# Common Gaffes in Movies and TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 29, 2020, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194 "2020-01-29T22:43:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/81 "2020-01-30T18:31:05Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Along the same lines, [nobody ever wore a sword slung over their shoulder](https://cdn1.thr.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/768x433/2018/10/witcher.jpg). Eh, I’ve made my peace with back scabbards in Hollywood. A proper hip scabbard will swing around, knocking into things and creating discontinuity issues, especially during action scenes. Just strap it to the actor’s back and use movie-magic to make look like it’s being drawn without issue, problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/82 "2020-01-30T18:31:40Z")
> [@2Bits](#): > > Perfect, white teeth in every mouth, no matter when, no matter where. > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro This would have been my “Number 4” if only I had thought of it. This is especially laughable in prehistoric movies and TV shows. What kind of dental plans did they have in Ancient Rome? ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/83 "2020-01-30T18:34:11Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The old “turn on the radio or TV and instantly get the news story that applies” has been replaced by “turn on the computer and instantly get the web page that applies.” Good One! Highly laughable. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/84 "2020-01-30T18:35:20Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > And the all time champion: cops reading people their Miranda rights immediately, before they even have handcuffs on them. Sometimes while they are fighting with the suspect. :rolleyes: [cop finally starts getting the better of bad guy in fight…] “You have the right…” [punch] “to remain” [punch] “silent” [bloodied bad guy now unconscious] Next you’ll be telling me that real cops don’t ask if a twitchy suspect “feels lucky”. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/85 "2020-01-30T19:07:40Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > Have you ever noticed that when a SWAT or Special Ops team is conducting a raid they all wearing full gear including helmets/face mask except for the main character? The Law & Order franchise is notorious for this; they have a squad of police officers ready to raid an apartment in tactical gear except for the two main detectives who are just wearing their regular business suits. I guess there were just paying Jerry Orbach and Vincent D’onofrio too much money to cover their faces. That’s not far fetched. If there is a dedicated ESU team it’s unlikely that the detectives will get dressed up in tactical gear. Or even that they have tactical gear. But most likely they will not be near the action and will be called in after the team has secured the scene. They won’t be the first or second guys through the door. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/86 "2020-01-30T19:13:17Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > Eh, I’ve made my peace with back scabbards in Hollywood. A proper hip scabbard will swing around, knocking into things and creating discontinuity issues, especially during action scenes. Just strap it to the actor’s back and use movie-magic to make look like it’s being drawn without issue, problem solved. Yeah, I’m a big fan of the Rule of Cool. I don’t think most of these flaws actually make a movie any less good, but it’s fun to talk about them nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/87 "2020-01-30T19:14:54Z")
Counterexample: in an old episode of Moonlighting, Cybill Shepherd was in a gunfight in a parking garage. Either she or her opponent had a revolver; the other had an automatic. The sound techs had a ping noise for each shell casing the automatic ejected after firing, but no pings for the revolver, which does not eject shell casings. It was a tiny instance of technical accuracy, but it made an impression on me. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/88 "2020-01-30T19:18:02Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Name Tonto’s horse. And Zorro’s. And the Cisco Kid’s and Pancho’s. Scout, Tornado, I don’t know, I don’t know. And I used to watch all four shows religiously. Now I have to look up Cisco and Pancho’s horses. In the meantime, for those like me who watched Cisco when it was first run… does anyone else remember what product sponsored it? I _think_ I remember “the product’s” logo being shown over a still shot of saguaro cactus, with a jingle: (female voices singing) “Everybody loves good \_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_” ---
**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:** [January 30, 2020, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/89 "2020-01-30T19:28:26Z")
Following up me own self, Cisco and Pancho’s steeds were Diablo, Loco Of course I looked it up. I also learned I wasn’t seeing the shows first-run- they were in syndication by the time I was watching them in 1950-56. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/90 "2020-01-30T19:41:52Z")
For years I rolled my eyes at people who get all worked up over common movie and TV “gaffes.” I was always amused by the convenient parking spot and the lack of need for a mouse on computers. I never cared if chase scenes followed the actual geography (although I was impressed when _Splash_ got it pretty much right, so I do notice). But as I get older and crotchetier, I find myself losing patience with a couple of things. 1. The aforementioned empty coffee cup. I have no doubt that, were I an actor, I would just go over to the craft services table and fill that cup with water. It’s not that hard! 2. Car pulls up in front of a house, two cops get out, and one says to the other, “This is [suspect]'s last known address.” Didn’t the other cop ask where they were going at any point during the drive? Did the first cop say, “I got a lead, but I’m not going to tell you what it is until we get there. Get in the car and don’t ask me any questions”? 3. There is no precipitation at all. Then you hear a crack of thunder, and 10 seconds later, it’s pouring. Honest to god, I want to make a movie just so I can have a smattering of rain turn into a steady rain and gradually into a downpour, with no thunder at all. ---
**Author:** ![icantdraw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3ec8ea/32.png) [@icantdraw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icantdraw)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/91 "2020-01-30T20:12:46Z")
Looking through a set of binoculars do not produce a scene with a pair of magnified round images. A crappy description, no doubt, but those of who who are annoyed by this will know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/92 "2020-01-30T20:43:51Z")
Regarding military uniforms - I always yell at the TV when I see military women with their hair down below their collars. I’m pretty sure the rule hasn’t changed since I was on active duty, even if it was decades ago. As was mentioned - how hard is it to get that kind of info from an advisor?? ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/93 "2020-01-30T21:08:44Z")
The one that drives me nuts is when characters will pose for a picture facing the offscreen photographer then they will show the photo and it is just a freeze frame of our view of the photo taking scene. Instead of a head on shot that the photographer would have seen, they are all facing off to the left. Worst case, they will even physically frame the screengrab rather than a real photograph taken from the perspective of the photographer. Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/94 "2020-01-30T21:15:23Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > 1. There is no precipitation at all. Then you hear a crack of thunder, and 10 seconds later, it’s pouring. This is not at all uncommon in the PNW. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/95 "2020-01-30T21:24:53Z")
A car related one that I honestly didn’t notice until it was pointed out to me, but now I can’t not see it. A character is supposed to be driving, in an older car with a column shift, except the gearshift is obviously in park. I know in reality the car is either in a studio in front of a green screen, or strapped to a trailer and being towed around to simulate driving. I guess maybe the car needs to be in park for safety reasons, but I would think they could just tie the car down and put it in drive. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/96 "2020-01-30T21:31:53Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > For years I rolled my eyes at people who get all worked up over common movie and TV “gaffes.” I was always amused by the convenient parking spot and the lack of need for a mouse on computers. I never cared if chase scenes followed the actual geography (although I was impressed when _Splash_ got it pretty much right, so I do notice). > > 1. Car pulls up in front of a house, two cops get out, and one says to the other, “This is [suspect]'s last known address.” Didn’t the other cop ask where they were going at any point during the drive? Did the first cop say, “I got a lead, but I’m not going to tell you what it is until we get there. Get in the car and don’t ask me any questions”? Similar to this. A couple is out somewhere and has a disagreement, they get in the car and go home. Nobody says a word apparently, until they get to their house and park the car. Then they start talking about the issue. They have a garage but the residents park their car on the street or even worse, they park only halfway up the driveway (not even right in front of the garage door) and then walk through the yard to get to their house. When walking into a house, no one shuts the door. They just open it, walk in and do whatever they’re going to do next - leaving the door wide open. There are 6+ people in the family and when they sit down for breakfast there is a little quart-size carton of milk on the table. They make an elaborate breakfast but the family members eat only a half piece of toast as head off to work/school. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/97 "2020-01-30T21:37:22Z")
Perhaps I missed it on my first read through, but has no one yet mentioned the all-time classic…explosions and loud noises in space? As you all know, space is basically silent and without air or another medium for sound waves to travel through you won’t hear a thing when the planet/star destroyer/space station out the window explodes. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/98 "2020-01-30T21:40:24Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > That’s not far fetched. If there is a dedicated ESU team it’s unlikely that the detectives will get dressed up in tactical gear. Or even that they have tactical gear. But most likely they will not be near the action and will be called in after the team has secured the scene. They won’t be the first or second guys through the door. To clarify, often on Law & Order a guy on tactical gear would ram the door and the lead detectives in their suits would enter **first** with their guns drawn\*\* followed\*\* by the SWAT team. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/99 "2020-01-30T22:07:13Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > You must be joking and that is pretty funny. You are joking, aren’t you? Absolutely not. You can make tires squeal on dirt. Been there, done that. Lot’s dirt roads in Nevada. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/100 "2020-01-31T00:12:13Z")
I do have to comment on the parking one, where they always get a perfect parking spot. Do you really want the 20 minute scene looking for a parking spot or walking half a mile to the scene? Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194.md?page=6)