Alexa here. Madonna turns 53 today. Her profile seems relatively low-key lately; sometimes I feel like I'm reading more about Lourdes than her mom. But this bit of kitsch I saw for sale on etsy the other day brought me back to the days of the Madonna media juggernaut.
That's right, a set of Dick Tracy and Breathless Mahoney dolls from 1990. Yes, I am old enough to remember seeing this movie in the theater. A month prior to its release I had tickets to Madonna's Blonde Ambition tour and alas, she canceled because of throat issues (later memorably documented in Truth or Dare). At the time, Madonna called Dick Tracy the "best movie I've ever been in." After lining up to see it opening night I strongly disagreed, and not just because I was still stung by her concert cancellation. This was Warren Beatty telling a tale full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Madonna Marble!There are quite a few Dick Tracy curios up for sale now, including an opening night t-shirt (that acted as your admission ticket for midnight screenings), marbles, and a scarf.
It's hilarious to see this tie-in merchandise so long after a film has come and gone. You can see how strong the studio backing was, how high hopes were for a franchise. And today, I'd probably rather watch Filth and Wisdom than sit through Dick Tracy again.