Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: moto on June 23, 2024, 10:39:23 AM
-
I saw The Bikeriders yesterday at a theater and strongly recommend it, especially to any here who rode in the sixties. There are plenty of good reviews online that emphasize the excellent acting, cinematography, and recreation of the historical setting, as well as the thinness of the plot.
Few, if any, of the reviewers have actually read the text in Danny Lyon's photojournalism book on the Chicago Outlaws, on which the story is based. I have and can report that almost all the scenes in at least in the first two-thirds of the movie are taken directly from the accounts of participants. The lines spoken by the actors are typically word-for-word from their characters' accounts as reported by Lyon in his book. The movie seems to be almost completely authentic, apart from the over-representation of Harleys compared with the photos in the book. A good way to spend two hours.
-
Just a note of followup. The movie's proportion of truth and fiction is addressed in a number of websites. I won't give anything away about this, but point toward two:
https://screenrant.com/the-bikeriders-movie-true-story-accuracy-nichols-response/ (https://screenrant.com/the-bikeriders-movie-true-story-accuracy-nichols-response/) -- this one has links to additional sources
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/real-story-behind-bikeriders-danny-lyon-photography-book-inspired-it-180984579/ (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/real-story-behind-bikeriders-danny-lyon-photography-book-inspired-it-180984579/)
-
If my memory is correct, Lyon's photo of Crossing the Ohio River was the inspiration for making the film.
(https://i0.wp.com/www.obscuragallery.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Lyon-007-Crossing-the-Ohio-River-near-Louisville-1966-scaled.jpg?fit=1600%2C1104&ssl=1)
(https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/448927050_1043124467815726_3420404927966288371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=v0wHA_AUDRYQ7kNvgE90eiW&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBM4eAUlDCuYqh4eOeibEppmU-MNRQ2jjZCgXnTjewEDQ&oe=66821E25)
-
Ill watch it when it makes it to YouTube free streaming. The beauty of barely watching movies over the years is the availability of unseen movies all over YouTube for when I am homebound.
-
Looks like a fun way to spend a couple of hours on a hot afternoon. I like the current theatre setup where you can recline, lift your legs, and enjoy a cold beer, with your popcorn! :thumb:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrSaVt5pvPk
-
Yessir, I’ve had the book quite a while now and will be seeing the movie this week.
I agree, the plot does seem thin, but, there is not a lot to build a script from in the book.
:bike-037:
-
I was given a soft cover in 1969 and later bought a hard cover version. What was going on in the midwest seemed to parallel our Western New York subculture. The Road Vultures being the predominant group. Tough guys you didn’t want to mess but seemed less about hard core criminal activity back then. The movie is on my to do list.
Pete
-
Thanks for this. I'm
not a big fan of "biker" movies. But consider them a guilty pleasure. Liked them until "Billy Jack". (preachy and over the top, the original "Born Losers" was campy and cool). Read Thompson's book and learned the truth.
I remember the photo book this was based on.
I read these actors didn't even ride. I'm a fan M Shannon too.
Anyway. Thought I'd wait for cable. But the recommend here makes me want to see it after I saw the music list.
Maybe I'll see it
-
Thanks for this....
I read these actors didn't even ride. I'm a fan M Shannon too.
I believe Shannon was the only one who didn't ride. Director Jeff Nichols said in an interview:
"“To be honest, all of them had to go through training. Now, some guys took to it better than others. Sadly, for everyone, Michael Shannon wasn’t allowed to get near a motorcycle. We barely let him lean on a motorcycle,” he said with a laugh on the ReelBlend podcast."
!
-
1%ers are all fun and games until they impose their “freedom” on you and your hard work. Btdt. Real world isn’t tv movie crap Not interested.
Edit- fwiw. I cut this job for a good friend that we knew as Dog Morgan.
(https://i.ibb.co/TRPKbWg/IMG-1967.png) (https://ibb.co/TRPKbWg)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rabtNu5Nat8
Morgan was a fully patched Outlaw for years, including years in federal prison, before renouncing that lifestyle, accepting Christ and speaking very clearly about his new perception of the futility of that world. He was a regular at the shop. At one of our early events (2004) a local HA prospect literally beat down that skinny 125 lb 70+ yr old man for wearing a “support your local outlaws” tshirt to deliberately refute HA imposition.
We dealt with HA becoming a growing presence at our rally, posting lieutenants to screen and intercept anyone riding in with unapproved paraphernalia in their territory, etc, etc. it literally came to the point of gunplay between HA, an unapproved individual and city police at the rally in 2014. Thankfully, no one was actually shot or injured and the hosting “supporters” realized how deadly such situations can become so they curiously no longer were in town during subsequent rally events….
especially since SoA garbage, too many think 1% stuff is just some innocuous part of motorcycle culture. It may be, until they come into your town and start dictating their perspective.
-
This movie, not a TV movie, certainly reinforces your points. But if you're not interested, don't see it. I have never, and never would, watch Sons of Anarchy, for the reasons you give.
-
This movie, not a TV movie, certainly reinforces your points. But if you're not interested, don't see it. I have never, and never would, watch Sons of Anarchy, for the reasons you give.
Thanks for telling me what to do, Moto. The irony clarifies my point very well…..
-
Thanks for telling me what to do, Moto. The irony clarifies my point very well…..
Sorry. I don't see the irony, or how it clarifies your point, but don't need to know.
-
I believe Shannon was the only one who didn't ride. Director Jeff Nichols said in an interview:
"“To be honest, all of them had to go through training. Now, some guys took to it better than others. Sadly, for everyone, Michael Shannon wasn’t allowed to get near a motorcycle. We barely let him lean on a motorcycle,” he said with a laugh on the ReelBlend podcast."
!
Saw it this afternoon. I'll give it a "B". No real plot, the bikes and styles looked legit, a good feel for '60s-'70's. The photobook was basically the storyboard for the movie itself. In the end, it was just another biker movie but with top notch actors.
spoiler question (move on)
The only plot guess was the Bugeater, I'm guess they murdered the guys that beat him up and then winged him to make it look like self defense? Hard to figure since there was a missing scene.
-
hollywood garbage
-
hollywood garbage
Insightful review.
The two things that set it apart from Hollywood garbage in my own opinion are, first that 70% of the dialogue is from recorded interviews in 1965. All those characters' soliloquies are from real life. Second, the photography is based on and really an homage to the great photographs in Lyon's book. Some Hollywood plotting has admittedly been added to make the small book into a full movie, but I had to do some googling to find that out. Maybe you have to buy the book to enjoy the movie.
-
I’ll watch it at home when it streams for rent. I noticed today that services have raised the price again for 1st run movies from $19.99 to 24.99 to RENT and up to $31.99 to buy. I’ll wait until a price cut goes below that profit margin to rent it.
Since cell phones became so prevalent and general public decorum had taken such a nose dive I’ve lost my enthusiasm for attending in theater. These two developments were the primary reason why I sunk a good chunk of change into building a modular home theater in the basement as we were finishing it last year. I realized with the newer flatscreens (I’m up to 85 inches currently but have room to go larger) and Bluetooth speakers and the privacy with no distractions I’m never going back. Now if I could just make some decent popcorn…
Back to the movie…saw the trailers and am interested. I like all bikes and look forward to watching it. While I like Tom Hardy I’m beginning to think he’s pretty one dimensional. In all his roles he seems to be the same character just in different movies. He’s good mind you but it’s getting a little stale (to me at least).
Forgot to add….Cliffrod…watched your video. Simply spectacular craftsmanship. I’m glad a marine was the recipient of that.
-
Looking forward to seeing it.I grew up about a mile from the CiceroIL bar where the pool table scenes take place and am curious to see any Chicago locales.In the 70s if you bike was stolen and you knew the right guy with the Outlaws,it could be ransomed if not already parted out.Interesting that the author was able to hang out and photograph Civil rights marchers and about as big a group of racists and criminals then living.Too bad we don’t have politicians able to do that today.
-
Looking forward to seeing it.I grew up about a mile from the CiceroIL bar where the pool table scenes take place and am curious to see any Chicago locales.In the 70s if you bike was stolen and you knew the right guy with the Outlaws,it could be ransomed if not already parted out.Interesting that the author was able to hang out and photograph Civil rights marchers and about as big a group of racists and criminals then living.Too bad we don’t have politicians able to do that today.
Interesting, I grew up in that area in the 50's & 60's, went to Morton H.S. Don't remember anything about biker gangs back then. Maybe I missed it. I'll have to check the movie out. We just re-watched "Best Bar in America", now that's a decent biker flick!
-
While I like Tom Hardy I’m beginning to think he’s pretty one dimensional. In all his roles he seems to be the same character just in different movies. He’s good mind you but it’s getting a little stale (to me at least).
He is good at it though! Typical typecasting for someone who looks like him. Don't think anyone has him in mind to play a famous cellist. I liked him most as Eames, the forger, in Inception. One of few roles where his character was given more mind than muscle.
Here's a good video with Jeff Milburn, best known as a stuntman but he also sourced the bikes for the film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGtqg24cO6o
And the actors:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaCLY0uafJA
-
I’ll watch it at home when it streams for rent. I noticed today that services have raised the price again for 1st run movies from $19.99 to 24.99 to RENT and up to $31.99 to buy. I’ll wait until a price cut goes below that profit margin to rent it.
Since cell phones became so prevalent and general public decorum had taken such a nose dive I’ve lost my enthusiasm for attending in theater. These two developments were the primary reason why I sunk a good chunk of change into building a modular home theater in the basement as we were finishing it last year. I realized with the newer flatscreens (I’m up to 85 inches currently but have room to go larger) and Bluetooth speakers and the privacy with no distractions I’m never going back. Now if I could just make some decent popcorn…
Back to the movie…saw the trailers and am interested. I like all bikes and look forward to watching it. While I like Tom Hardy I’m beginning to think he’s pretty one dimensional. In all his roles he seems to be the same character just in different movies. He’s good mind you but it’s getting a little stale (to me at least).
Forgot to add….Cliffrod…watched your video. Simply spectacular craftsmanship. I’m glad a marine was the recipient of that.
Thank you for the compliment and thank you for your service. Morgan was not a man who retired well to a life of luxury, but he was a sincere friend and asked me about a stone shortly before he died. He was a true guru at the shop and meant a lot to all of us, so we did it as a group effort. Some others pitched in for stone and other costs and I did my part. I got his boots and some of his irises to plant. Really special job to cut for an old friend. It was also the last stone that will be installed in that graveyard, which was a special opportunity to shine.
I agree with your comments on Tom Hardy. As much as I like watching a movie with him in it, everything he does is beginning to look like the same movie.
-
Just saw it with my daughter and enjoyed it quite a lot. I was especially impressed with Jodie Comer's performance!
I've had Danny Lyon's book in my collection for many years and I am especially impressed with how true they kept to it. Of course just watching and listening to a bunch of old Harleys was worth the ticket price.
I will go see it again before it leaves the big screen. Not many movies, even good ones, I can say that about.
-
Looking forward to seeing it.I grew up about a mile from the CiceroIL bar where the pool table scenes take place and am curious to see any Chicago locales.In the 70s if you bike was stolen and you knew the right guy with the Outlaws,it could be ransomed if not already parted out.Interesting that the author was able to hang out and photograph Civil rights marchers and about as big a group of racists and criminals then living.Too bad we don’t have politicians able to do that today.
The movie was filmed in Cincinnati, KY/OH
-
Just what our community of MOTORCYCLISTS needs - another BIKER movie! 🙄
-
Just saw it with my daughter and enjoyed it quite a lot. I was especially impressed with Jodie Comer's performance!
I've had Danny Lyon's book in my collection for many years and I am especially impressed with how true they kept to it. Of course just watching and listening to a bunch of old Harleys was worth the ticket price.
I will go see it again before it leaves the big screen. Not many movies, even good ones, I can say that about.
We saw it yesterday afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed the film.
-
I remember shovelheads as first two harleys of mine were (73 + 74) . I've not seen movie yet.
Here is the MC background story of the movie for us >>
https://americanrider.com/american-motorcycle-features/jeff-milburn-behind-the-scenes-of-the-bikeriders/2024/06/19
-
I remember shovelheads as first two harleys of mine were (73 + 74) . I've not seen movie yet.
Here is the MC background story of the movie for us >>
https://americanrider.com/american-motorcycle-features/jeff-milburn-behind-the-scenes-of-the-bikeriders/2024/06/19
Good read and video of Milburn.
-
Just what our community of MOTORCYCLISTS needs - another BIKER movie! 🙄
Danny Lyon, the author of the book by the same title, explained that bikerider was a common name for motorcycle riders in general in the Midwest when he rode in the 1960s. He said it did not mean what biker means now. Just so you know. I remember saying we rode bikes without implying we were bikers in the sense popular now.
-
OK, perhaps….but this movie certainly portrays “bike riders” as the gang-associated, violent, antisocial types; does it not?
-
Just saw it with my daughter and enjoyed it quite a lot. I was especially impressed with Jodie Comer's performance!
I've had Danny Lyon's book in my collection for many years and I am especially impressed with how true they kept to it. Of course just watching and listening to a bunch of old Harleys was worth the ticket price.
I will go see it again before it leaves the big screen. Not many movies, even good ones, I can say that about.
At Last someone has mentioned the name of Jodie Comer. Thank you Dave Swanson :grin:
-
Danny Lyon, the author of the book by the same title, explained that bikerider was a common name for motorcycle riders in general in the Midwest when he rode in the 1960s. He said it did not mean what biker means now. Just so you know. I remember saying we rode bikes without implying we were bikers in the sense popular now.
I watch YouTube motorcycle content from around the world and biker is used for motorcyclist frequently in other countries.
-
At Last someone has mentioned the name of Jodie Comer. Thank you Dave Swanson :grin:
She was extraordinary.
-
Have never called myself a biker.
Motorcyclist, yes. Biker, no.
-
OK, perhaps….but this movie certainly portrays “bike riders” as the gang-associated, violent, antisocial types; does it not?
Not exactly the intent of the founder of this particular gang though it does change to what you describe in the later part of the film.
-
Not exactly the intent of the founder of this particular gang though it does change to what you describe in the later part of the film.
The movie is not a very good guide to history. The Outlaws were actually founded in the mid 1930s, not by the person indicated in the film.
I remember in the 60s my friends and I rode bikes and we never called them motorcycles. Later on, the press decided to label the outlaw gangs "bikers." That stuck, and before long many people who rode bikes were prissily saying that they weren't bikers but "motorcyclists." Now the standard meaning of bike is a bicycle, and some of us ride in distinguished gentlemens' rides. I have always been a bike rider. If someone mistakes that for being a biker, I correct them and change the subject.
The movie describes a watershed period when combative, territorial thugs became less interested in parties and picnics, and turned into organized crime racketeers. I don't know about the truth of this.
It's a good movie, half documented fact. I'll go see it again tomorrow. I see that it is beginning to leave local screens. By the way, movie theaters have improved quite a lot since the days of sticky popcorn on the floor and close-quarter seats. Now the seats are big and there are a few people in the theater. The price is only nine dollars for seniors in the matinee this week. That's a lot less than the streaming price will be, I think.
-
"The movie is not a very good guide to history"
Yes, I understand that but for the convenience of film time I understand why the movie is a relatively short snapshot in time.
I do have a couple of complaints about the film's writing but I wouldn't comment on them given that some people have not seen the film but I did find the ending to be unlikely given the rider.
-
"The movie is not a very good guide to history"
Yes, I understand that but for the convenience of film time I understand why the movie is a relatively short snapshot in time.
I do have a couple of complaints about the film's writing but I wouldn't comment on them given that some people have not seen the film but I did find the ending to be unlikely given the rider.
My GF and I felt the same.
-
Have never called myself a biker.
Motorcyclist, yes. Biker, no.
I say Motorcycle Enthusiast.
-
Red and I caught a matinee showing of Bikeriders today.
We thought it was a fantastic snapshot of a place and time.
Great sets, wardrobe, filming, and acting. Great music.
Kathy's narration kind of reminded me of Henry's narration in Good Fellas.
Can't wait to see it again.
-
I did find the ending to be unlikely given the rider.
But the real Kathy and Benny did exactly in real life what the movie's characters did at the end of the movie. And were together until her death later in life. Search around and there is some reading. Lyon spoke with Benny (and some others who are portrayed) before the movie project began. It was during one of the conversations that Benny told Lyon that the famous pool table photo is not of him. LOL.
-
FWIW
We went to see The Bikeriders this morning, the main attraction being Jodie Comer who starred in Killing Eve.
Although the violence was off-putting, it held our attention for the whole two hours, being a very well told story :grin:
-
FWIW
We went to see The Bikeriders this morning, the main attraction being Jodie Comer who starred in Killing Eve.
Although the violence was off-putting, it held our attention for the whole two hours, being a very well told story :grin:
More off putting for me was the 20 minutes of horror movie previews the theater showed prior to Bikeriders. It was disgusting.
-
One of the outlaws who murdered 3 people in the late 90s.Madman Miller is requesting compassionate release from prison.He and fellow outlaw cut the throats of sa 74 year old couple who ran a cycle shop in Richmond ILThe McHenry County cops coerced a confession from the couples son who was sentenced to death and sat in prison for 3 years until the FBI found the real killers.Madmans Judge said he wished he could have given the death penalty,so Madman’s chances don’t look great.
-
But the real Kathy and Benny did exactly in real life what the movie's characters did at the end of the movie. And were together until her death later in life. Search around and there is some reading. Lyon spoke with Benny (and some others who are portrayed) before the movie project began. It was during one of the conversations that Benny told Lyon that the famous pool table photo is not of him. LOL.
OK, that makes it acceptable given the accuracy of what happened. I don't believe that I would have made that choice but different times than now.
-
The movie is not a very good guide to history. The Outlaws were actually founded in the mid 1930s, not by the person indicated in the film.
Seeing the movie has inspired me to do a little reading.
As I understand it, John Davis is noted as founder of the McCook Outlaws, the core of the club being Electro-Motive employees. The original riding club was formed in 1935, but languished until after WWII. It was originally an AMA sanctioned riding club, but was one of the first of the clubs kicked out of AMA, the "1%" of undesirables, according to the AMA honchos. In 1946 The Outlaws had a big rally at Soldier Field in Chicago and the club began to grow. Lots of surplus US Army Harleys and veterans wanting to ride spurred a spike in motorcycling after the war.
Early on, uniforms were of the 1940s western-influenced style with just a skull on the back of the shirt. Apparently John was inspired by the BRMC jackets in The Wild One movie of 1953 and added the crossed pistons to the skull logo.
It was John Davis who was killed in the parking lot in Chicago during the power struggle with the Milwaukee Outlaws in the 1970s.
So, although the movie compressed time, left out some things, and changed others, John Davis, like Kathy, Benny, and other core characters are real people being portrayed in a Historical Fiction story.
(https://i.ibb.co/tDc41K9/TELEMMGLPICT000370436655-17104281305620-trans-Nv-BQz-QNjv4-Bqq-Vzuuqp-Fly-LIwi-B6-NTm-Jwf-SVWe-Z-v-E.webp) (https://ibb.co/tDc41K9)
-
Finally have seen it. I digged the old bikes, though most everything else about that lifestyle I've no use for.
Must have been tough/sad to see an idea turn into a runaway train as it morphed into something not intended.
That there was a parallel universe running where you could "meet the nicest people on a Honda" almost seems absurd. I'm definitely glad to see this movie get made. I enjoy learning all aspects of motorcycle history.
-
Must have been tough/sad to see an idea turn into a runaway train as it morphed into something not intended.
After thinking about the various parts of the story's narrative, that's the real gut punch. Johnny and Benny, and the other greasers, were being replaced with the hippie gangsters. There was pressure to expand, and the more they expanded the worse it got. The club that was started for the love of riding motorcycles to work all week, then racing scrambles on the weekend, was changing more and more, faster and faster, with no way to stop the runaway train.
As I get older, I can totally relate to the sad feeling of time passing me by.
The story wasn't a total downer. Kathy won. She got Benny, and they escaped to civilian life, living (mostly) happily ever after...
Kathy narrating the story from the perspective of a club member's wife was genius. The holes in the story could remain holes, because the story was from her perspective and she couldn't know everything. Club business is club business, and the wives/girlfriends don't know what they don't know.
-
Seeing the movie has inspired me to do a little reading.
As I understand it, John Davis is noted as founder of the McCook Outlaws, the core of the club being Electro-Motive employees. The original riding club was formed in 1935, but languished until after WWII. It was originally an AMA sanctioned riding club, but was one of the first of the clubs kicked out of AMA, the "1%" of undesirables, according to the AMA honchos. In 1946 The Outlaws had a big rally at Soldier Field in Chicago and the club began to grow. Lots of surplus US Army Harleys and veterans wanting to ride spurred a spike in motorcycling after the war.
Early on, uniforms were of the 1940s western-influenced style with just a skull on the back of the shirt. Apparently John was inspired by the BRMC jackets in The Wild One movie of 1953 and added the crossed pistons to the skull logo.
It was John Davis who was killed in the parking lot in Chicago during the power struggle with the Milwaukee Outlaws in the 1970s.
So, although the movie compressed time, left out some things, and changed others, John Davis, like Kathy, Benny, and other core characters are real people being portrayed in a Historical Fiction story.
(https://i.ibb.co/tDc41K9/TELEMMGLPICT000370436655-17104281305620-trans-Nv-BQz-QNjv4-Bqq-Vzuuqp-Fly-LIwi-B6-NTm-Jwf-SVWe-Z-v-E.webp) (https://ibb.co/tDc41K9)
I was about to post my own historical revision, after googling and reading more.
In his own preface to his book, written between 1966 and 1968, Lyon distinguishes the McCook Outlaws from the Chicago Outlaws, as follows. "The oldest remembered outlaw club in the Midwest is the McCook Outlaws, which existed in the late thirties and disbanded in 1947, when most of its surviving members became policemen in Chicago and its suburbs. In the early fifties the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club was formed by bikeriders who had been meeting informally on the west side of the city. In 1958 the president of the club, who is now a motorcycle racer, tried to change the group into a competition club that would require its members to race occasionally. Opposition developed among the membership and the club split, half the riders going with Johnny Davis, a transit truck driver. Johnny retained the club colors and is still the president of the Outlaws today." This squares pretty well with what the movie represented.
Some parties have their own interests in mythologizing the origins of the club. This includes the Outlaws themselves, who claim, contrary to Lyon's earlier statement, that they are descendants of the McCook Outlaws, and thereby claim they were founded in 1935 (http://www.outlawsmc.com/history.html (http://www.outlawsmc.com/history.html)). I tried to think of a historical source that might be more objective, and found the FBI's 1991 report on outlaw motorcycle gangs which stated that the Outlaws were "born" in Chicago in 1959 (https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/147691NCJRS.pdf (https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/147691NCJRS.pdf)). So I think Lyon's report is believable.
Your included photo is fascinating. This really must be Johnny Davis and his wife, shown as they were in 1965 (taking the date right off the license plate). The same couple appears in a photo in his scrapbook, shown on page 20 of Lyon's book. To me, he doesn't look old enough to have founded the Outlaws 30 years previously. I don't remember any reference to his wife being called "Gloria" in the movie, though his wife did appear in a scene where she reminded him to pick up some eggs (or bread?) while he was out. I wonder what the public address speaker is doing on Johnny's handlebars -- maybe it's there to address his club during picnics?!
I am now sure, like you, that the basic story being told was historical, a historical fiction. It's also a darn fine movie, and is on the list of the best movies so far of 2024 at the Washington Post (https://pb-impact.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/movies/2024/best-movies-2024/ (https://pb-impact.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/movies/2024/best-movies-2024/)).
-
Maybe his wife wasn’t on the run where he gave Gloria a ride.
-
Your included photo is fascinating.
What caught my eye was the Laidlaw's license plate frame (they're a SoCal dealer), bolted to a full-dress 'glide, rather than a ratty chopper.
Historical fiction always gets inside my head, forcing me to search out the reality that the fiction is based on. This movie really did it for me. LOL!
-
Maybe his wife wasn’t on the run where he gave Gloria a ride.
If that woman in the photo isn't his wife, and is also in his scrapbook, he's gonna have some 'splainin to do if his wife ever opens the scrapbook.