Theme: Where you hang your hat - Three movies that include a type of home in the title.
18A. 2001 Redford/Gandolfini film, with "The" : "LAST CASTLE". A home for criminals.
28A. 1990 Connery/Pfeiffer spy film : "THE RUSSIA HOUSE". A section of MI6 is called the "Russia House". (not an actual house)
50A. 2003 Eddie Murphy film, with "The" : "HAUNTED MANSION". A movie based on a Disney attraction.
64A. Nostalgic films for family gatherings ... and what 18-, 28- and 50-Across are? : HOME MOVIES. A bit of a stretch calling these movies about homes.
Argyle here. A movie set in a prison, a spy section name, and a tourist attraction. At least "Mansion" has a back story about a family living there. Otherwise, I liked the play.
Across:
1. Spill the beans : BLAB
5. Hindu deity : RAMA
9. Spore-producing plants : FERNS
14. Subtle emanation : AURA
15. Put out : EMIT
16. How food is often sautéed : IN OIL. Or stir fried.
17. Sheepish smile : GRIN
20. Rap session? : SEANCE
22. Aunts in la familia : TIAs. 36A. Barcelona's nación : ESPAÑA. 33D. Año starter : ENERO. (January)
23. Cut down : HEW
24. Part of Q.E.D. : ERAT
26. Letters on a Soviet uniform : CCCP. It is the Russian abbreviation of Союз Советских Социалистических Республик, meaning the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or USSR prior to 1992. 25D. Russian ruler until 1917 : TSAR
34. Charged particle : ION
35. Unable or unwilling to hear : DEAF
38. Frame of mind : MOOD
40. "The Twilight Zone" creator Serling : ROD
42. Sought damages : SUED
43. Mercedes-Benz model series : E CLASS
46. More than a few : LOTS
49. Dr. who has co-produced many Eminem tracks : DRE
53. __ weevil : BOLL
54. PayPal parent company : E-BAY
55. Pan Am rival : TWA
58. Garden nuisance : WEED
60. Saw eye to eye : AGREED
67. Wrist-to-elbow bone : ULNA
68. Kitchen attraction : AROMA
69. Brush fire op : EVAC. (operation/evacuation)
70. Garden area : PLOT
71. Varnish ingredient : RESIN
72. Fiddle-playing emperor : NERO
73. Postage-paid encl. : SASE. (self-addressed stamped envelope) A thing of the past?
Down:
1. Airport carousel riders : BAGS
2. Fish attractor : LURE
3. Solo for a diva : ARIA
4. Welcome sign hung over a street, e.g. : BANNER
5. Prisoner's goal : RELEASE
6. Doc bloc : AMA
7. Waterfall phenomenon : MIST
8. 1971 prison riot site : ATTICA
9. Debacles : FIASCOs
10. USN rank : ENS. (ensign)
11. Senator for whom an IRA is named : ROTH. U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Delaware.
12. River of Egypt : NILE
13. Did in, as a dragon : SLEW
19. Secret supply : CACHE
21. Gunk : CRUD
27. Litter yippers : PUPS. and little nippers.
28. Iconic news magazine : TIME
29. Liquor, in slang : HOOCH
30. First name on a 1945 bomber : ENOLA
31. Poker player's "Too rich for my blood" : "I FOLD"
32. Riyadh resident : SAUDI. Call him Sandy.
37. Port in Yemen : ADEN
39. Apply crudely : DAUB
41. Stephen King's "Under the __" : DOME. Anyone still watching it?
44. Frosty, notably : SNOWMAN. Soon, oh so soon.
45. Canonized fifth-cen. pope : ST. LEO
47. Cajun condiment : TABASCO
48. Unexpected obstacle : SNAG
51. Gridiron quota : ELEVEN
52. IHOP array : SYRUPS
55. "__ she blows!" : THAR
56. Had on : WORE
57. "Famous" cookie maker : AMOS
59. Seedy joint : DIVE
61. First lady of scat, familiarly : ELLA
62. Grandson of Adam : ENOS
63. Dinner and a movie, say : DATE
65. Brit. record label : EMI. Electric and Musical Industries Ltd was formed in March 1931.
66. Musician's asset : EAR
Argyle
