Yule VIP : ST. NICK. VIP suggests an abbreviated answer.
34. "I Put a Spell on You" singer Simone : NINA
35. Bygone ruler : TSAR
37. Sadie Hawkins Day suitors : GALs
42. PC backup key : ESC
47. Item, such as interest, recorded only when earned : NON-ASSET. The clue gave me headache.
49. "Man alive!" : I'LL BE. Well, I'll be.
50. Prizes : ESTEEMS
53. J.D. holder : ATT. For our JD, that'll be Bob.
54. 1981 World Series co-MVP Ron : CEY. Spent a long time with the Dodgers.
55. Rental ad abbr. : RMs
57. Made misty : BLEARED. Spell check doesn't like this word.
60. Muslim pilgrim : HAJJI. The ending I must mean "person" then, since the pilgrimage itself is called HAJJ.
64. Fertility clinic cells : OVA
78. Baseball's "Master Melvin" : OTT. Mel Ott. And RBIs (102. 78-Across's 1,860, briefly).
79. Record of the year? : ANNAL
80. Take on, as tenants : LEASE TO
81. Kyrgyzstan city : OSH. Well, maybe Borat knows. Not me.
82. Op. __ : CIT
85. Cyclotron bit : ION
87. Make sense : STACK UP. Your excuse doesn't stake up.
89. Peerless : ALONE
91. Eye of round, etc. : LEAN CUTS
98. Part of ETO: Abbr. : EUR
99. Tennis shoe that debuted at Wimbledon in 1966 : K-SWISS. Founded by two Swiss brothers. So what does the K stand for?
103. Told, as a tale : SPUN
104. Some PX patrons : SGTs. And LTs (90D. Superiors of 104-Across).
106. Creeps : INCHES
109. "Love Me, I'm a Liberal" singer : OCHS (Phil)
111. It always increases : AGE. True.
116. Egyptian sky god : HORUS. Son of Isis & Osiris. Falcon-headed.
118. Needing serious help : IN A SPOT
119. Make it to : ATTEND
120. Schleppers : TOTERS
121. Have the flu, say : AIL
122. Valuable deposit : ORE. Mine deposit.
123. Mambo bandleader Tito : PUENTE. "The King of Latin Music". We often see TITO in the grid.
124. Vital supply lines : AORTAE
125. Once known as : NEE
126. According to : PER
Down:
1. Like the most secure passports nowadays : BIOMETRIC. Homeland Security charged me quite a bit for my biometrics data during the naturalization process.
2. Summarize : ENCAPSULE
3. Vitally : CRUCIALLY
4. Leafy green : KALE. Tough for my taste.
5. "Gadzooks!" : EGADS
6. Original Dungeons & Dragons co. : TSR. Wikipedia says it stands for Tactical Studies Rules.
7. Facilities for many ex-GIs : VFW HALLS. Our local baseball card shows are often held there.
8. Buffalo's lake : ERIE
9. "Gimme a Break" star Carter et al. : NELLS. First encounter with this lady.
10. Turned off : UNLIT
11. Descendants : SCIONS
12. Toasted : DRANK TO
13. Tell partner : SHOW. Show and tell.
14. Squeeze album "__ Fan Tutti Frutti" : COSI. Have never heard of the British band Squeeze.
15. Soft shoes : BOOTIES
16. Like nail-biters : INTENSE
17. Take away : DETRACT
20. '20s-'30s skating gold medalist : HENIE (Sonja)
26. King's station : CNN. Larry King. Do you like Piers Morgan?
28. Hints : TRACES
29. Empowering motto : I CAN
32. Hunt subject : EGG. D'oh, Easter!
36. Kid : RIB
38. Didn't act : SAT BY
40. Grandmother of Spain's Juan Carlos : ENA
41. Instead of : RATHER THAN. Nice 10-letter entry.
44. Remedy for a pain in the neck : NERVE BLOCK. Don't know this term.
45. Note to __ : SELF
46. "I __ Darkness": 1999 Bonnie 'Prince' Billy album : SEE A. Was ignorant of the singer and his album.
48. Patronize, as an inn : STAY AT
51. Dallas cager : MAV (Maverick)
52. Sign of a big hit : SRO (Standing Room Only)
56. Loads of : MANY
58. Psyche's lover : EROS
59. Variance, in the vernacular : DIF (Difference)
61. Gettysburg general Stuart : J.E.B.
63. Glass on the radio : IRA. Ira Glass. Host of NPR's "This American Life".
64. Decree : ORDAIN
65. "Who wants candy?" response : ME, ME
66. Kit Carson House site : TAOS
67. Queens, N.Y., airport : LGA
68. Chicago Loop's __ Center : AON
69. Broke the tape : WON. Finish line tape.
70. "Ice Age" unit, e.g. : CEL. Have never seen "Ice Age", animated film. Do they still use cels now everything is digital?
73. Dorm VIPs : RAs (Resident Advisers)
74. Winnipeg winter hrs. : CST
75. Spiciness : HEAT
76. Rash reaction : ITCH
77. It may involve drawing : POKER. Tricky clue.
81. Light-minded pursuit? : OPTICS. Another tricky one.
82. Rate against : COMPARE TO
83. Quadrennial national rite : INAUGURAL
84. Titans' home : TENNESSEE
86. Letters before xis : NUs.
88. It runs through four Great Lakes : US BORDER. Nice answer.
91. Either parent in "Heather Has Two Mommies" : LESBIAN
92. Prince Andrew's younger daughter : EUGENIE. Quite pretty. I only know her mother Fergie, who now has a show with Oprah's OWN.
93. Place to buy prints : ART SALE
94. Site with tweets : TWITTER
95. __-Japanese War : SINO. I always wonder why China is called SINO.
97. Find a seat for, in slang : USH. Lots of groan last time.
100. Throw out : SCRAP
101. Grew quickly : SHOT UP. And SHOOT (110D. Fire). Same root, isn't it?
105. Peter, Paul and Mary: Abbr. : STS. Not the singers.
107. Rival of Helena : ESTEE. Is Helena a cosmetic brand?
108. Obsession, for one : SCENT. This I know. Calvin Klein's Obsession.
113. Individually : A POP
114. Center : CORE
115. Date opening? : ANTE. Antedate.
117. Óscar's other : OTRO. Is Óscar Spanish for Oscar? I don't get this clue.
120. Way of the East : TAO. Indeed, it's literally "way".
Answer grid.
C.C.
1A. *1964 : BECKET
7A. *2006 : VENUS
28A. *1968 : THE LION IN WINTER
43A. *1972, with "The" : RULING CLASS
65A. *1982 : MY FAVORITE YEAR
67A. *With 71-Across, 1962 : LAWRENCE. And OF ARABIA (71A. See 67-Across). Broken down for symmetry.
72A. *1969 : GOODBYE, MR CHIPS
96A. *1980 : THE STUNT MAN
112A. See 127-Across : BEST ACTOR OSCARS
127A. With 128-Across, performer nominated for 112-Across (he didn't win any) in all of the answers to starred clues : PETER. And O'TOOLE (128A. See 127-Across).
What a great symmetry! The constructors must be excited to discover the numbers of letters in various films. But luck alone wouldn't work. Takes skills to split certain entry & place each one in its perfect spot.
Very challenging puzzle for me. Not a movie person like Clear Ayes. Definitely needed Downs for most of the films.
Quite a few cross-references in the puzzle. The clues are tougher than our normal Sunday also. Take JAI (62D. "__ Ho": 2008 Best Original Song) for example. I am used to the "__ alai" clue. I do appreciate the fresh clue & Oscar tie-in.
Across:
12. Award since WWI : DSC (Distinguished Service Cross)
15. Try for a contract : BID
18. Dressed like Cinderella : IN RAGS
19. "Pardon my __" : FRENCH
21. Letter after pi : RHO. Before Sigma.
22. With 39-Across, soapbox racer, e.g. : ONE. And 39. See 22-Across : SEATER.
23. Concerned with pupils? : OCULAR. Eyes. Not students.
24. Shoemaker on a horse : WILLIE. Jockey. Bill Shoemaker. Faintly rang a bell.
25. 2009-'10 "At the Movies" co-host : A. O. SCOTT. Film critic for the New York Times. Stumped me.
27. Sprayed in defense : MACED
30. Prefix with gram : EPI. Epigram.
31. Venetian evening : SERA. Oh, always thought it means "will be". Que Sera, Sera.
33. Yule VIP : ST. NICK. VIP suggests an abbreviated answer.
34. "I Put a Spell on You" singer Simone : NINA
35. Bygone ruler : TSAR
37. Sadie Hawkins Day suitors : GALs
42. PC backup key : ESC
47. Item, such as interest, recorded only when earned : NON-ASSET. The clue gave me headache.
49. "Man alive!" : I'LL BE. Well, I'll be.
50. Prizes : ESTEEMS
53. J.D. holder : ATT. For our JD, that'll be Bob.
54. 1981 World Series co-MVP Ron : CEY. Spent a long time with the Dodgers.
55. Rental ad abbr. : RMs
57. Made misty : BLEARED. Spell check doesn't like this word.
60. Muslim pilgrim : HAJJI. The ending I must mean "person" then, since the pilgrimage itself is called HAJJ.
64. Fertility clinic cells : OVA
78. Baseball's "Master Melvin" : OTT. Mel Ott. And RBIs (102. 78-Across's 1,860, briefly).
79. Record of the year? : ANNAL
80. Take on, as tenants : LEASE TO
81. Kyrgyzstan city : OSH. Well, maybe Borat knows. Not me.
82. Op. __ : CIT
85. Cyclotron bit : ION
87. Make sense : STACK UP. Your excuse doesn't stake up.
89. Peerless : ALONE
91. Eye of round, etc. : LEAN CUTS
98. Part of ETO: Abbr. : EUR
99. Tennis shoe that debuted at Wimbledon in 1966 : K-SWISS. Founded by two Swiss brothers. So what does the K stand for?
103. Told, as a tale : SPUN
104. Some PX patrons : SGTs. And LTs (90D. Superiors of 104-Across).
106. Creeps : INCHES
109. "Love Me, I'm a Liberal" singer : OCHS (Phil)
111. It always increases : AGE. True.
116. Egyptian sky god : HORUS. Son of Isis & Osiris. Falcon-headed.
118. Needing serious help : IN A SPOT
119. Make it to : ATTEND
120. Schleppers : TOTERS
121. Have the flu, say : AIL
122. Valuable deposit : ORE. Mine deposit.
123. Mambo bandleader Tito : PUENTE. "The King of Latin Music". We often see TITO in the grid.
124. Vital supply lines : AORTAE
125. Once known as : NEE
126. According to : PER
Down:
1. Like the most secure passports nowadays : BIOMETRIC. Homeland Security charged me quite a bit for my biometrics data during the naturalization process.
2. Summarize : ENCAPSULE
3. Vitally : CRUCIALLY
4. Leafy green : KALE. Tough for my taste.
5. "Gadzooks!" : EGADS
6. Original Dungeons & Dragons co. : TSR. Wikipedia says it stands for Tactical Studies Rules.
7. Facilities for many ex-GIs : VFW HALLS. Our local baseball card shows are often held there.
8. Buffalo's lake : ERIE
9. "Gimme a Break" star Carter et al. : NELLS. First encounter with this lady.
10. Turned off : UNLIT
11. Descendants : SCIONS
12. Toasted : DRANK TO
13. Tell partner : SHOW. Show and tell.
14. Squeeze album "__ Fan Tutti Frutti" : COSI. Have never heard of the British band Squeeze.
15. Soft shoes : BOOTIES
16. Like nail-biters : INTENSE
17. Take away : DETRACT
20. '20s-'30s skating gold medalist : HENIE (Sonja)
26. King's station : CNN. Larry King. Do you like Piers Morgan?
28. Hints : TRACES
29. Empowering motto : I CAN
32. Hunt subject : EGG. D'oh, Easter!
36. Kid : RIB
38. Didn't act : SAT BY
40. Grandmother of Spain's Juan Carlos : ENA
41. Instead of : RATHER THAN. Nice 10-letter entry.
44. Remedy for a pain in the neck : NERVE BLOCK. Don't know this term.
45. Note to __ : SELF
46. "I __ Darkness": 1999 Bonnie 'Prince' Billy album : SEE A. Was ignorant of the singer and his album.
48. Patronize, as an inn : STAY AT
51. Dallas cager : MAV (Maverick)
52. Sign of a big hit : SRO (Standing Room Only)
56. Loads of : MANY
58. Psyche's lover : EROS
59. Variance, in the vernacular : DIF (Difference)
61. Gettysburg general Stuart : J.E.B.
63. Glass on the radio : IRA. Ira Glass. Host of NPR's "This American Life".
64. Decree : ORDAIN
65. "Who wants candy?" response : ME, ME
66. Kit Carson House site : TAOS
67. Queens, N.Y., airport : LGA
68. Chicago Loop's __ Center : AON
69. Broke the tape : WON. Finish line tape.
70. "Ice Age" unit, e.g. : CEL. Have never seen "Ice Age", animated film. Do they still use cels now everything is digital?
73. Dorm VIPs : RAs (Resident Advisers)
74. Winnipeg winter hrs. : CST
75. Spiciness : HEAT
76. Rash reaction : ITCH
77. It may involve drawing : POKER. Tricky clue.
81. Light-minded pursuit? : OPTICS. Another tricky one.
82. Rate against : COMPARE TO
83. Quadrennial national rite : INAUGURAL
84. Titans' home : TENNESSEE
86. Letters before xis : NUs.
88. It runs through four Great Lakes : US BORDER. Nice answer.
91. Either parent in "Heather Has Two Mommies" : LESBIAN
92. Prince Andrew's younger daughter : EUGENIE. Quite pretty. I only know her mother Fergie, who now has a show with Oprah's OWN.
93. Place to buy prints : ART SALE
94. Site with tweets : TWITTER
95. __-Japanese War : SINO. I always wonder why China is called SINO.
97. Find a seat for, in slang : USH. Lots of groan last time.
100. Throw out : SCRAP
101. Grew quickly : SHOT UP. And SHOOT (110D. Fire). Same root, isn't it?
105. Peter, Paul and Mary: Abbr. : STS. Not the singers.
107. Rival of Helena : ESTEE. Is Helena a cosmetic brand?
108. Obsession, for one : SCENT. This I know. Calvin Klein's Obsession.
113. Individually : A POP
114. Center : CORE
115. Date opening? : ANTE. Antedate.
117. Óscar's other : OTRO. Is Óscar Spanish for Oscar? I don't get this clue.
120. Way of the East : TAO. Indeed, it's literally "way".
Answer grid.
C.C.
