The Big Bamboo (37 page)

“I completely missed it,” said Roger Ebert. “That’s a testimony to his genius.”

“His command of authenticity is what threw me,” wrote Leonard Maltin. “The excess is so understated.”

Now drawing rave comparisons to Mel Brooks’s The

Producers, the film was quickly re-released in America, shattering all box office records for a movie pulled from circulation. Monday’s Oscar nomination completes the full-circle comeback for Potemkin, except for being dead.

Serge closed the tabloid and looked up at the production across the street. “The movies have returned to Tampa. All is well.”

Coleman gestured with a can of Schlitz. “Is that supposed to be us?”

Across the street, two journeymen character actors ran down the front steps of the warehouse. They were the kind of actors that everyone recognizes but can’t name. They didn’t look anything like Serge and Coleman.

“Let’s rock!”

The actors jumped in a ’71 Buick Riviera with expensive restoration to make it look beat-up. The cameras followed the car as it jumped a curb and took off across the railroad tracks.

A megaphone rose.

“Annnnnd…
cut!
”

Tremendous thanks again to Nat Sobel, Henry Ferris, and Lisa Gallagher.

Tim Dorsey
was a reporter and editor for the
Tampa Tribune
from 1987 to 1999 and is the author of the novels
Florida Roadkill
,
Hammerhead Ranch Motel
,
Orange Crush
,
Triggerfish Twist
,
The Stingray Shuffle
, and the upcoming
Cadillac Beach
. He lives in Tampa, Florida. Visit his website at www.timdorsey.com

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