“Mack the Knife” is a famous song from “The
Threepenny Opera,” which opened in Berlin in 1928 and was introduced to
American audiences in 1933. “Meckie
Messer” is an approximation (mine) of how the Germans pronounced Mack the
Knife.
“Und
der Haifish, der hat Zahne
Und
die tragt er im Gesicht.
Und
Macheath, der hat ein Messer
Doch
das Messer sieht man nicht.”
“Oh,
the shark has pretty teeth, dear,
And
he shows ‘em, pearly white.
Just
a jackknife has Macheath, dear,
And
he keeps it out of sight.”
(Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "M" is for "Meckie")
In the
following conversation, Who is the well-known character they’re talking about?
“Take a look at this knife, Frank. We think you can help us. And maybe we’ll be able to help you.”
“Help me? I
don’t need no help. When you don’t do
nothin’ wrong, you don’t need help from cops.”
“Well, this was involved in a tense situation a couple
of days ago. Sort of a homicide. You know that girl everyone calls Jennie T?”
“Yeah; heard of her.
Seen her around. Why? She in trouble?”
“Worse. She’s
dead.”
“Oh. I don’t
suppose it’s worth pointing out that I had nothin’ to do with it.”
“No, but we think you know who did.”
“Tell me, maybe I seen too much TV, too much flimsy evidence, but are you the
good cop or the bad cop?”
“Oh, I’m a switch-hitter – good or bad, whatever the
situation calls for. Look, let’s cut to
the chase. We’re looking for your pal Meckie.
If that’s his name.”
“It’s his nickname, actually.”
“All we want to do is ask a few questions. You’ll be helping him if you let us know where
he is because we’ll be able to clear him that much faster.”
“Yeah, sure, I’d bet on that: all you want to do is
clear him.”
“And by the way, you know that Meier robbery that’s
been in all the papers? We’re pretty
sure he pulled that off. So there’s a hefty
reward if you want to cooperate.”
“I’ll tell you a funny thing about the guy, but
maybe you know it already. He does some
heavy stuff but no one ever pins anything on him and whenever they question him
he knows nothin’ about nothin’. You got
your work cut out, man.”
“But you had your disagreements, to say the least,
with him in the past. This is a chance
to get back at him.”
“I'm not hungry to get back at him because I don’t
want him to get back at me. Let me tell you about this guy; he doesn’t
even own a gun. He usually strolls
around with a just a knife, but you’d never see it until it was too late. So I guess I’ll have to turn down your
offer.”
(The
answer will be posted Saturday.)
30 comments:
If it's not Mack the Knife, I have no idea.
Roger Owen Green has popped up with the right answer.
Mack the Knife!
A correct answer has just arrived from Kathe W.
Mack Heath, perhaps. Is "Jenny T" the clue?
Completely stumped. Haven't a clue. No idea.
Doc FTSE has submitted the right answer.
Mac the Knife?
It was the butcher. My butcher uses a knife!
A correct answer now also from Little Nell.
Maybe if more people don't get it by Thursday, you ought to give them a hint. "Made famous by WRC," which really isn't all that helpful, now that I think of it.
Glad Roger got me off the hook! Happy M to you!
I'm really shit at this but the only thing I can think of, that's got no chance of being anywhere close is a character from The Outsiders.
Could this famous character be, Mack the Knife aka Mackie Messer?
Karen S has just coughed up the correct answer.
Is it Jack Macheath,
a character from
The Threepenny /Beggars Opera ?
Also, I think, the character is alluded to in the much covered song.
'Jack The Knife', made famous by Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin.
best wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.
Another right answer, this time from Trubes.
not a clue
Have no idea! I do better with your ancient history puzzles. :-)
Just found you at ABC, Berowne. Would this be Mack the Knife from the Threepenny Opera? Amy
Sharp Little Pencil has just given us the correct answer.
Perhaps this time the dude has taken a knife to a gun fight ?
I agreed with Helena. The first movie and characters that came to mind was from The Outsiders, and the character is Ponyboy.
All I could think of as I read this was the hit song "Mack the knife" based on "The Threepenny Opera". The song being a hit for Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darin and few others in the 1950s and later.
Another right answer has just blown in from Old Egg.
I'm humming Mac the Knife to myself but I'm not sure that's it at all
I have no idea...all I can think is Mack the Knife...
Rommy and Tess Kincaid, two more wih the correct answer.
I am staggered. I thought I was really clutching at straws!
One of those straws was the right answer. :-)
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