This "Rat Pack" film starred Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby and Peter Falk. A pre-King Tut Victor Buono co-starred, along with future Batman "window" cameo guests Sammy Davis, Jr., and Edward G. Robinson. Most importantly, the female lead was played by Nora Clavicle herself, Barbara Rush.
In the film, Ms. Rush played Marian, who, by the end of the story, became the head of Chicago's underworld in the 1920s. Not only that, she used as a front organization, the "Women's League for Better Government"! In addition, a hoodlum in Robin's gang was always knitting!!
There was a plan to eliminate two gangsters by putting both of them inside the cornerstone of a building constructed to house a company that made double pretzel twists. Was this the seed of the idea of the Siamese Human Knot? Perhaps, but I think there is more compelling evidence that the Siamese Human Knot was inspired by -
The Milton Bradley game, Twister, was released February 3, 1966. As this was less than two years before the Human Knot's debut on January 18, 1968, the possibility of influence is obvious.
Here is a picture of three young ladies in their attire of choice for a game of Twister.
This adds nothing to my argument, but I like it!
I suspect that the Siamese Human Knot may have influenced the creation of the Pilobolus dance company. The company was founded in 1971, less than three years after the Human Knot episode originally aired.
Monica Hayde describes Pilobolus: "They build bridges of arms and legs, towers of contorted torsos...two female dancers flow around and over one other, lifting and carrying each other in an athletic, sensual manner normally associated with a coed couple. And Pilobolus' men are often linked in strange gymnastic postures and powerful entwined poses."
Judge for yourself -
The influence of the Siamese Human Knot continues in today's pop culture -
Cover of Issue #0 of Image Comics' Gen13