Under the Weather. Notice that each of the starred theme answers is in the Down
position. The first word of each theme answer describes a weather
condition. The second word, thus, is "under the weather."
3-Down. * 1956 Burt Lancaster film, with "The": RAINMAKER. The Rainmaker was a 1956 movie that starred Burt Lancaster (Nov. 2,
1913 ~ Oct. 20, 1994) and Katherine Hepburn (1907 ~ 2003). The story
took place during the Great Depression in a farming town in the mid-west
that was suffering from a draught. Burt Lancaster played a con man who
promised he could make it rain. It is appropriate that this clue and
answer appeared in today's puzzle because today would have been Burt
Lancaster's 108th birthday.
6-Down. * Desperation gridiron pass: HAILMARY.
8-Down. * Big name in film festivals: SUNDANCE. The Sundance Film Festival is the largest independent film festival
in the United States. It has been showing films since 1978. The
next festival will take place from January 20 through 30, 2022.
11-Down. * Seven Dwarfs' housekeeper: SNOW WHITE. The version the Brothers Grimm tells of Snow White is a tad darker than Disney's version.
Here's the unifier:
62. Out of sorts ... or where four answer-ending words (see starred clues)
can be found?: UNDER THE WEATHER.
Across: 1. Fabled runner-up: HARE. //
And 47. Like the 1-Across vis-à-vis the tortoise,
ironically: SLOWER.
5. Deep cleft: CHASM.
10. "Tell me if you're coming" letters: RSVP. Technically,
this is today's French lesson as well as a lesson in manners. Répondez s'il vous plaît, which translates into English as Please respond.
14. Pacific island ceded by Spain to the U.S. in 1899: GUAM.
15. The __: Europol headquarters: HAGUE. Europol is the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement.
16. Meticulous to a fault: ANAL. This word appears with
some frequency in the puzzles.
17. Jazz club group: TRIO. Everything you wanted to know
about Jazz Trios, but didn't know to ask.
18. Detroit NFL team: LIONS.
19. Party hat shape: CONE.
20. Large-scale ride-sharing option: VANPOOL. It's like a
carpool, but bigger.
22. Limited-access internet area: DARK WEB. Everything you
wanted to know about the Dark Web, but didn't know to ask.
24. Surfing connection: MODEM. Web surfing.
25. A bit off: ASKEW.
26. Hogwarts potions master: SNAPE. Professor Severus
Snape was played by Alan Rickman (February 21, 1946 ~ January 14, 2016) in
the Harry Potter movies.
28. Raggedy doll: ANN. I had a Raggedy Andy when I was a
kid.
30. Significant __: partner: OTHER.
33. Acorn dropper: OAK.
34. How much it costs: PRICE.
36. Prez before JFK: IKE. Dwight David Eisenhower, aka Ike
(Oct. 14, 1890 ~ Mar. 28, 1969) was President from 1953 until 1961.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, aka Jack (May 29, 1917 ~ Nov. 22, 1963) was President from January 1961 until
his assassination in November 1963.
37. Monopoly's Atlantic or Pacific: Abbr.: AVE. As in
Atlantic and Pacific Avenues.
38. __ ignition system: hi-tech car starter: KEYLESS. I
love having a keyless ignition system.
40. October's number: TEN. Because October is now the 10th
month on the calendar. In the old Roman calendar, however, it was the 8th month, hence, the OCT in its name.
41. Fozzie Bear's frog pal: KERMIT. // Not to be
confused with 53-Across. Claymation green guy: GUMBY.
43. If all goes right: AT BEST.
45. Sign of healing: SCAB.
47. Diamonds or clubs: SUIT.
48. Backbone: SPUNK.
51. "You've got mail" ISP: AOL. As in America On Line. // And 42-Down. 51-Across
alternative: MSN. As in Microsoft Network.
57. "Proven," in proofs: QED. Today's Latin lesson.
QED is an abbreviation for quod erat demonstrandum, which
means "which was to be demonstrated".
58. Tune that stays in your head too long: EARWORM.
65. Tops, as a cake: ICES. My mother used frosting on a
cake.
66. November tally: VOTES.
67. "Magic" prop: WAND.
68. Lahr of "The Wizard of Oz": BERT. Bert Lahr (né Irving
Lahrheim; Aug. 13, 1895 ~ Dec. 4, 1967), is best known for his role as the
Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz.
69. Golf or tennis: SPORT.
70. Ransom of auto fame: OLDS.
Ransom Eil Olds (June 3, 1864 ~ Aug. 26, 1950)
Down:
1. Channel for home flippers: HGTV.
2. General feel: AURA.
4. Expressive music genre: EMO-POP. The best Emo Pop
songs? You be the judge.
5. Techie on "24": CHLOE. The actress who played Chloe is
Mary Lynn Rajskub (b. June 22, 1971), and she appeared recently in another
puzzle I wrote up on recently.
7. In the past: AGO.
9. Western plateaus: MESAS. Hi, Lucina!
10. Tennis need: RACKET.
12. Wind indicator: VANE.
13. Roman commoner: PLEB.
21. Poet's tribute: ODE. A crossword staple.
23. "It's a Wonderful Life" studio: RKO. The initials
stand for Radio-Keith-Orpheum.
26. Enjoy a Jacuzzi: SOAK.
27. Central church part: NAVE.
Anatomy of a Church
29. Zero, in soccer: NIL.
31. Barely gets (by): EKEs.
32. Tenant's expense: RENT.
34. Fur-protesting org.: PETA. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
35. Jacob's twin: ESAU. A Biblical reference. These
brothers appear with some frequency in the puzzles.
38. Field goal expert, e.g.: KICKER.
39. Mark of shame: STIGMA.
44. A/C measure: BTU. As in British Thermal Units.
46. Hit a bunch of pubs in one night: BARHOP.
48. News filler: SQUIB. This was my last fill.
49. Trump's VP: PENCE. Mike Pence (né Michael Richard
Pence; b. June 7, 1959) also served as the Governor of Indiana.
50. Milker's handful: UDDER. Not exactly. If the
milker is handling the Udder, he's not doing it right.
