This morning brings the sad news that director Robert Altman died last night at a local hospital. We'll leave it up to legitimate news organization to properly contextualize the legend's place in Hollywood history; we instead prefer to remember one of Altman's late career highlights, this stolen moment on the set of A Prairie Home Companion, in which grizzled auteur and unrefined talent finally bonded. We're sure that wherever Altman is now, the supple, 19-year-old thighs to caress while imparting the wisdom collected over more than half a century in show business are all attached to eager, disciplined actresses who never miss a call time or show up to work too hungover to remember their lines.

• Director Robert Altman dead at 81 [AP]

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