Monday, September 5, 2011 Andrea Carla Michaels

Theme: The Wet Ones - The four movie titles have bodies of water in them. Send them to Texas where they could use them.

20A. 1981 Fonda/Hepburn classic : "ON GOLDEN POND". Image.

27A. 2006 Bullock/Reeves romance : "THE LAKE HOUSE". Image.

48A. 1994 Streep/Bacon thriller : "THE RIVER WILD". Image.

56A. 2004 Kevin Spacey tribute (to Bobby Darin) : "BEYOND THE SEA". Image.

Argyle here.

I believe this is Andrea's first solo LAT puzzle since our TMS Daily to LA Times switch in March 2009, but she has had many NYT puzzles. All four movies are twelve letters. The fill ranges from 'Monday easy' to 'Monday hard'. The worst cross I thought was 54D and 69A. Your results might vary.

Across:

1. E.T. carriers, theoretically : UFOS

5. Fetch : BRING

10. Last letters in London : ZEDS. That would be ZEEs over here.

14. Calamine mineral : ZINC. White stuff on your nose.

15. Where one's name might go, on a form : LINE A

16. "Out of Africa" author Dinesen : ISAK. The film, "Out of Africa" (Redford/Streep) is a 1985 adventure drama film directed and produced by Sydney Pollack. The story is based loosely on the autobiographical book Out of Africa written by Isak Dinesen (the pseudonym of the author Karen Blixen), which was published in 1937. (from Wikipedia)

17. Composer Stravinsky : IGOR. Viola solo.(5:28)

18. Eight is enough for one : OCTET

19. Spitting sound : PTUI

23. Mac maker : APPLE

26. "I Ching" readers : TAOISTS

31. Back talk : LIP

32. "Hi-__, Hi-Lo" : LILI. The song was published in 1952, then featured in the movie, "Lili" in 1953. Clip.(1:56)(not by who'd you expect.)

33. Annual sports awards : ESPYs. ESPN awards.

37. In re : AS TO

39. Designer Karan : DONNA. DKNY, Donna Karan New York.

42. Donkey's need, in a party game : TAIL. Has anyone actually played this game?

43. Low on funds : SHORT

45. Winged peace symbol : DOVE

47. Director Ang or Spike : LEE

52. Sleeve opening : ARM HOLE

55. Puts in the mail : SENDS

60. Yankees superstar, familiarly : A-ROD

61. "Old MacDonald" refrain : E I, E I, O

62. New Zealander : KIWI. Kiwis are unique to New Zealand.

66. Mafia boss : CAPO

67. Dog's warning : SNARL

68. Michener novel, typically : EPIC

69. Tinkertoy alternative : K'NEX. Image. Closer to an erector set?

70. Playable on a VCR : TAPED

71. Do, re or mi : NOTE

Down

1. Israeli submachine gun : UZI

2. Source of Eve's leaves : FIG

3. Yoko from Tokyo : ONO

4. Dead Sea find : SCROLL

5. Web opinion piece : BLOG

6. Puerto __ : RICO

7. Part of IMF: Abbr. : INTL. International Monetary Fund.

8. Must : NEED TO

9. French sponge cake : GÂTEAU. Google images.

10. Having the most pizazz : ZIPPIEST

11. These, in Tijuana : ÉSTOS

12. Intimidate : DAUNT

13. Loses control on the ice : SKIDS

21. Host Conan of NPR's "Talk of the Nation" : NEAL. At a crossword tournament. Pic.

22. Rudolph's is red : NOSE. And I know why.

23. Book of maps : ATLAS

24. Engage in an online scam : PHISH. As in, phishing for identities.

25. __-Bismol : PEPTO. Get back in the pink.

28. Tease : KID

29. "Evil Woman" gp. : ELO. Electric Light Orchestra.

30. Delhi tongue : HINDI

34. "Going Rogue" author Sarah : PALIN

35. Give way : YIELD

36. Mushers' vehicles : SLEDS

38. Greek __ Church : ORTHODOX

40. Oct. follower : NOV.

41. D.C.'s Pennsylvania, e.g. : AVE.

44. Suffix with tele- or Dance-A- : THON

46. Celtic language : ERSE

49. Firstborn : ELDEST

50. Light-sensitive eye part : RETINA

51. Debilitate : WEAKEN

52. Taken __: surprised : ABACK

53. Showed again : RERAN

54. Mr. Magoo, e.g. : MYOPE. myope - any person afflicted with myopia(nearsightedness).

57. Jalopy : HEAP

58. Galway's land : EIRE. The Ould Sod.

59. Word after "going twice ..." : "SOLD!"

63. NASDAQ debut : IPO. Initial Public Offering.

64. Dorothy Parker forte : WIT. "I don't care what is written about me so long as it isn't true." More.

65. Arctic pier material : ICE. Image of the USNS Southern Cross at the ice pier in 1983.

Answer grid.

Argyle