random randomness is random

[imwalde]

So I am randomly, idly changing channels, and I stumble across a movie (already in progress) I've never heard of called Dream Lover, which I linger on because it is starring Mädchen Amick and she is just the prettiest and I liked her on Twin Peaks. James Spader is in it, too, and the dad from 10 Things I Hate About You and the mom from My So-Called Life. I don't know anything about what's happening except that James Spader is a rich businessman just married to Mädchen Amick and he is developing Suspicions About Her.

Anyhow, imagine my suprise when this conversation happens not longer after I've flipped to the movie, that is from 1993, imdb tells me --

Blond Woman (maybe a business associate?): Personally, I prefer brains to beauty, don't you?

James Spader: Yes, um, yes, um, I..yeah.

BW: I mean I didn't endure the four years at Swarthmore in order to...

JS: (interrupting) You went to Swarthmore?

BW: Yes.

JS: So did my wife.

BW: Really.

JS: So what year were you?

BW: Swarthmore? 1983.

JS: Well, then did you know Lena Mathers?

BW: I don't think so. No. But those years were crazy. Between the frenzy for grades and jobs... you know then in the middle of all of that, the president of the college, Sam Shaw, died of a heart attack as he was speaking to us. I hardly remember my best friends!

+++

Anyway, so later that evening he is talking to Mädchen Amick and decides to test her--

+++

JS: By the way, what year were you at Swarthmore?

MA: 84, why?

JS: This woman who works for Morris, Celine Rogers, she was there at the same time.

MA: I don't remember her.

JS: No, she didn't remember you either. Remember Sam Shaw?

MA: Who?

JS: Died of a heart attack?

MA: Oh, he was a classmate. God, he died of a heart attack? It's scary, isn't it? Someone my age. Bad things can just come out of nowhere.

HAHA! So. Very. Random. I guess Swarthmore was famous enough to name drop? Cursory googling would have me believe that thing with the president didn't really happen, but there apparently was some quaker dude in the 18th century named Samuel Shaw whose papers the college has. No idea.

Has anyone seen this movie? I had to go to bed and only saw this random middle section. But it's like it was meant to be. But now I am wondering if I missed some climactic yelling in some later confrontation, all, YOU NEVER WENT TO SWARTHMORE!

Comments

[kid-prufrock.livejournal.com]

Though they might be referencing Theodore "Dorie" Friend, a president during the seventies (I think) who did die, very suddenly, while in office.

[imwalde.livejournal.com]

Aha! Maybe it should have, but it didn't occur to me that they might have changed the name. Now having searched better, it would appear that the name of the president who died in office was Courtney C. Smith, 1953-1969 (http://www.swarthmore.edu/x15741.xml). (Friend is still alive, best I can tell.)

9th president of Swarthmore College, 1953-1969. Courtney C. Smith (1916-1969) was named both President of the College and American Secretary of the Rhodes Scholarships in 1953. While a time of great growth and accomplishment, his presidency was marked by increasing tension from anti-war sentiment, pressure to increase the number of African American students, and changing social standards. In June 1968 Smith announced his resignation effective the fall of 1969 in order to head the Markle Foundation. On January 9, 1969, at the age of 52, he died of a heart attack suffered while in his office.

I never heard about that. Someone who wrote that movie MUST be an alum or somehow connected to Swat, otherwise that is just too obscure!