The Original:  The titular left-wing playwright (John Turturro) comes a cropper when he tries to write a Wallace Beery wrestling pic in 1940s Hollywood.

Not the least of his problems is over-friendly Charlie Meadows (John Goodman) - aka decapitating psycho Madman Mundt.

The Sequel:  This is one that might actually happen, as Old Fink has been mooted by the Brothers as a future project.

In Joel's words, "It's the summer of love and [Fink is] teaching at Berkeley. He ratted on a lot of his friends to the House Un-American Activities committee."

Essential Scene:  Fink is picketed by Vietnam War protestors, forcing him to sleep in his office.  At which point, the wallpaper starts to slide off the walls.

Essential Dialogue: FINK - "My first duty has always been to the common man... but would it kill him to offer a little reciprocity in return?"