What is the big deal about having a French lover in a movie these days? They eat horrid-smelling cheese, don't bathe ver
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Randy-144 — 12 years ago(March 24, 2014 02:09 PM)
In
The Third Man
message board topic, "watered-down penicillin?", how come
pmiano100
and
Altho73
have gotten away with posting 48 pages of off-topic comments over a 6 and 1/2 year period regarding movie chiches, unbelievable scenes, and plot holes, in clear violation of the
Message Boards Etiquette
(see the tenth reason on the list
http://www.imdb.com/help/search?domain=helpdesk_faq&index=1&fi le=boardsetiquette
) and not have their comments removed by the IMDb administrator? I'm not complaining, mind you, just wondering.
I have found their observations quite entertaining. -
pmiano100 — 12 years ago(March 24, 2014 02:23 PM)
I have no idea. I didn't know we were breaking any etiquette rules. I apologize for that. You're the first person in nearly seven years to mention it. It got started quite accidentally when I commented that I liked that Holly was out of his depth throughout the film and didn't turn into a superhero like the protagonists in other films. Altho73 replied that he agreed and mentioned a cliche he disliked. The ball started rolling, stalling occasionally, but always it resumed snowballing. As you can see we haven't posted in some time, as Altho73 has had to hold off for personal reasons. I am totally sincere in saying that if you know a more appropriate venue where we could post and others could look in and contribute, please let me know. I know about the Sandbox, but I would like to transfer what we already have posted to it.I know too little about computers and the Internet to create our own website. I am bound by courtesy and friendship to consult with Altho73. I will send him a personal message with a copy of your post. I am flattered that you have found us entertaining. Neither of us meant any harm. Some people have suggested we write a book, but legally we can't. All our posts are now the property of IMDb.
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Altho73 — 11 years ago(April 24, 2014 12:30 PM)
Why is it that in virtually all American WW2 movies about the South Pacific it is always the US Marines that are the only ones involved in combat, whereas in reality this is far from the truth. British and Australian combat units were involved in Guadalcanal and US Army units were involved in Okinawa etc.
In Ryans Daughter, set in a small rural village somewhere in the south of Ireland shortly after the Easter rising in 1916, Ryan, Charles and the Father are talking to the British Army Corporal in the pub and Ryan asks the corporal if he was involved in the battle of Paschendale which didnt happen until Spring 1917.
In Dr Who, The Black Orchid the Doctor and his companions have landed in a British village in the 1920s where the Doctor is mistaken for a visiting cricket player. When Lord Cranleigh asks him if he is comparable to The Master the Doctor looks bemused. Lord Cranleigh then explains, you know The Master W G Grace. In reality W G Grace was actually known as The Doctor, it was Jack Hobbs that was known as The Master.
Why is it that in so many movies, (Line of Duty, Turks and Caicos and many others) when the hero goes to a bar with the glamorous woman she invariably turns out to be a champion pool player. How probable is this in reality??
In so many movies we see the leading lady walking by herself in a dark, eerie place like a forest or a deserted warehouse which raises the question, never satisfactorily answered why was she there in the first place and why didnt she have the common sense to get someone to accompany her.
Following on from the previous point the woman in question invariably runs into the man she was looking for in the first place OR the villain that she was desperate to avoid and these people dont just appear in the distance and walk or run towards her but they suddenly materialise right next to her.
The leading character (male or female) start belittling and running down their boss in front of dozens of people and just carry on and on despite the fact that some of the others are desperately trying to initimate to them that they should shut up. They never get the message that the subject in question has just walked into the room and is standing behind them.
Why is it that in period dramas based in the 1910s, 1920s, 1930s etc whenever thete are British upper class men they invariably always have long, floppy fringes whereas in real life it was not acceptable for British men to have any hair covering their foreheads during these eras.
In so many detective stories a big name actor/actress frequently appear in an unimportant bit part and rarely appear for the first half of the story, then in the second half they suddenly turn out to be either the murderer or an undercover detective who uncovers the murderer. (Why else would they be in the movie or drama?)
Why is it that in modern detective stories (British and American) the detectives are such arrogant, rude, obnoxious and bullying jerks that we the viewers dislike them so much that we side with the criminals. This never used to be the case with the older detective stories, (Sherlock Holmes, Poirot, Ellery Queen etc)
Why do so many of the characters in TV dramas, particularly detective thrillers have a host of character all of whom have guilty secrets. Why cant we have a detective thriller where all of the characters have led blameless lives and it is up to the detective to dig deep to find the bad guy.
In countless war movies we start the story with a big name actor accompanied by four unknowns. Have a guess who are the ones that are going to be killed in the first twenty minutes????
Why do so many American prison movies show the convicts (apart from the few psychos) as all being quite good guys, criminals with a heart of gold whereas the majority of the guards are cruel and sadistic and enjoy taunting and mistreating the convicts. How so different to real life.
How can you tell when an aircraft is going to crash in a movie? Easy if its called United Arilines, American Airlines, British Airways etc it will not, but if its called Collingwood Airlines, Stone Age Airways or Charles Jones Airways you can be certain it will crash!!!
Why is it that people who never grow up and always behave like they are still at school (like Robin Williamss character in Good Morning Vietnam) are always popular with their colleagues whereas in reality they are the ones who get everyone into trouble and are resented by their colleagues. -
pmiano100 — 11 years ago(April 24, 2014 03:32 PM)
Why is it that the working class kid is always morally superior to the rich kid when in fact such kids are often brutal, bullying, dishonest, and envious?
How do idiots like the characters Robin Williams plays even get to their positions as doctors, teachers, and military NCOs when in reality their bizarre behavior would have washed them out long ago?
Why is it that in the film and TV series versions of MAS*H, Hawkeye and Trapper were constantly drinking bootleg booze, but it never impaired their surgical skills?
Why is it that reluctant, maladjusted soldiers are always shown rising to the occasion and heroically doing their duty when in reality they constantly hide out on patrols, don't go all the way to their objectives, fail to complete their assignments, and then lie like hell to hide their dereliction of duty.
Why is it in the American TV police show "Blue Bloods" Detective Danny Reagan always talking insolently to big shots and slamming suspects back in their seats when they have every legal right to leave? If his father the police commissioner is as fair and objective as he professes to be, he would have no choice but to allow his son's superiors to discipline him for such outrageous behavior.
Why is it Blue Bloods is full of corrupt and morally deficient Italians, Jews, WASPs, African-Americans, Hispanics, Poles, etc. but very few bad Irish people? Of course, it may have something to do with the head writer, Siobhan Byrne O'Connor.
Why is it on the rare occasions when the villain is a Moslem, almost every movie and TV program goes out of its way for 45 minutes out of an hour to explain that 99% of all Moslems are good people? No population has that many good people, and they never do that for Christians.
Why is it in British WWII films about the RAF, the American volunteer is almost always from Texas? In reality, there were only 2 or 3 American volunteers from Texas and most members of the Eagle Squadron were from the Midwest and Northeast.
Why is it so many British spy and war films make Americans out to be impulsive fools who act without thinking but the British are always patient, calm, and understated? Admittedly the Americans made mistakes and lost battles in both world wars and the Cold War, but so did the British and French.
Why is it so many war films venerate Erwin Rommel as an incomparable general and a hero in the anti-Hitler movement? In reality, he made many serious mistakes, threw away the lives of his Italian troops to save the Germans, and had very little to do with Operation:Valkyrie. In fact, he was totally loyal to Hitler until the Germans started losing.
Why is it American films decry the excesses of wealthy professionals and business people, but have no problem with the selfish, childish, and hedonistic lifestyles of athletes, musicians, and actors?
Why is it that the only villain who seems able to give a female hero a good fight, ot even lay a hand on her, is another woman?
Why is it that heroines in action films are able to move like greased pigs in tight, black leather outfits that in real life would barely allow them to move?
Why is it that women in films and TV wear suits and dresses with hemlines only slightly above the knee, but when they sit down and cross their legs you can see most of their thighs?
Why is it that the hero in any given film or TV show is usually younger, taller, handsomer, and better coiffed than the villains? In reality some crooks are good-looking and many heroes are as ugly as sin. Of course, the women are almost always young and beautiful, good or bad. The sole exception is a Helen Mirren movie.
Why is it that whenever the good hero faces ruin, disgrace or destruction, his wife or lover is almost always supportive, encouraging, and loyal? In real life, many such men have been deserted by faithless women who did not want to be associated with "losers."
Why is it that so many male private detectives/consultants on TV have serious emotional problems or mental eccentricities, but the women are usually stable, secure, and totally unflawed?
Why is it that their partners are almost always of the opposite sex. In the real world, pairs of two men or two women are the norm?
Why is it the male protagonist's child never likes the glamorous woman pursuing him and instead prefers the quiet, mousy woman who barely knows the father is alive?
Why is it the hero/heroine returning to his quaint small hometown never tells the old friends/lovers that the big box store, chain store, or factory he/she is trying to bring in will bring a fortune in revenue and many new jobs, and in this poor economy, quaintness is something they can't afford.
Why is it that he/she always decides to move back to his hometown and marry the high school sweetheart? If they were that great, why did he/she leave in the first place?
Why is it that "underdogs" are always depicted as the good guys? Some underdogs are just dogs. Using that logic, Hitler should be considered a hero because he was th -
pmiano100 — 10 years ago(June 29, 2015 10:15 AM)
(One last time for the road)
In "Jurassic World" Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) is able to out-run Owen (Chris Pratt) in the jungle, even though she is wearing high heels. Oh come now.
What's this? Claire, the heroine, gets scared sometimes and actually has faults? Doesn't she know women in modern action pictures are supposed to be fearless and perfect in every way?
Doesn't the artificially made monster dinosaur look suspiciously like Godzilla? -
alfa — 11 years ago(May 23, 2014 10:52 AM)
I have no idea. I didn't know we were breaking any etiquette rules. I apologize for that. You're the first person in nearly seven years to mention it.
Errr that's not strictly true is it? There was quite irate protest at the beginning at the board being pruned much more regularly because of your long posts. I seem to remember you telling us protesters to get lost. In fact various methods were tried, such as pointing out that a lot of your so-called clichs were actually something else. Nothing worked.
And so, along with all the long and interesting threads, translations of the German dialogue, the secrets of Orson Welles' ad libs, most of the regular posters are long gone. -
Jessica_Rabbit69 — 11 years ago(June 03, 2014 02:12 PM)
Pmiano and Altho, please keep up the good work. This thread is great.
So what if it is off-topic. As for being against message board etiquette, as Randy says, it doesn't matter because the thread is funny, intelligent and does not hurt anyone. As opposed to the crap that is posted here on imdb so often and that consists of nothing but screaming and insults, this thread is positively brilliant.
Jessica Rabbit
"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way." -
neverthereever — 11 years ago(September 05, 2014 10:21 AM)
Penicillin was just reaching the market and supplies were extremely limited. The more cultures that were used to produce medicine the less could be used to increase the stock of cultures to mass produce penicillin. The high value of black market penicillin would have been a very small window before the drug became common place. So it's use in the plot is really for that one off time.
It is so scare that it is reserved for the most urgent and needy cases. If Lime diluted the penicillin for 100 children then he effectively destroyed it, condemning those children to death. He also prevented the next batch of children from receiving any alternative treatment. There is no suggestion that only children with meningitis received it, that was just the case presented to illustrate the extreme effect of what he did. It's left to the imagination as to how much he contaminated and what percentage was in each dose. -
pmiano100 — 11 years ago(December 21, 2014 10:37 AM)
Actually, I've researched it and the black market for penicillin extended into the early 1950s in Western Europe and even longer in the East. There was a great deal of corruption and a lot of residual hatred against all Germans, Austrians, and even Italians in those days.
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pmiano100 — 10 years ago(July 30, 2015 05:47 PM)
Thank you but we called it quits some time ago. However, I will leave you with one last cliche.
A beautiful young woman is in love with a seemingly perfect guy who either doesn't notice her or dates her but won't commit. She decides to go all out in an attempt to get him to notice her or commit. In the course of this campaign she meets a guy who at first seems totally wrong for her. Sure enough she falls for the new guy in a few days and drops the perfect guy because he suddenly shows major faults she's never noticed before, even though she's known him for a long time. She then goes off with the new guy seemingly unconcerned that he may have major faults too. -
Altho73 — 10 years ago(July 30, 2015 09:49 PM)
Did you know that there are specialist shops who sell attache cases specially designed for money laundering, payment of contract killers etc. You go into one of these shops and tell the shop owner that you have $250,000 in $100 bills to launder and you need an attache case. The man will then produce a case in which the $250,000 will fill the case to the top and all the bundles will be exactly level and there will not even be half an inch of space to spare on the sides.
How do I know this???? Well there has to be such shops, have you ever seen a movie where an attache case full of money doesn't fit exactly???? I have yet to find one of these shops but I will keep trying. -
pmiano100 — 10 years ago(January 11, 2016 10:36 PM)
Let me know when you do. In the meantime I will keep looking for those silencers on handguns that make supersonic speed pistol shots sound like whispers, instead of like a large book hitting the floor from a ten-foot drop, like real silencers sound.
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Altho73 — 9 years ago(April 02, 2016 11:21 AM)
In the Columbo episode 'Lady in Waiting' Beth Chadwick shoots and kills her brother when he enters her house thru the French Windows claiming that she mistook him for a criminal. A Coroner's inquest is held and closes with a verdict of accidental death, so how come that the extremely annoying Lt Columbo is still obsessed with the case and continues harassing the poor woman and almost drives her into a breakdown?
Also why doesn't the Lieutenant's boss in the LAPD call him into his office and tell him -'Listen lieutenant this case is over, finished, closed. There are these unsolved murders in Watts, go and investigate them' -
pmiano100 — 9 years ago(April 02, 2016 11:53 AM)
Have you ever noticed that the so-called "kick-ass" heroines in adventure and super-hero movies and TV are usually able to take out a gang of 20 male opponents in 30 seconds, without taking one punch, even if they don't have super-powers? But what really gets me is that when they face a female villain, she's almost always a superb fighter too, and gives the heroine a tremendous fight, often landing hard-hitting punches.
Of course, the heroine always wins, and 10 seconds later, her hair is perfectly combed, her lipstick isn't smeared, and there's not a mark on her.
Also, how come nobody ever sues the super-heroes for excessive force or negligence when buildings are destroyed and innocent people are killed or injured? -
stiffarm-43601 — 9 years ago(August 25, 2016 12:45 AM)
Why is it cowboys never seem to be carrying anything but a thin rolled up blanket and two small saddle bags that look flat behind their saddles? Yet, when they're camping for the night they have a full bedroll, a coffee pot full of coffee, a cooking pot, metal plates, eating utensils, and plenty of meat and beans.
Why do lawyers in most movies and television shows spend almost all their time in court when in real life, they spend very little time in court rooms? They're usually looking over papers in their offices or negotiating settlements and deals with other lawyers in conference rooms.
Also, why is it criminal defense attorneys always seem to weed out the real criminal in the court room and either get them to confess, demand a lawyer, take the fifth, or sit in stunned silence? In real life that happens very rarely, and when it does, it's usually the prosecutor who does it.
Also, a common scene in movies and television is for the hero to brilliantly show how the murderer's airtight alibi isn't so perfect and demonstrate how he could have committed the crime. At that point, the criminal immediately either runs or confesses, the idiot. Sure the hero showed how he could have committed the crime that way, but he presented no evidence or witnesses that prove beyond reasonable doubt that the killer did do it. All the killer has to do is smile and say, That's a real convoluted, interesting theory you have there, Counselor. Do you have any proof? Usually, they don't.