# Ad-libbing **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 14, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416 "2009-05-14T15:16:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/21 "2009-05-14T17:21:41Z")
With the exception of the “The gene, Ebbet’s Field, and my Mickey Mantle model Louisville Slugger” speech, all of Denis Leary’s lines in _Suicide Kings_ were improved. CMC fnord! He he, I trade ya my busket for a pair of fish boots. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/22 "2009-05-14T17:23:57Z")
> [@glee](#): > > On this board I have read about f_ck_ing, r_mm_ng and f_lch_ng. > What on earth is it that you can’t put it in a spoiler? See **Miller** ’s post, above. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/23 "2009-05-14T17:27:02Z")
> [@glee](#): > > On this board I have read about f_ck_ing, r_mm_ng and f_lch_ng. > What on earth is it that you can’t put it in a spoiler? \*_tng pss_, _pp_r_ntl_. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/24 "2009-05-14T17:35:57Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Rutger Hauer’s death speech in Bladerunner was ad-libbed. I think it’s one of the greatest death scenes in cinema history. > > “Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion” - sheer poetry. According to [this](http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=723076), the script by David Peoples included: ‘I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.’ and Hauer just ad-libbed: 'All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die." ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/25 "2009-05-14T17:42:10Z")
The enduring mystery for me remains who was it that Roy Batty was fighting in those epic battles? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/26 "2009-05-14T17:45:32Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > The enduring mystery for me remains who was it that Roy Batty was fighting in those epic battles? He was just watching. ---
**Author:** ![Kingspades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@Kingspades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingspades)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/27 "2009-05-14T17:45:43Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > \*_tng pss_, _pp_r_ntl_. Semprini? ---
**Author:** ![Umbriel2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/4af34b/32.png) [@Umbriel2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbriel2)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/28 "2009-05-14T17:46:20Z")
_The Blair Witch Project_ begins with interviews with the locals ostensibly recorded by the film student protagonists for their documentary on the Blair Witch legend. These were largely improvised with area residents recruited by the filmmakers. One woman begins with the line “So, what do I know about the Blair Witch?”, whereupon her toddler daughter reaches up to cover her mouth, protesting “Mommy, No!” The mother and actors are obviously startled, and chuckle uneasily, before the mother continues with her lines. It’s an effectively creepy moment that was apparently completely unplanned, and effectively ad-libbed by a little girl sincerely upset by the mention of a witch. Good job by the other participants too, in rolling with the unexpected line so that it could be used. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/29 "2009-05-14T17:46:21Z")
> [@Indyellen](#): > > Apparently the famous line from _Jaws_, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat” was an ad-lib from Richard Dreyfuss. IIRC, it was the first time he’d seen the shark up close in the water. Dreyfuss may have come up with the line- I don’t know, I’ll take your word for it- but it’s spoken by Chief Brody (Roy Scheider). He says it after backing into the cabin in a daze after the shark surfaced while he was chumming. In **Good Will Hunting** , Sean Maguire’s (Robin Williams) story to Matt Damon’s character about Maguire’s wife’s farts was completely ad-libbed, and Damon’s hysterics are real. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/30 "2009-05-14T17:53:05Z")
Couple of minor nitpicks: > [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > The scene in _Raiders of the Lost Ark_ where Indiana Jones shoots the guy with the whip: originally, thery were going to have an all-whip fight sequence. The guy had a big ol’ honkin’ sword, not a whip. Aaaaand I see the second one was already covered by **corkboard** , so never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/31 "2009-05-14T17:55:11Z")
Remember when Billy Crystal used to host the Oscars? I remember the below incident quite well. “To top it off, Crystal brought the house down with a genuine ad-lib when 100-year-old Hal Roach, who was supposed to stand and bow but not speak, suddenly launched into an unmiked, inaudible speech. “I think that’s fitting,” he said, “because Mr. Roach started in silent films.”” [Original Story](http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/env-wb-greatest23feb23,0,6918108.story?page=1) ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/32 "2009-05-14T18:00:30Z")
The Master speaks: [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/380/did-groucho-marx-utter-a-famous-double-entendre-ad-lib-on-the-air](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/380/did-groucho-marx-utter-a-famous-double-entendre-ad-lib-on-the-air) ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/33 "2009-05-14T18:06:10Z")
Also in _Raiders_ … I remember reading years ago that Ford ad-libbed “It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage.” ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/34 "2009-05-14T18:20:21Z")
**Contrapuntal** said: > [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by **Malleus, Incus, Stapes!** > > But the actor who played Indiana suddenly came down with… well, with diarrhea. > > Whatever happened to that guy? I believe he went on to mediocre success in the industry. The diarrhea did not hold him back. Speaking of which (the actor, not the diarrhea) _Star Wars_, the scene in the jail where Han speaks into the console to try to keep security from coming while Luke is rescuing Leia, that was improved. _The Usual Suspects_, there’s a lineup scene with all the con men. Some of those clips are ad-libbed. You can tell from the pacing of the scene and the way they cut out, the actors were goofing around. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/35 "2009-05-14T19:19:41Z")
> [@Kingspades](#): > > Semprini? B_lgi_m. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/36 "2009-05-14T19:24:37Z")
I don’t know that this is true, but I had read that a lot of the dialogue from the dancers in “Dancing at the Blue Iguana” was unscripted. If that’s the case, I’d say that Jennifer Tilly and Sandra Oh did pretty good jobs. Daryl Hanna, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/37 "2009-05-14T19:41:38Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > The enduring mystery for me remains who was it that Roy Batty was fighting in those epic battles? [Kurt Russell](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldier_(film)) So, only the ending was ad-libbed? Good enough for me. It’s a good ending. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/38 "2009-05-14T19:46:57Z")
In **Cape Fear** , the whole scene with DeNiro and Juliette Lewis in the auditorium was ad-libbed, including when DeNiro kissed her. Her surprised reaction was completely natural. DeNiro also famously ad-libbed the entire “You talkin’ to me” scene in **Taxi Driver**. Jack Nicholson ad-libbed the “Heeere’s Johnny!” line from **The Shining**. In **Bull Durham** , when the little kid tells Crash “Get a hit, Crash!” Kevin Costner ad-libbed the reply “Shut up!” which made the kid start crying. Then Costner retired from acting on that career high point and was never heard from again. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/39 "2009-05-14T19:49:25Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > In **Bull Durham** , when the little kid tells Crash “Get a hit, Crash!” Kevin Costner ad-libbed the reply “Shut up!” which made the kid start crying. Then Costner retired from acting on that career high point and was never heard from again. Shouldn’t this be in the “If The Universe Were Ruled By A Benevolent God” thread? ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416/40 "2009-05-14T21:56:46Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > I don’t know that this is true, but I had read that a lot of the dialogue from the dancers in “Dancing at the Blue Iguana” was unscripted. If that’s the case, I’d say that Jennifer Tilly and Sandra Oh did pretty good jobs. Daryl Hanna, not so much. I thought she was great at being a completely clueless person. I’ve never watched her doing anything outside of movies, so I don’t know what kind of person she is IRL. Maybe she really is that way. But her character came across to me as totally natural. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-libbing/496416.md?page=3)