What I Learned from Classic Cinema: Caddyshack

George Carlin is famous (infamous?) for his "Seven Dirty Words" routine from the 1970s that wound up going all the way to the Supreme Court.  What Carlin's non-aficionados might not know is that he actually expanded and continued the routine well into the 1980s by adding additional "blue" phrases and sayings.  By 1985, the routine had grown into "An Incomplete List of Impolite Words" that totaled over 400 inappropriate-for-mixed-company terms.  Carlin described the list as "incomplete" because, "Every time I think I've got them all, somebody comes along and says, 'Hey, you forgot [expletive]!'"

Why do I mention this?  Well, much like Carlin's list that grew and morphed over time, the list of lessons to be learned from classic television and cinema keeps growing as well.  Put another way, every time I think I've covered it, somebody e-mails me and says, "Hey, I saw your blog!  You gotta do [NAME] next!" 

So, with that objective in mind, we turn our attention today to another cinematic great from years past  -  the film that made golf actually seem like an enjoyable experience, made us believe you could carry kegs and stereos in your golf bag, and introduced us to dancing gophers.  That's right - we're doing Caddyshack!

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Always remember the importance of being able to distinguish yourself.  People who follow the crowd by definition are not leaders.  This means having your own style and approach to problem solving, as well as social interaction.  Rodney Dangerfield provided some classic examples of what to do to accomplish this.  Especially when dealing with someone like Ted Knight.

Never forget, all offers come with strings attached.  Remember how Danny had to all but sell his soul to win that scholarship?  And how with that on the line, he realized he couldn't throw his lot in with the judge and had to sink that critical putt at the end?  Granted, he would have missed it without Bill Murray's pyrotechnics, but the lesson's clear:  Nobody makes you an offer without expecting something in return.

If you play fair, be prepared to lose fair, too.  You never know when someone might have a couple of goons on hand to "help you find your checkbook" as Sir Rodney had to have done when Ted Knight decided to welsh on his bet. 

Never be afraid to improvise when the situation calls for it.  Remember how much we loved Bill Murray's psychotic groundskeeper character?  Turns out almost all of his lines were improvised.  And since I can't go through an item on this list without a Ted Knight reference, it should be noted that this reportedly drove the nice-guy-in-real-life actor to near-fits of apoplexy.

Never underestimate an opponent because of his size.  Sure, he might even be a furry little puppet, but that doesn't mean he can't steal your movie and become an iconic character in his own right.  Especially if he can dance to Kenny Loggins.

Remember Occam's Razor.  When translated for contemporary reference, this principle holds that the simplest possible explanation is usually the correct one.  The trouble is, we all too frequently tend to discount such conclusions because of their simplicity.  Yet in many instances, the quickest and easiest solution is often the best.  So the next time you want to clear out a pool quickly, don't go to any great lengths to try and accomplish what can be achieved by simply heaving a Baby Ruth into the water...

And last but not least...

Never be ashamed of those guilty pleasures.  Sure, Journey may be passe corporate rock, but admit it, you loved listening to it when it was pumped out of Rodney's golf bag.  And when Kenny Loggins comes on the radio during those long road trips, don't pretend like you and your friends don't start dancing in the car seat like the gopher...