# Absolute WTF, 'what were they thinking' plots and subplots in old movies and TV shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** theater-stage-dance\ **Created:** [December 27, 2023, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229 "2023-12-27T13:58:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/121 "2023-12-29T20:28:03Z")
“Let’s go to my place!” Betty Garrett was the horniest character in the entire movie. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/122 "2023-12-29T20:29:29Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Especially when he’s required to attempt any accent other than ‘SoCal Valley Guy’ There’s a bit in the third Bill and Ted movie, where one future version of Ted has an English accent for no apparent reason, other than showing that Keanu finally learned to do a kind of OK British accent. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/123 "2023-12-29T20:48:31Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Betty Garrett was the horniest character in the entire movie. But Ann Miller is close! P.S. Betty Garrett was trying to corrupt poor innocent Frank Sinatra ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/124 "2023-12-29T20:51:11Z")
Ha, yes. I liked the secondary characters better than the primary couple (Gene Kelly and Vera Ellen). Lots of fun. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/125 "2023-12-29T21:48:30Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Reeves is a very good actor. Most people don’t realize it because they haven’t seen his best, since they weren’t big hits (e.g. _Raising Minnesota_, _I Love You to Death_, _Tune in Tomorrow._) THANK YOU! Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/126 "2023-12-29T22:03:47Z")
I’m not disputing Reeves’ acting ability; I’m saying that casting him as one of the Most Famous South Asian People In History was a questionable choice. I mean, at least casting Krishna Pandit Bhanji as Gandhi made some sense. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/127 "2023-12-29T22:12:06Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Reeves is a very good actor. Most people don’t realize it because they haven’t seen his best, since they weren’t big hits (e.g. _Raising Minnesota_, _I Love You to Death_, _Tune in Tomorrow._) Or _River’s Edge_, his first feature film, in which he was excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/128 "2023-12-29T22:13:22Z")
That was a weird movie though I haven’t seen it in decades. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/129 "2023-12-29T22:23:21Z")
A while back I was watching The Dick Van Dyke show. Rob and Laura had a new neighbor and decided to set him up on some blind dates. Afterwards, they asked which one he would go out with again, to which he told them that he wouldn’t go out with either of them again. As it turns out, he has a habit of hitting women that he likes, so he doesn’t want to go out with either of his dates again for fear of what he might do. I mean, it shows great restraint on his part, but a bizarre topic for an episode of Dick Van Dyke. ~22 mins in for the reveal, should be cued up: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/HlkSD6Rdj1g/maxresdefault.jpg "The Dick Van Dyke Show - Season 3, Episode 16 - The Lady and the Tiger and the Lawyer - Full Episode") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlkSD6Rdj1g&t=1340) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/130 "2023-12-29T22:24:49Z")
Interestingly, they could have left that out and just made the part about him being divorced (at least) 3 times as the controversial reveal that would have scared everyone off. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/131 "2023-12-29T22:47:43Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > As is it turns out, he has a habit of hitting women that he likes, so he doesn’t want to go out with either of his dates again for fear of what he might do. I mean, it shows great restraint on his part, but a bizarre topic for an episode of Dick Van Dyke. The laughter from the studio audience seems pretty muted at the point of his revelation. I’m guessing they weren’t big fans of [The Honeymooners](https://youtu.be/98qw86DsdZ0?si=S-n-pkaj-9tZzPAK), either. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/132 "2023-12-29T23:17:56Z")
It occurs to me that despite Hollywood formerly being perfectly okay with reducing minorities to caricatures, one thing they never sunk to was using the “n” word even pre-Hayes Code. Given the blatant racism of many whites back in the day I wonder why the sensitivity on that point. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/133 "2023-12-29T23:22:36Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > A while back I was watching The Dick Van Dyke show. Rob and Laura had a new neighbor and decided to set him up on some blind dates. We watched this one a couple of weeks ago, too. I don’t remember watching it back when it was new, so I was certainly rather shockingly surprised that it was played light-heartedly for humor. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/134 "2023-12-29T23:33:00Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > It occurs to me that despite Hollywood formerly being perfectly okay with reducing minorities to caricatures, one thing they never sunk to was using the “n” word even pre-Hayes Code. Given the blatant racism of many whites back in the day I wonder why the sensitivity on that point. I would’ve assumed Archie Bunker would have used it (regularly) but some very quick googling makes it sound like, other than a few instances, he didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2023, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/135 "2023-12-30T00:18:19Z")
I remember one episode where he said he hadn’t used the “n” word in 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2023, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/136 "2023-12-30T00:28:42Z")
Oh I should have mentioned that one (I’ve mentioned it before on the SDMB, but didn’t think of it this time)! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2023, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/137 "2023-12-30T01:48:57Z")
Anyone innocent enough to think women don’t go out on the prowl has never seen _ **How to Marry a Millionaire** _. Snaring a man is the focal point of their sorry lives. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/138 "2023-12-30T01:55:23Z")
There was never any domestic abuse on _ **The Honeymooners** _, and everybody knew there never would be. Ralph might bluster a lot, but it was clear he was nothing but a big gasbag. Never in a million years would he have hurt Alice, who could more than hold her own. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2023, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/139 "2023-12-30T02:13:16Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Anyone innocent enough to think women don’t go out on the prowl has never seen _ **How to Marry a Millionaire** _. Snaring a man is the focal point of their sorry lives. [![](https://i.imgur.com/TfNVd0H_d.webp?maxwidth=520&shape=thumb&fidelity=high) ](https://i.imgur.com/TfNVd0H_d.webp?maxwidth=520&shape=thumb&fidelity=high) ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2023, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229/140 "2023-12-30T02:25:08Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > There was never any domestic abuse on _ **The Honeymooners** _, and everybody knew there never would be. Sure, he never beats her or takes a belt to her. He just threatens, yells, and intimidates her. He belittles her smallest ambitions and is constantly putting her down to try to inflate his sense of self-importance. Tell me that this isn’t abuse: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_-FhWB1POWQ/hqdefault.jpg "The Honeymooners: Ralph and Alice argue over the Mambo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-FhWB1POWQ) Stranger [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-wtf-what-were-they-thinking-plots-and-subplots-in-old-movies-and-tv-shows/995229.md?page=8)