A "Mean Scene": The Color Television Presentation Goes Wrong

A "side scene" only involving Dafoe as John Carpenter was very memorable. Its not my favorite scene in the movie, but it had shock value.

Dafoe's acting partner in the scene is Michael McKean -- who started out as part of "Lenny and Squiggy," and has worked for decades since, in Spinal Tap and Christoper Guest's improve comedy mockumentaries, and recently as the older brother on Better Call Saul.

In the scene, Crane's friend John Carpenter(played by Willem Dafoe) is in charge of the technical side of a 1960's demonstration of color television to a room full of big shots; McKean is leading the presentation. The colors on the TV screen are all wrong -- McKean nicely sends the VIPs out("There is coffee and Danish in the next room, gentlemen") and then gives Dafoe a reaming out("You son of a bitch! You're color blind , AREN'T YOU!!") and fires him on the spot.

I've never forgotten that bit of corporate villainy.