By Jim Heffernan
In
a world where the greatest freshwater lake on the planet laps up on the shore
of the Zenith City of the Unsalted Seas, there is now showing a movie that was inspired
by the career of a native son – and nobody around here seems to notice.
I
noticed, viewing the wonderful comedy “In a World…” now showing (continuing the
week of Sept. 22) at the Zinema Theater in Downtown Duluth.
 |
| Movie poster for In a World |
Here’s
a brief premise of the movie, a la the Internet: “An underachieving voice coach
finds herself competing in the movie trailer voice-over profession against her
arrogant father and his protégé.” (Check out the official movie trailer on You Tube HERE.)
That
doesn’t do this screwball comedy a scintilla of justice, but it generally
describes the basic outline of the plot, a film written, directed and starring
a astonishingly talented writer, director and actor named Lake Bell.
Never
heard of her (yes, it’s a woman)? Neither had I. Trust me, she and the rest of
her cast of largely unknowns are wonderful. Go see it while it’s still showing
here.
 |
| Former Duluthian, Don La Fontaine, |
But
enough about the movie. It might never have been dreamed of had it not been for
the career of a native Duluthian, the late Don LaFontaine, who is seen briefly
in “In a World…” and mentioned numerous times by actors competing in the world
of narrating movie trailers, formerly known as “previews of coming
attractions.”
LaFontaine
was known as the king of movie trailer voices. He was also known in his world
as “Thunder Throat” and “The Voice of God.” In addition to narrating, he also
produced them and thousands of TV commercials among other related endeavors in
Hollywood in a lengthy career that ended with his death in 2008 at the age of
68.
LaFontaine
grew up in Duluth’s West End and graduated from Central High School in 1958.
After high school he did a stint in the Army, learning the intricacies of
studio voice and instrumental recording while serving. After his discharge he
caught on in that industry in New York City and ended up in Hollywood as the
king of movie trailers. One Internet reference says his net worth at the time
of his death was over $80 million.
He
is credited with creating numerous trailers opening with the words, “In a
world…” and going on to describe the world in which the movie is set. Thus the
title of Ms. Bell’s movie.
In
the world of Duluth in the 1950s, it’s doubtful that young LaFontaine could
ever have imagined he would some day be the inspiration for a movie showing in
a theater on his hometown’s main street, but there it is.
He
can’t see it, but you should.
To learn more about about Don...
- check out his own web site HERE;
- a nice biography written by David Ouse in his book, Forgotten Duluthians, and reprinted on Zenith City Online HERE;
- Don La Fontaine, the Voice, an interview on You Tube HERE;
- Wikipedia biography HERE
- the official movie trailer HERE
- a memorial web site that includes many You Tube videos of Don, including a very funny short, Five Guys in a Limo HERE
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