Search

A strange subject came up at ...

Question: A strange subject came up at work the other day. Who was the actor on the Paul Masson wine commercial of several years ago who said, "Drink no wine before its time?" Thank you.


Answer: Actually, Chris, that's sell no wine, as in, "We will sell no wine before its time." And that was no mere actor, mind you. That was the late, great Orson Welles, who, together with writer Howard Koch, scared the bejesus out of the entire country by convincing listeners of the too-real radio production War of the Worlds that we really were being invaded by aliens in 1938.

Welles, who was overweight and being treated for a heart condition and diabetes at the time of his death in 1985, was an actor, producer, writer and director who worked on 60 movies in his lifetime after kicking off his long showbiz career on the stage. He shilled for Masson and other companies for what he termed "grocery money," but he's probably best known for film masterpieces such as Citizen Kane, The Magnificent Ambersons and Touch of Evil, which was recently released in a celebrated director's cut.

So, what was the strange subject that came up at work?

Advertisement
TV Guide Exclusive Videos
091122photogallery_redcarpet1

Red Carpet Hits and Misses

Like January Jones' look? Vote on it and more of the best and worst celeb fashion statements

Shop

Buy The Magnificent Ambersons from Amazon.com

From A&E Home Video (DVD)
Average Customer Review: nostarnostarnostarstarstar
Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy New: $9.99 (as of 11:45 AM EST - more info)

Buy Walking Shadows: Orson Welles, William Randolph Hearst, and Citizen Kane (Ray and Pat Browne Book) from Amazon.com

From Popular Press 3 (Hardcover)
Average Customer Review: nostarnostarnostarnostarstar
Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy New: $26.60 (as of 11/21/09 5:18 PM EST - more info)

Buy Reconstructing American Historical Cinema: From Cimarron to Citizen Kane from Amazon.com

From The University Press of Kentucky (Paperback)
Average Customer Review: nostarnostarnostarnostarnostar
Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy New: $25.00 (as of 11/21/09 5:18 PM EST - more info)