# Identify this Movie From a Vague Description (Yet Again!) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 18, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871 "2003-02-18T13:39:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/1 "2003-02-18T13:39:43Z")
Well, here goes: ISTR watching some movie on HBO or Cinemax™ or something back in the late 70’s/early 80’s. It takes place in a sort-of Medeival Europe/Lord of the Rings/Conan the Barbarian millieu. The Bad Guy is a conquerer who wants to enslave the Good Guy’s people. The Good Guy, naturally, wnats to prevent this. Apparently the GG and the BG have dealt with each other in the past (see below). There is one scene where the Bad Guy has captured the Good Guy and is planning to torture him to death. He has him tied up and, holding a red-hot poker close to him, says (paraphrased): “I’m now going to do something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time-- kill you very slowly and very painfully.” The Good Guy somehow escapes. Another scene: the Good Guy captures one of the Bad Guy’s men and, in essence, forces him to kill himself. He ties him to the ground under a tree and slings a heavy sledgehammer over a branch with a rope, so that the hammer hangs a few feet over the guy’s abdomen. He then makes the guy secure the rope in his teeth. Thus, when he gets too fatigued to hold it, he lets go and the hammer falls down and kills him. You can guess what happens. Gory stuff. Anyway, does this ring any bells? TIA ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/2 "2003-02-19T14:00:35Z")
Board rules say I’m allowed one… **bump**. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/3 "2003-02-19T14:52:20Z")
How about these vague descriptions (in title form)? World Tour L. A. Water Rights Georgia Prison Camp Goofy Southern Kid Blind Man Yelling at Colleg Officials Guy Wanting to Be a Navy Pilot Black Guy Becomes Sheriff ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/4 "2003-02-19T15:03:08Z")
Hmm, I think I’d call those “Bad Titles” rather than “vague descriptions”, but here’s a guess… World Tour – Around the World in 80 Days L.A. Water Rights – Chinatown Georgia Prison Camp – Cool Hand Luke Goofy Southern Kid – Forrest Gump Blind Man Yelling at Colleg(e) Officials – Scent of a Woman Guy Wanting to Be a Navy Pilot – An Officer and a Gentleman Black Guy Becomes Sherriff – In the Heat of the Night Did I get 'em right??? Let me add a few of my own. Killing Other Families and Members of Your Own For Fun and Profit Young Guy Does It With Really Old Lady Sherman Burninates Georgia Noble Southern Lawyer and his Cute Children Rebel Space Terrorists Destroy Huge Military Base ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/5 "2003-02-19T15:29:04Z")
**HeyHomie** - Maybe [Yor, Hunter from the Future](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0084935)? **Frankd6** - Killing Other Families and Members of Your Own For Fun and Profit - The Godfather Young Guy Does It With Really Old Lady - The Graduate (?) Sherman Burninates Georgia - Gone With the Wind Noble Southern Lawyer and his Cute Children - ummm… can’t get this one… Some John Grisham adaptation, probably. Rebel Space Terrorists Destroy Huge Military Base - Star Wars You realize we aren’t helping the OP any here? ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/6 "2003-02-19T15:38:32Z")
Not what I had in mind for “Young Guy…” \Tanstaafl\ Think even younger and even older. Also, “Noble Southern Lawyer” predates Grisham by about 30 years. Right on everything else, tho… ---
**Author:** ![mske](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@mske](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mske)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/7 "2003-02-19T15:43:17Z")
Noble Southern Lawyer and his Cute Children - To Kill a Mockingbird ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/8 "2003-02-19T16:00:54Z")
Young Guy Does It With Really Old Lady - Harold and Maude ---
**Author:** ![FranticMad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@FranticMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FranticMad)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/9 "2003-02-19T16:03:07Z")
Bite Me - Silence of the Lambs ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/10 "2003-02-19T16:07:11Z")
“Black Guy Becomes Sheriff” - My first thought was _Blazing Saddles_ “Candygram for Mongo!” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/11 "2003-02-19T16:29:09Z")
How about something more like the actual vague descriptions we get here? For instance: Two seemingly mismatched people meet and fall in love. The good guy saves the world. Long shot athletes win the big game. Cop is killed one week before retirement. Cop is suspended, but solves the case anyway. ---
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/12 "2003-02-19T20:02:21Z")
Homie, was it a forein film redubbed or a domestic one? How was the quality b-type or a-type? ---
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/13 "2003-02-19T20:10:54Z")
Also, can think of any actors/actresses that were in it or even any other movies they were in? ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/14 "2003-02-19T20:29:44Z")
Actual question customer asked me when I worked at Blockbuster: “Do you have the Bruce Willis film with all the killing in it?” Got it on my first try too. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/15 "2003-02-19T20:38:45Z")
You got it, Skammer–_Blazing Saddles._ 🙂 Now here’s another such list–and they have something in common: The Show Must Go On Western Bad Guys and a Train Ride Diamonds and a Musical Troupe The Explorer and the Paintings Stowaways and Mobsters A Villain Covets an Emporium Rivals Come to America with Diva A Gorilla and Ten Thousand Dollars The Funniest Head of State Who Is Killing the Hotel Managers? Stolen Jewels at a Florida Hotel The Sanatorium and the Racetrack Gridiron Ringers ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/16 "2003-02-19T21:19:41Z")
The Show Must Go On - Room Service Western Bad Guys and a Train Ride - Go West Diamonds and a Musical Troupe - Love Happy The Explorer and the Paintings - Animal Crackers Stowaways and Mobsters - Monkey Business A Villain Covets an Emporium - The Big Store Rivals Come to America with Diva - A Night at the Opera A Gorilla and Ten Thousand Dollars - At the Circus The Funniest Head of State - Duck Soup Who Is Killing the Hotel Managers? - A Night in Casablanca Stolen Jewels at a Florida Hotel - The Coconauts The Sanatorium and the Racetrack - A Day at the Races Gridiron Ringers - Horse Feathers Hmm, now what could the commonality here be . . .? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/17 "2003-02-19T21:29:21Z")
Ask Exapno Mapcase. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/18 "2003-02-19T21:57:35Z")
With regard to the OP - I think I remember the bit with the hammer and the rope in _Hawk the Slayer_. Is that any help? ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/19 "2003-02-19T23:45:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steve Wright \* > \*\*With regard to the OP - I think I remember the bit with the hammer and the rope in _Hawk the Slayer_. Is that any help? \*\* Yes, that’s IT! Thanks sooooooooo much! ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871/20 "2003-02-20T00:03:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steve Wright \* > \*\*With regard to the OP - I think I remember the bit with the hammer and the rope in _Hawk the Slayer_. Is that any help? \*\* I don’t remember the hammer and rope bit, but that’s a great movie. Jack Palance plays the bad guy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-movie-from-a-vague-description-yet-again/155871.md?page=2)