The Gift of Gab

Posted by Gilberto Cintron
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The term Gift of Gab is probably best know from a black and white film by the same title in which actor Edmund Lowe, stars as a man with the "Gift of Gab".



While the movie was released in 1934 by Universal Pictures, the term originates from an old Irish myth that states that anyone that kisses the Blaney Stone will accquitre the gift of "eloquence and persuasion" aka Gift of Gab, or the ability to talk anyone into anything.



In the 1967 20th Century Fox released a more modern version of Gift of Gab, called the "Flim Flam Man". It is the story of Mordrcai Jones, played by George C. Scott, a rural con artist who takes on a young army deserter as his prot?g? and teaches him the tricks of the trade.




These days the term has come to be associated with with sales men, as in he has the gift of gab ? he can sell anyone anything, and with con artist, he has the gift of gab ? he can sell anyone anything.

The gift of gab is not a bad thing in and of itself. In fact it truely is a gift and wouldnt you want a lawyer with such a gift to defend you in court?

It only takes on a negitive connotation when it is associated with con artist, people that use their powers of eloquence and persuasion for ill means. For example a person with the gift of gab talks someone into investing in a losing venture as in a ponzi scam, think Bernnie Madeoff. Or someone with the "gift" makes someone or some people despise someone they feel threatened by.

Now that you have a little history for the Irish term of Gift of Gab, why not rent a movie. If you don't like old black and white movies (I love them), then settle for the 1967 comedy "The Flim Flam Man" I'm sure you will enjoy it.