Sunday, April 5, 2015

264 Quiz Answer


“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:

Roger Owen Green said...

If it's not Mack the Knife, I have no idea.

Berowne said...

Roger Owen Green has popped up with the right answer.

Kathe W. said...

Mack the Knife!

Berowne said...

A correct answer has just arrived from Kathe W.

Doctor FTSE said...

Mack Heath, perhaps. Is "Jenny T" the clue?

Altonian said...

Completely stumped. Haven't a clue. No idea.

Berowne said...

Doc FTSE has submitted the right answer.

Little Nell said...

Mac the Knife?

Rosey Pinkerton said...

It was the butcher. My butcher uses a knife!

Berowne said...

A correct answer now also from Little Nell.

Roger Owen Green said...

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.

ellen b said...

Glad Roger got me off the hook! Happy M to you!

Helena said...

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.

21 Wits said...

Could this famous character be, Mack the Knife aka Mackie Messer?

Berowne said...

Karen S has just coughed up the correct answer.

Trubes said...

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.

Berowne said...

Another right answer, this time from Trubes.

Sheilagh Lee said...

not a clue

A Colorful World said...

Have no idea! I do better with your ancient history puzzles. :-)

Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil said...

Just found you at ABC, Berowne. Would this be Mack the Knife from the Threepenny Opera? Amy

Berowne said...

Sharp Little Pencil has just given us the correct answer.

Silent Otto said...

Perhaps this time the dude has taken a knife to a gun fight ?

Anonymous said...

I agreed with Helena. The first movie and characters that came to mind was from The Outsiders, and the character is Ponyboy.

Old Egg said...

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.

Berowne said...

Another right answer has just blown in from Old Egg.

Rommy said...

I'm humming Mac the Knife to myself but I'm not sure that's it at all

Tess Kincaid said...

I have no idea...all I can think is Mack the Knife...

Berowne said...

Rommy and Tess Kincaid, two more wih the correct answer.

Old Egg said...

I am staggered. I thought I was really clutching at straws!

Berowne said...

One of those straws was the right answer. :-)

 
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