# Movie Clips References Sought (test your film knowledge) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651 "2003-10-05T02:55:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![braintree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@braintree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/braintree)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/1 "2003-10-05T02:55:05Z")
Hi, I’ve been charged with getting a number of movie clips for a project I’m working on. My memory is not that extensive. If people could name widely-available films, new or old, that I could get the following shots from, I’d apprecaite it. In no particular order: Pony Express rider Smoke signals Women gossiping Roman Messenger Air mail plane Carrier pigeon Someone screaming in somebody else’s ear someone talking on a candlestick telephone Devil & angels on somebody’s shoulder Seance Fish in newspaper Telegraph (typing and/or wires) Nautical flag waving Lights dimming during execution Third base coach passing signals Flashing neon sign, i.e. “Gas/Food,” “Vacancy” etc. Newspapers coming off the presses Kids passing notes in class Bank robber passing note to telller Invisible ink becoming visible Tattooed treasure map on person’s chest Early television. As you may have guessed, the theme is communication. Believe me, I’d much rather be doing something potentially degrading rather than wasting my time with this on a Saturday night. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/2 "2003-10-05T03:05:23Z")
Some of these may be kinda iffy,but: -Women gossiping- Gosford Park -Roman Messenger- Life of Brian, Gladiator -someone talking on a candlestick telephone- It’s a Wonderful Life -Fish in newspaper- The Godfather -Flashing neon sign, i.e. “Gas/Food,” “Vacancy” etc.- Thelma & Louise -Newspapers coming off the presses- Citizen Kane -Bank robber passing note to telller- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid -Tattooed treasure map on person’s chest- Waterworld This belongs in _Cafe Society_. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/3 "2003-10-05T03:18:14Z")
someone talking on a candlestick telephone Streetcar named desire Someone screaming in somebody else’s ear Not a movie, but an episode of Fawlty Towers (Basil the rat maybe?) Seance Ghost Early television. Back to the Future ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/4 "2003-10-05T04:18:47Z")
Off to Cafe Society. **DrMatrix** - GQ Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/5 "2003-10-05T04:32:17Z")
Invisible ink becoming visible: Who Framed Roger Rabbit ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/6 "2003-10-05T04:53:28Z")
Pony Express rider Smoke signals Women gossiping Telegraph (typing and/or wires) – any b/w RKO picture (the logo) Third base coach passing signals – Major League Newspapers coming off the presses – The Paper Kids passing notes in class – Sixteen Candles Bank robber passing note to telller – Raising Arizona Tattooed treasure map on person’s chest – does it have to be chest? Yellowbeard (head) or Lust in the Dust (ass) ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/7 "2003-10-05T04:54:36Z")
Oops, didn’t delete out the first three. Dunnos about Pony Express riders or smoke signals, but women gossiping – The Women or The Music Man. ---
**Author:** ![Protesilaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Protesilaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Protesilaus)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/8 "2003-10-05T05:35:04Z")
_A League of Their Own_ has a scene involving giving signals, but from the dugout, not third base. _The Fall of the Roman Empire_ should have some scenes with Roman messengers. I believe _Wagons East_ has a scene with a Pony Express rider. _The Naked Gun_ has a scene with a third base coach giving signals, and possibly one of the coach giving signals with nautical flags. ---
**Author:** ![Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raymond_luxury_yacht/32/4099_2.png) [@Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raymond_Luxury_Yacht)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/9 "2003-10-05T05:41:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Otto \* > \*\* > Bank robber passing note to telller – Raising Arizona > \*\* I don’t think so. Doesn’t John Goodman simply announce his intentions? ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/10 "2003-10-05T05:45:57Z")
Lights dimming during execution **My Cousin Vinny** ---
**Author:** ![Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raymond_luxury_yacht/32/4099_2.png) [@Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raymond_Luxury_Yacht)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/11 "2003-10-05T05:46:32Z")
Gale: Alright ya’ hayseeds, it’s a stick-up. Everybody freeze. Everybody down on the ground. Old Man in bank: Well, which is it young feller? You want I should freeze or get down on the ground? Mean to say, if’n I freeze, I can’t rightly drop. And if’n I drop, I’ma gonna be in motion. You see– Gale: Shut up! Old Man in bank: Okay then. Gale: Everybody down on the ground! Evelle: Y’all can just forget that part about freezin’ now. Gale: Better still to get down there. Evelle: Yeah, y’all hear that, don’t ya’? [Everybody lays down. Gale looks at the now-empty teller windows.] Gale: Shit! Where’d all the tellers go?! Teller’s voices: We’re down here sir. Evelle: They’re on the floor as you commanded, Gale ---
**Author:** ![Protesilaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Protesilaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Protesilaus)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/12 "2003-10-05T05:58:01Z")
I think there’s a scene in _It’s a Wonderful Life_ where someone (Clarence, maybe?) screams in Jimmy Stewart’s ear. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/13 "2003-10-05T08:03:25Z")
Is this project going to be published and/or shown commercially? If so, you’ve got to think of licensing. Virtually all of the suggestions above are from films that are under copyright. On the other hand, there are companies that specialize in providing public domain or inexpensive film clips, categorized by subject. Some of these libraries: [Footage.net](http://www.footage.net/) [WPA Film Library](http://www.wpafilmlibrary.com/) [VideoTraxx](http://www.digitaljuice.com/videotraxx/videotraxx.asp) [Archive Films](http://creative.gettyimages.com/archivefilms/?country=usa) ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/14 "2003-10-05T08:29:31Z")
Angels & devils on someone’s shoulders appear in _Animal House_. Heed **Walloon** ’s advice. ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/15 "2003-10-05T12:47:22Z")
SEANCE - Peter Cook and Dudley Moore’s ‘Hound of the Baskerville’s’ PASSING A NOTE TO TELLER - ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/16 "2003-10-05T12:49:38Z")
continued…Woody Allen ‘Take the Money and Run’ ---
**Author:** ![LCP2972](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@LCP2972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LCP2972)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/17 "2003-10-05T13:02:15Z")
Angels & devils on someone’s shoulders appear in Jay and Silent Bob strike back. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/18 "2003-10-05T14:11:14Z")
Bank robber passing note to telller: Woody Allen’s **Take the Money and Run** , where the teller can’t read the message! Tattooed treasure map on person’s chest: Bob Hope gets one tattooed (while he’s asleep) and must hide it in **The Princess and the Pirate** Air mail plane: In **Only Angels Have Wings** , Cary Grant & co. fly mail over the Andes. Fish in newspaper: **The Godfather** , where this indicates a character has been killed. Women gossiping: The _Pick-a-little_ song from **The Music Man**. ---
**Author:** ![braintree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@braintree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/braintree)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/19 "2003-10-05T16:32:45Z")
This will not be shown commercially. Only to a small audience of 15 people — thus contributing dangerously to my overweening sense of self importance. Thanks everyone. It’s been a huge help. I’m off to the video store. My previous record is three movies. This should be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651/20 "2003-10-05T17:04:30Z")
I did a project similar to this in High School. It was quite fun and quite time consuming, as there were no inexpensive video editing software programs at the time… two VCRs and quick hands on the pause button. Fun. I know you’ve left, but if you still need help: Pony Express rider: The Postman (?) Smoke signals: Maverick or Shanghai Noon Women gossiping: Definitely Music Man Roman Messenger: Life of Brian Air mail plane: Three Musketeers (“how do you know it’s a mail plane?” “you can see its balls”) Carrier pigeon: Harry Potter has Carrier Owls Someone screaming in somebody else’s ear: The Abyss (Harris reviving Masterantonio) someone talking on a candlestick telephone: It’s a Wonderful Life Devil & angels on somebody’s shoulder: Jay and Silent Bob Seance: Ghost or The Others Fish in newspaper: Godfather Telegraph (typing and/or wires): RKO pics, possibly Citizen Kane Nautical flag waving: Naked Gun movies always have this. Lights dimming during execution: The Green Mile? Third base coach passing signals: Major League Flashing neon sign, i.e. “Gas/Food,” “Vacancy” etc.: Identity Newspapers coming off the presses: Citizen Kane Kids passing notes in class: Sixteen Candles Bank robber passing note to telller: Take the Money and Run Invisible ink becoming visible: ? Tattooed treasure map on person’s chest? Early television: Possibly Blast from the Past. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-clips-references-sought-test-your-film-knowledge/205651.md?page=2)