Milton Berle
Is this movie based somewhat on Milton Berle's life?
shareNot totally sure that is the case, but Milton's brother is one of he extras in the Friar's Club scene. He's siting at a table behind Annie Wells when they move to a window table.
shareNo, the character is more of an amalgam - part Milton Berle, part Groucho Marx, and little bits of other giants of the Catskills circuit.
If I begin to die, please take this off my head. This is not the way I wish to be remembered.
His character also reminds me of Jackie Mason who had a similar experience on the Ed Sullivan Show in which cost him his contract as well as constantly pissing off people. Including Frank Sinatra! He even got beaten up over it! And he's still at it today!
shareYes - I see Buddy as a composite of Berle, Mason and other lesser-knowns.
sharemaybe ....but not below the belt
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The more I watch the film, the more I think Buddy is closer to Red Buttons. Buttons came up in the Borscht Belt, made a big splash with a CBS variety show, but the constant battles with his writers and directors blew his gig. Of course, Buttons was able to recover and build a career as a character actor.
"May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?"