# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/161 "2020-02-01T03:46:28Z")
Being an ex-pilot, and an aviation buff, two things frost my gourd. 1. Using a tricked out DeHaviland Tiger Moth to substitute for a WWI biplane. It is absolutely impossible to disguise the slightly sweptback wings of a Tiger Moth to look anything like an SE-5 or any other WWI plane. Even as good a movie as “Laurence of Arabia” tried to do this, without success. 2. Showing almost any WWI airplane using a radial engine instead of a rotary engine, which was almost invariably the source of power. When a rotary engine is running, because it is turning at the same speed as the propeller, the cylinders are just a blur. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie where they got those two things right. BTW, I did actually see a movie that had a binocular view as a single round disk, instead of a double disk. It was years ago in a Clark Gable movie (costarring, I think, Marilyn Monroe). It really seemed a little strange. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/162 "2020-02-01T05:50:34Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > There are also those shows set in the the 17th Century or whenever, and yet the characters’ teeth looks healthy. Not like you’d expect for characters living long before dentistry was as sophisticated or widely available. You never see period films either with people walking about with great bloody tumors hanging from their faces…and everything is toooooo cleeean no matter how trashy they try and make it look. You don’t see smallpox or bubonic survivors. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/163 "2020-02-01T07:50:07Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > 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?? The thing I’m seeing more and more in fiction now is facial piercings on people in uniform. Unless this is the post-apocyalpse I doubt nose rings will be in vogue in the US Military anytime soon. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2020, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/164 "2020-02-01T11:06:24Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > You never see period films either with people walking about with great bloody tumors hanging from their faces…and everything is toooooo cleeean no matter how trashy they try and make it look. > > You don’t see smallpox or bubonic survivors. Or people with scurvy, scrofula, or tertiary syphilis. I think Kurt Vonnegut once wrote that the last used to be quite common. I laughed every time they showed nude women lounging around in _ **The Tudors** _. They all had absolutely perfect bodies and glowing skin. Not a hairy leg or armpit on any of them. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2020, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/165 "2020-02-01T11:22:26Z")
> [@Little\_Brother\_1](#): > > But some military-minded nitpickers seem to assume that dramas should apply minute, anal scrutiny to military gear, protocol, weapons, and vehicles-- as if, say (making this up) sleeve chevrons two inches from where they’re supposed to be ruins the experience. I suppose it wouldn’t, so long as you’re completely ignorant. Better to fixate on open refrigerators instead. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/166 "2020-02-01T12:28:38Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Also, in poker, rich guy takes the deeds to the ranch out of his pocket and bets it. Wouldn’t be allowed. See: [table stakes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_stakes). In the later Casino Royale, Le Chifre bets his car like this. The dealer protests about table stakes, but allows it. No way. They can’t get 4% [rake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rake_(poker))on a car. Table stakes definitely, but tables typically don’t have a straight percentage rake - I’ve never seen one. They typically rake _more_ than 4% up until a point where it is capped at between 4$ and 7$. And some tables have an hourly fee rather than a rake, which I’ve never seen but does happen occasionally as I’ve seen fee schedules for poker rooms which mention it. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/167 "2020-02-01T14:44:29Z")
If my experience yesterday is typical, people who have the Heimlich maneuver performed on them do not spit up a little piece of food and go on like nothing happened, with no after effects. They spit up everything they ate recently, along with some stomach acid, which burns their throat. Then they walk around with a painful throat and a hurting chest for a few hours. Damn potato chunk. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/168 "2020-02-01T16:05:52Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Anytime the cops go to question someone about a murder/rape/heinous crime, the person being questioned will continue gardening, stocking shelves, batting practice or whatever they were doing when the cops showed up. That used to bother me, but what’s the alternative? If they go the realistic route then almost every civilian would behave similarly; dropping what they’re doing, and nervously trying to be as helpful as possible. The same response over and over would get old. So it’s kinda nice to emphasize “This is the Gardener Guy; he’ll continue spraying plants while talking to police, and might throw in some floral anecdotes (that may even later prove useful)”. > [@Omniscient Omniscient](#): > > 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. I think even filmmakers are aware of this one by now but deliberately choose to ignore it and consider it an acceptable break from reality. My own view is that we can imagine that the camera’s “ear” is pressed up against whichever object is making noise. After all, the camera’s ear is allowed to jump around even in regular non- sci-fi movies. The filmmakers could even make this somewhat explicit by making the various sounds in space somewhat tinny and deep having the quality that sounds going through solid material have. > [@Dale Sams](#): > > Another one…“But I don’t have that much…” > > AND??? Bet what you have. So many plotlines then run on the notion that if I raise X and you don’t have X, the only options are to fold or you’re obliged to offer your house / first born / faberge eggs. Never seen a game played with these rules. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/169 "2020-02-01T16:07:21Z")
I only starting noticing this after reading someone else mention it last year, but now I see it _everywhere_: in period movies all the cars are pristine. Cars parked in the background, driving past the characters, etc look like they came right out of a showroom, because they have. You’ll only ever see a car with damage if it’s a plot point, every single other car on the road looks shiny and brand new. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/170 "2020-02-01T17:02:18Z")
Probably because they borrow them from the enthusiasts who’ve lovingly restored them to Concours levels and would strenuously object to dirt being applied, never mind a few dents. ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/171 "2020-02-01T18:24:13Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > On a related note, when actors are pretending to drive a car while giving their lines, they have a tendency to turn the wheel back and forth rhythmically such that it they were actually driving a car would have them swerving all over the road like a drunken sailor. In line with that, nobody takes keys out of ignition when leaving, they don’t put car in park, so apparently when they come out they never have to engage car into drive ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/172 "2020-02-01T22:48:14Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Anytime the cops go to question someone about a murder/rape/heinous crime, the person being questioned will continue gardening, stocking shelves, batting practice or whatever they were doing when the cops showed up. “Oh, you want to know about the details of my boss’s murder? I _guess_ I can humor you while I paint this railing…” . . . . Often it sets them up for a Quick Back-Away. At the end of a list of questions, the office worker, doctor, whatever, starts to back away, asking “And if there are no further questions?” The pair of cops waves them away. He turns and leaves while they turn and start evaluating his answers and planning who to talk to next. He can’t possibly be listening to them because if the camera is off of him and the cops aren’t looking at him, he can’t be there, right? > [@Cayuga](#): > > . . . But as I get older and crotchetier, I find myself losing patience with a couple of things. . . . 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. > [@GESancMan](#): > > This is not at all uncommon in the PNW. 😛 I saw that happen once when I was visiting Michigan. Is Michigan PNW? Before then I had only seen it in old horror movies. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/173 "2020-02-02T00:43:10Z")
What is Hoss Cartwright’s given name? Eric. His mom was Swedish. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/174 "2020-02-02T01:27:41Z")
\*Red 2 \*is on right now and the bad guy is aiming his mini-gun fire a foot above the ground. Same thing happens all the time in TV and movies. Ummm…I’ll fire a foot or two above the ground so the good guys can crawl away! I don’t remember where I saw it, but only one show or movie got it right. If you’re going to fire multiple shots through a door or building, fire low as so at least you’re likely to hit the person on the other side in the foot or shin, at least incapacitating them. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/175 "2020-02-02T01:40:44Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Child labor laws mean that babies and young toddlers can’t be on screen very long. This leads to using twins/triplets, and in a pinch, a doll held in such a way that you don’t see its face. Viewers get that, we really do. But dolls come in all sorts of sizes. And apparently prop dolls don’t, because if they did, a 20 pound, 29" one-year-old wouldn’t magically become a 2 pound 10" blanket wrapped doll in another scene. > > Spring for an [appropriately sized doll](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=toddler+doll+28%22&i=toys-and-games&ref=nb_sb_noss_2) for actors to hold, for God’s sake. Sometimes it’s obviously a blanket with nothing inside it, so you just don’t see the baby’s face. Like you say, it is fair enough that they don’t have the baby on set, but it’s a little odd that they don’t even bother with a proper prop. What makes that one worse is the way done of the actors hold the “baby” really carelessly, like it’s as delicate and important as a sack of potatoes. And sure, in reality it is, but it’s a bit of an acting failure if you can’t even get close to acting like you’re holding a baby. Friends was particularly bad in this respect. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/176 "2020-02-02T01:55:15Z")
The “I’ll hit you, then wait until you hit me before we continue.” or the gang fight where everyone waits their turn or battles one on one. Watch a prison riot or a gang fight and everyone is going at anyone within sight and if someone’s already being ganged up on, even better. Join in! Edit: Also, not hitting or kicking in the groin. I talked about his in another thread. If I was in an all out fight for my life, I’d punch, kick, bite, grab the groin of the other person, male of female! ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/177 "2020-02-02T03:44:19Z")
Another one from _Red 2_. Yeah, I know the entire movie is unrealistic, but ten’s of thousands of lives are at stake, and good guy (in this case gal), let’s the bad guy go because there’s someone in the way. If it’s one bystander versus tens or hundreds of thousands of lives at stake, SHOOT!!! I’m pretty sure this is from a Hollywood movie since I can clearly hear the dialog in my mind. Woman being held in front the bad guy yelling “Shoot! Shoot!”. The good guy shoots her in the shoulder and kills the bad guy who’s shocked and may have said, “You shot me!?”. Woman says to the good guy. “You shot me!”. Good guy says, “You told me to!”. I tried to watch \*Armageddon \* when it was on TV a long time ago and just could bear the: Oh, how tragic, they’re not going to be able to return home. _cue sad music_. So what! They’re going to save the Earth! What’s a few lives compared to the entire human population? ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/178 "2020-02-02T03:52:50Z")
Argghh…"could_ **n’t** _ bear the “Oh, how tragic, they’re not going to be able to return home.” ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/179 "2020-02-02T03:53:06Z")
Not so much of a “gaffe” rather than just non-realistic, but in battle scenes, riders are almost always carefully plucked off of their horses, sparing the animal. I realize this is done because #1 protecting the animals, and #2 it’s much easier to train an actor to fall off a horse than it is to train a horse to collapse onto the ground on cue, but in reality, of course you just kill the horse. It’s the much bigger target, and even if it doesn’t kill the rider, at the very least it puts the him on the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194/180 "2020-02-02T04:42:57Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > I’m pretty sure this is from a Hollywood movie since I can clearly hear the dialog in my mind. Woman being held in front the bad guy yelling “Shoot! Shoot!”. The good guy shoots her in the shoulder and kills the bad guy who’s shocked and may have said, “You shot me!?”. Woman says to the good guy. “You shot me!”. Good guy says, “You told me to!”. That was from _Speed_, although it didn’t happen quite as you remember. The "You shot me" "You told me to" is in a later scene, I couldn't find a clip, but [here's some quotes](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111257/characters/nm0001099?ref\_=tt\_cl\_t5). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-gaffes-in-movies-and-tv/847194.md?page=10)