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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Thirty Nine: Juxtaposition – compare and contrast for meaning > Epitaph, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California, 2012
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15-AUG-2012

Epitaph, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California, 2012

Many of the tombs at this vast eternal gathering place of deceased Hollywood celebrities feature memorials left by fans and mourners. Most of them are floral offerings, but on this particular gravesite, someone has left cold cash, one cent to be exact. I discovered a copper penny balanced on the edge of the tomb plaque of George Raft, a movie star now mostly remembered for portraying the feared Chicago gangster “Spats Colombo” in Billy Wilder’s “Some Like it Hot,” in 1959. Raft’s real life association with actual mobsters gave his on-screen image added authenticity. Gangsters are essentially violent individuals who make money illegally. Raft memorably played them in films with such monetary titles as “Quick Millions,” “Hush Money,” “If I Had a Million,” and “I Stole a Million.” By juxtaposing a mere penny with Raft’s grave plate, someone has cleverly provided a symbolic epitaph for the actor who rests behind this marble slab. The lone penny echoes the bronze color of the lettering and seems to totter precariously near the edge the plaque. It symbolizes the transient nature of wealth and power, and links it to an iconic cinematic “tough guy.”

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Phil Douglis03-Sep-2012 00:02
I am glad that you were with me when I was making this image. We saw the penny as a symbol, but in differing ways. I am happy that you enjoyed my commentary on it. Furthermore, I am glad your presence verifies the fact that this penny was already there, left by someone with a sense of humor.
Iris Maybloom (irislm)02-Sep-2012 01:09
When I saw this penny precariously balanced on this simple plaque, I found it both amusing and curious. Your commentary provides an interesting spin on the presence of the penny and imbues this simple marker with meaning.
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