Word: parvenues
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...with $1,400,000 of his own money. In May, he scored a triumphal 50,000-vote primary upset over the Democrats' machine-backed candidate, and badly shook both parties. While the Republicans tried feverishly to anticipate Shapp's strategy, Democratic bigwigs belatedly sought to win the parvenu's allegiance. At a banquet in Harrisburg, ex-Governor David Lawrence, longtime Democratic kingmaker, allowed: "Crow should have been the main dish. I must admit I am eating mine." Shapp thereupon served him another portion. After the dinner, he charged-with some reason-that Lawrence's organization...
Neither May nor Keino is exactly a parvenu-except to the mile. A sturdy 23-year-old whose father was killed fighting with the Wehrmacht in World War II, May holds the world mark for 1,000 meters. He earns his living as a sports reporter for an East German daily newspaper, gets all the time off (with pay) he needs to compete abroad and pursue a carefully supervised regimen that requires him to run 50 mi. a week in practice. Keino, the world record holder at 3,000 and 5,000 meters, is a skinny...
Sure enough, Daisy turns out to be the reincarnation of one Melinda Moncrief, the daughter of an 18th century parvenu. Soon we have flashed back to the world of manor houses and wide green lawns, and the gayness which ensues virtually welcomes Mr. Lerner back to his element. Meanwhile Mark, the dashing young shrink, falls in love with Daisy as Melinda (the girl has changed her accent, remember?). Daisy discovers that Mark has fallen for her 18th century model and runs away in tears of frustration. Mark catches her at the airport where she miraculously reintegrates the various centuries...
...classic confrontation: potentate v. parvenu, defense v. offense. The Boston Celtics, National Basketball Association champions for six straight years, were the most successful team in the history of professional sport. The Philadelphia 76'ers did not even exist two years ago. The pride of the Celtics was Bill Russell (6 ft. 10 in.), the N.B.A.'s four-time Most Valuable Player, a brooding defensive genius who gobbles sleeping pills and vomits from tension before every game. The pillar of the 76'ers was Wilt The Stilt Chamberlain, a giant (7 ft. 1-1/16 in.) among giants...
...Best. Under the opening credits come the enchorial strains of God Save the Queen. The camera, floating through a limbo of pound-foolish British affluence, ogles a jeweled clip, a limousine, a blonde, a bottle of expensive brandy. Close behind, and sniffing, comes Alan Bates, steaming with parvenu dreams about an A-type lady and an E-type Jag. "It's a filthy, stinking world," Bates muses, "but there are some smashing things in it." By the time this cheeky, stylish, mordantly funny variation on Room at the Top is over, most of the smashing things...