10.30.08 -- Lights, Camera, Action!

Director Erich von Stroheim

------------------

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Puzzle by Chuck Hamilton, edited by Will Shortz

DIRECTORSSHOUT (56A. What the ends of 20-, 35- and 42-Across are, collectively), along with NORTHERNLIGHTS (20A. So-called “fox fires”); VIDEOCAMERA (35A. Recording device); and CLASSACTION (42A. Certain lawsuit), are the interrelated entries of this Thursday crossword.

Ready for action are CFOS (19A. Money bigwigs, for short); a COOT (37D. Codger); COSTAS (4D. Longtime NBC Olympics host); 46A. Mother EARTH; ELMO (10A. Patron saint of sailors); OTIS (36D. Johnny with the 1958 hit “Willie and the Hand Jive”), ROMEO (61A. “See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!” speaker); SEUSS (49A. Who’s creator); SHUE (43D. “Leaving Las Vegas” actress); SNEAD (23A. Three-time P.G.A. Championship winner); 9. “Wake Up Little SUSIE”; 60A. TONI Sailer, three-time gold medalist; and whoever’s not in REHAB (48D. Detox centers).

The action also includes two pairs of plural/singular Shortzesque clues, BARNS (1D. Stock holders) and STORE (51D. Stock holder); along with FOLKS (5A. Parents) and REAR (58D. Parent) with a smattering of conversation -- ADIEU (15A. Godspeed) and SCRAM (50D. “Hit the road!”); NOLIE (53D. “I mean it!”); IMOK (66A. Reassuring words after an accident).

Long LEFTOVERS (11D. Take-home?) include ASTERISK (39D. Record follower, at times), EACHTIME (10D. On every single occasion); TEARSINTO (34D. Lambastes); followed in length by five-letter entries, alphabetically -- ARIAS (64A. “Mi chiamano Mimi” and others); DENTS (52A. List in an insurance report, maybe); DOMES (18A. Yosemite rock features); GUSTO (40A. Elan); KEELS (8D. Falls [over]); LIVID (29A. Infuriated); METRO (67A. Big city newspaper desk); ORION (2D. Night sky feature); OSTER (47A. Kitchen gadget brand); PESTO (28D. Penne topper); SCORE (3D. Get the point?); SEATO (24A. Intl. org. dismantled in 1977); STARK (55D. Desolate); STREP (25A. Penicillin target); TUTEE (54D. Socratic student).

Extras: AEON, ALTA, ARCO, ARTS (63A. Big area of philanthropy, with “the“), ASEA, BIER, BOSC, DATE, DORM, EDUC, ERAT, FADE, GALA, HDTV (21A. Modern show shower), IRAS, ISLA, LIMN, MOOS, NEDS, ODOR (6D. Repute), OMIT, ONS, PACE, PIT, RIGA, RIOS, SEEK, SOSO, SSE, TAI.

Here’s the final cut!

-----------------

For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

“All right Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up!“ Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, “Sunset Boulevard”, 1950

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription.

Xword information -- Across: 1. Fruit variety with a sweet-spiced flavor; 10. Patron saint of sailors; 14. ____ Arena (Kings’ home); 16. Geological range; 17. Uruguay and Paraguay; 32. Outdoor cooking spot; 38. Having shipped out; 41. “In principio ___ Verbum”; 62. B.C. neighbor; 65. Resting place; 68. Car radio mode. Down: 5. Wane; 7. Represent by drawing; 12. Calls to farmers; 13. Carry-___; 22. Certain ballroom event; 26. European capital; 27. Cabinet dept.; 32. A sergeant might ask soldiers to pick it up; 33. Espanola, for one; 44. ___ Point Lighthouse, Massachusetts landmark since 1838; 56. R.A.’s place; 57. Rule out; 59. Blah; 60. James Cavell’s “___-Pan”.