I have this hazy memory of some film in the musical genre where an adult man finds whiskey bottles stowed in logs by using his thumbprint. Later in the film, a boy uses the same technique to bring the man a bottle. I’m thinking this is some version of Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn, but can’t seem to find a reference to it. Is this a real thing, or a false memory?
I’m going to give this a bump just because it’s such a pervasive memory. I’m a little amazed that no one is picking up on it. Anyone?
OK, perhaps I hallucinated the whole thing, but man…
It sure doesn’t ring any bells. But then, I’m not clear on how one would use his thumbprint to find a bottle in a log.
Just saw this thread. Unfortunately I can’t help other than to say that it sparked a memory with me too. As I recall though, it wasn’t his thumbprint. He would just hold his thumb out and sight along it (with one eye closed). Almost like he was using his thumb to dowse for it. I seem to remember it being a kid’s movie too. Maybe one of the Disney live action ones in the 60s-70s?
And I got it! Pete’s Dragon!!!
Huh. I saw Pete’s Dragon, all right. I never would have guessed that, and it doesn’t seem to fit memory-wise, but you seem to know your stuff. Gonna have to research that.
Looking on Wikipedia and IMDB, I believe it’s either Lampie (my best guess), the lighthouse keeper played by the inimitable Mickey Rooney or maybe Hoagy, the evil Doctor’s assistant played by Red Buttons.
The thing is, my VERY fuzzy memory is of a guy who looks like Victor French doing the initial divining while singing the song, and then the kid using the technique later to bring him a bottle. That doesn’t fit with Lampie, and none of the songs from Pete’s Dragon look to be about this topic. (We had the soundtrack when I was a kid, too.)
I don’t THINK it’s Pete’s Dragon, but I think you’re a lot warmer than I was. It probably is Disney from the 60s or 70s regardless.
Okay, then. It might also have been Tom Sawyer (1973). Huff is the town drunk and he, Tom, and Huck have a song together (A Man’s Gotta Be (What He’s Born to Be) ). If it’s not that, I’m out of options…
The closer I look, the more I think that has to be it. Zakalwe, I am sorry I ever doubted you.
That’s okay. For a while I was convinced it was Pete’s Dragon. Funny thing though, I clearly remember seeing the scene you’re talking about, but I can’t remember the last time I saw that version of Tom Sawyer. It must have been a tv replay in the late 70s and yet somehow it stuck.