wisecrack

Soon, though, the wisecrack gives way to more sober ruminations.

A key hallmark of Murphy’s status is his voluminous gallery of offbeat characters — an impeccably attired prison convict, a clumsy professor, a wisecracking donkey, an elderly Jewish man and even an obese, abusive wife.

But the music is vintage Price, steeped in classic country, wisecracks and crisp storytelling.

Dobson's wisecracking style of magic saw him rise to prominence through the 1980s.

Instead of throwing Ripley into the grinder with a bunch of wisecracking, trigger-happy colonial marines, the story strands her on a prison planet and foundry where more than half the inmates view her as prey.