Why can't we all fart together?

December 29, 2004 12:31 AM

"Me, I fart loud - I can't be a hypocrite. I get these parts, but I never get to play 'em because I fart out loud. Why can't we all fart together? Let thy arse make wind!"

It is my pleasure to introduce you to the late, great Timothy Carey, possibly the weirdest of all Hollywood character actors. A follower of Salvador Dalí and Le Pétomane, Carey was a Method actor who was pals with John Cassavetes, a muse of sorts for Stanley Kubrick, alleged discoverer of both Frank Zappa and Ray Dennis Steckler, and one of the dedicatees of Reservoir Dogs. Not only that, he wrote, directed, and starred in one of the all-time strangest American films, The World's Greatest Sinner, and wrote and directed the world's only Dalí-inspired play about death by flatulence.

Against all odds, Timothy Carey has a website, and if you're interested, you can buy his movies, posters, and other odds 'n' ends (warning: doesn't appear to have been updated particularly recently).

Truly, in the words of his tombstone, "A Super Nova of Original Thespian Talent."
posted by Dr. Wu (12 comments total)

(Post inspired by a recent re-viewing of The Monkees' nutzoid film Head, in which Carey appears.)
posted by Dr. Wu at 12:31 AM on December 29, 2004

Oops - sorry for the formatting glitch(es). Please to have leniency.
posted by Dr. Wu at 12:35 AM on December 29, 2004

Adored by Kubrick and Cassavetes? Damn. I'm ashamed of myself for not having heard of him before. Thanks for the introduction.
posted by shmegegge at 2:57 AM on December 29, 2004

"World's Greatest Sinner" was also one of Zappa's first paying gigs in terms of film scores. I'd love to get my hands on a copy as it looks truly bizarre!
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 6:36 AM on December 29, 2004

Great googly moogly. I always wondered who that guy was. Great post. Thanks.

Kevin: looks like you can buy it through the website.
posted by googly at 6:43 AM on December 29, 2004

I'll be checking out Sinner. I should have been paying more attention after The Killing.

It's also high time to re-check Killing of a Chinese Bookie.

Thanks, Dr. Wu.
posted by hackly_fracture at 7:40 AM on December 29, 2004

I just bought my pops the critertion collection of Cassavetes work and rewatched Killing of A Chinese Bookie, "I'm Great!". Nice post, Dr. Wu.
posted by Divine_Wino at 7:56 AM on December 29, 2004

Timothy Carey is most excellent in Kubrick’s the Killing. What might have been a otherwise throw away role is made substantial and memorable by this remarkably strange guy. Imagine what Godfather 3 might have been like if Coppola actually cast him instead of Eli Wallach as Don Altobello.

For those who have not seen it “The World's Greatest Sinner” it is heartily recommended (I own a copy myself). It is truly a completely independent movie filmed on the weekends over years & is wonderfully unique exploring everything from politics, atheism, pedophilia, geriatric sex, Catholic guilt, Rock N’ Roll, and Satan in its rather short 90 minutes.
posted by Ashwagandha at 9:43 AM on December 29, 2004

I've read so many crazy things about TWGS I'm almost afraid to see it. Never knew about the all these other connections however.

And yes, in fact, I do remember the guy who shoots the horse! Cool post.
posted by stinkycheese at 11:24 AM on December 29, 2004

Suprnova?
posted by TwelveTwo at 12:11 PM on December 29, 2004

I will definately be checking out 'The World's Greatest Sinner'. Thanks for the post.
posted by codeofconduct at 11:38 PM on December 30, 2004

Thank you Dr.Wu the Kubrick site is very enjoyable to read.
ditto on T.W.G.S. well done!
posted by hortense at 12:00 AM on December 31, 2004