Robert Benchley was one of the Social sciences and society good articles, but it has been removed from the list. There are suggestions below for improving the article to meet the good article criteria. Once these issues have been addressed, the article can be renominated. Editors may also seek a reassessment of the decision if they believe there was a mistake. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wasn't Robert Benchley cremated? I remember reading that in his biography. I guess it is possible the ashes were buried at the family plot.--Mantanmoreland 16:03, 12 February 2006 (UTC)
Thanks. Just returned from a lengthy hiatus to see your comment. I will add, as my source for that actually was his son Nat's bio. I suppose two sources are good for this. --Mantanmoreland 18:35, 12 March 2006 (UTC)
I would like to offer another link for the Robert Benchley page: try www.natbenchley.com to see information about a one-man show about R. B., as well as how to order a CD of his stories read by his actor grandson, Nat. Or for any other authoritative information on the subject.NRBench 22:30, 22 June 2006 (UTC)
I have made some changes to the biographical information (corrected "Greuning" to read "Gruening" replaced erroneous "September" month of Benchley's death with corrected "November." Someone has obviously relied heavily on the Altman biography of Benchley. That book "Laughter's Gentle Soul: The Life of Robert Benchley" is largely a reprise of previously published matter. However, it does have more detail about Benchley's Hollywood period than other biographies. Unfortunately, lack of proofreading and fact checking undermines the work. The Robert Benchley Society has published an errata sheet to the Altman book. That list of corrections is available on the Society's website and I urge anyone relying on the Altman book to verify against other sources and the RBS errata sheet. David Trumbull 17:59, 3 July 2007 (UTC)
The earliest sourced appearance of the Venice telegram quotation is "Streets full of water, Advise." As told by David Niven in the Saturday Evening Post, July 19, 1958, page 13. David Trumbull (talk) 16:37, 11 February 2013 (UTC)
Hmm, his walk of fame/interrment information shouldn't be under "film."
Upon Bob's first visit to Venice, he telegraphed his New York editor: "STREETS FILLED WITH WATER ADVISE". -HiFiGuy 16:33, 26 September 2006 (UTC)
This article cries out for a bibliography. --Silverscreen 15:25, 16 December 2006 (UTC)
Just a note to say that the other day I did a bit of cleanup, as can be seen from the history. This was a fine author of great consequence to modern literary history, and I hope that this article can be substantially expanded. There is a rich array of source material including several biographies. Also this article really cries out for a full bibliography. --Silverscreen 15:32, 27 December 2006 (UTC)
If anyone can help:
--badlydrawnjeff talk 03:57, 21 May 2007 (UTC)
The article could use an infobox (look to similar passed GA/FAs for examples) and I saw one sentence that has a "citation needed" tag. That will have to be addressed, or someone may quick-fail the article. --Nehrams2020 18:10, 25 May 2007 (UTC)
There are three that I didn't address yet, I have more questions about them:
Thanks for everything so far. --badlydrawnjeff talk 13:12, 26 May 2007 (UTC)
I used most of your suggestions, Hoary. The one about "an academic failure," however, should stay put as the failure is singular. That's my thought process, at least. --badlydrawnjeff talk 00:45, 12 June 2007 (UTC)
Benchley had a supporting role in and was a co-writer of Alfred Hitchcock's film Foreign Correspondent. I should think that an appearance and contribution in a Hitchcock movie would warrant a mention in this article. Green451 19:11, 28 May 2007 (UTC)
I just reviewed this article and accepted it as a Good Article (easily met all criteria in my opinion). Well done everyone. Tomgreeny 02:55, 1 June 2007 (UTC)
This article is really excellent, and kudos need to be extended to Badlydrawnjeff for his work on it. One suggestion is that it really needs photos. The photo in the information box is far too dark. There are many good photos of Benchley taken from screen shots of his movies and/or publicity photos. Can't one of them be used?--Silverscreen 14:56, 16 June 2007 (UTC)
It's interesting that this article doesn't even mention several huge aspects of his life. First, that his relationship with Dorothy Parker was extremely tight, to a degree that Benchley's wife was jealous and resentful their entire lives. Whether they were ever romantically involved is up for debate, but their friendship was a rare fine one and was a defining facet of their lives until the '30s. Second, Benchley was a notorious teetotaler -- this, during prohibition, when illegal drinking defined the NY social life he was part of. When he was finally persuaded to try a drink, it changed his life. He became a notorious alcoholic, and essentially died of cirrhosis. Finally, despite marrying his childhood sweetheart and having the image of the devoted suburban family man, he was as famous for his series of mistresses and affairs as he was for his humor; no less than Tallulah Bankhead was one such affair. Once he started performing on Broadway, he essentially started living apart from his family in NYC while they stayed ensconced in the suburbs. He was always broke, always borrowing money, living hand-to-mouth as many of the Algonquin set did -- first from being a poor underpaid writer, later from being a spendthrift. As he started down this path around the time of No Sirree, Benchley's life changed dramatically. He was simultaneously the charachter he developed -- sweet, slightly befuddled, hyper-normal -- AND its opposite. He was a much more interesting, complicated person than this article implies. While I realize this is an encylopedia article and not a biography, it seems that something besides a dry chronology and a few quotations would be in order. You may ask why I don't edit the article myself ... well, I would, except that my books are currently packed up and in storage, so I could not provide citations! I'm hoping someone else will be able to pick up the gauntlet and fill in these gaps. 172.146.38.113 03:49, 23 June 2007 (UTC)funnie
AND - where is the story of Robert Benchley's experience at a Massachusetts social party, when trial judge Webster Thayer - in his cups - stated he was "going to get those bastards". Robert knew this was grounds for his dismissal from the case, and tried to get authorities to do so. Thayer had enough clout to get away with this, and continue to preside - over two trials. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.128.142.167 (talk) 02:08, 27 March 2010 (UTC)
Today I switched from the generic person info box to a writer box. I'd like to see someone add in the writers who influenced Benchley; I only added in the names of writers who cite him as influencing them. K72ndst 14:11, 27 August 2007 (UTC)
Wow, a project of depth, thought and lasting impact! Most cool, I'm in! Chris 06:09, 8 September 2007 (UTC)
This article has been reviewed as part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Good articles/Project quality task force. I believe the article currently meets the criteria and should remain listed as a Good article. The article history has been updated to reflect this review. Lampman (talk) 23:59, 8 November 2008 (UTC)
Article quote: "There is no evidence to support speculation that Lillian had an inappropriate relationship with Robert."
This is gallant laundering of history, and bullshit up with which I, for one, am not going to put. Nor will I hit on bait from anyone to "prove it". Persons who refuse to believe the Himalayan, biographical, circumstantial evidence of Benchley-Duryea sexual congress have erected a mental rampart that could not be breached even by 1) documentary film of the two copulating, nor 2) hand written correspondence describing each other's genitalia. So, forget that sneering challenge.
Rather, let's create a list on this Discussion Page of wealthy debutantes, widowed during their status as a fiance who - rather than getting on with their lives and dating wealthy older men as candidates for marriage - in stead adopted their deceased lover's younger brother as a teenage mascot - household member, plus functioning as a tuition machine to Exeter and Harvard. Surely, there must be a whole bunch of them.
Lillian Duryea RUINED the future, adult sex life of Robert Benchley, his eventual marriage, and his relationship to women generally. About the only woman to whom Benchley could relate with sexual honesty was the brilliant but often suicidal Dorothy Parker.
Signed: Edward M. Chilton, Benchley Society —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.82.49.241 (talk) 00:07, 31 December 2010 (UTC)
Campbell Scott potrays Benchley in this film about Dorothy Parker. MBG 119.11.8.183 (talk) 11:55, 17 July 2011 (UTC)
"...who husbanded Robert to manhood and live-in paramour status before he had even finished high school."
I'm guessing she fucked him, right? AuntFlo (talk) 05:22, 16 September 2011 (UTC)
The correct quote is "One, two, three / Buckle my shoe." The page leaves out "three," which is crucial to the dry humor of the quote. I'll fix this as soon as I can find a proper reference. Doug Ewell 15:24, 30 January 2013 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by DougEwell (talk • contribs)
The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.
This 2007 promotion contains significant uncited material, failing GA criterion 2b). ~~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 04:11, 31 January 2024 (UTC)