# Movie screw ups that made you chuckle **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245 "2015-01-19T02:11:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/101 "2015-01-22T17:36:11Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Frequently TV shows shoot “pick-up” shots after major shooting has concluded. For whatever reason, they decide they need another scene or need to re-shoot an existing scene. So it may be much cheaper to do that near their main production facilities rather than go back to their original location. That makes sense. Though I still wonder at the cost of flying your actors back and forth, especially before deregulation. If they’d ever put the rest of McCloud out on region 1 DVD, I could do some more research!😉 ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/102 "2015-01-22T17:53:41Z")
I believe it’s in “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” where Zaius and the gorilla general are in a sauna discussing war plans. First bit of funny is that they both appear to just be wearing off the shelf ape costumes for their body suits. Second bit of funny is when the general moves to the foreground of the shot to pour water on the hot coals… his ape suit sleeve rides up and you can see his regular human arm underneath. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/103 "2015-01-22T21:20:10Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > This is a good clip: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJlmYh27MHg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJlmYh27MHg) > > At the 10 second mark he’s real. At 11 seconds as Alan stands he’s clearly gone. At 19 and 20 he’s completely still and looks like he’s made of plastic. I have no proof that it’s a mannequin but it surely looks like one to me. I’m open to see what others see - is Goldblum real or fake? It the bit where “he’s clearly gone” you can see his jacket but it sure does look like a dummy in those other shots, either that or he was told to stay rod still on pain of death. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/104 "2015-01-22T21:35:12Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Frequently TV shows shoot “pick-up” shots after major shooting has concluded. For whatever reason, they decide they need another scene or need to re-shoot an existing scene. So it may be much cheaper to do that near their main production facilities rather than go back to their original location. It could also be left over archive footage filmed for some other episode they used to fill out timing. IIRC McCloud often had a “uniform” of a cowboy hat, suede coat, and jeans, which would have lend to some inter-swapability. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/105 "2015-01-22T23:02:30Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > In one of the **Transformer** movies (I think the first one), the following happens: > > 1. Shia Labouf and Meghan Fox (I think) enter the Smithsonian where they talk to a Transformer that, when it’s doing the Clark Kent thing, disguises itself as a SR-72 jet. Then stuff starts blowing up real good, causing Shia & Co. to run out… into the desert, in an airplane graveyard. What happened to DC? There is also the fact that the transformer in the museum has been there a long time, so when he transforms he is old and has a cane and a beard… but he’s a goddamned robot! Why would he grow a beard? ---
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/106 "2015-01-23T01:05:32Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > …since Jeff Goldblum is clearly not in the car when Sam Neill stands up… Although you’ve ignored my previous response to you, I explained in post #78 that you are wrong about this. **An Gadaí** has confirmed this as well in post #103. And no, they didn’t fake Goldblum being there with someone else wearing his jacket and leaning forward. You can barely see it if you’re looking for it and freeze the video at that spot. If Goldblum wasn’t really there they could have just hoped no one noticed or framed the shot so he wouldn’t have been visible anyway. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/107 "2015-01-23T03:30:17Z")
> [@BurnMeUp](#): > > There is also the fact that the transformer in the museum has been there a long time, so when he transforms he is old and has a cane and a beard… but he’s a goddamned robot! Why would he grow a beard? I found the clip on YouTube and I was wrong about something - it wasn’t DC/Smithsonian, the location was the Virginia Air and Space museum. However, when they entered the museum the surrounding country was green and lush… and when they left it, the surrounding country was far more arid and brown. :rolleyes: Good call on the robot with a beard and a cane. I must have missed that because I was still focusing on the fact that they teleported 2,000 miles or something. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/108 "2015-01-23T03:34:46Z")
[The Incredible Disappearing Fredo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-I4VIR5yGg). At 3:04 in this clip, Fredo is sitting next to Tom Hagan. A few close-ups occur and, 30 seconds later @ 3:34, we see the table and everybody is still where they were… except Fredo. ---
**Author:** ![from\_a\_to\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5fc32e/32.png) [@from\_a\_to\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/from_a_to_z)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/109 "2015-01-23T04:18:18Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > [The Incredible Disappearing Fredo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-I4VIR5yGg). At 3:04 in this clip, Fredo is sitting next to Tom Hagan. A few close-ups occur and, 30 seconds later @ 3:34, we see the table and everybody is still where they were… except Fredo. Even more curious, Fredo didn’t leave the table until his older brother told him, “Go on, get me a drink. Go on!” At least this gave Tom Hagen plenty of elbow room. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2015, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/110 "2015-01-23T07:47:52Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > So I was just playing around on when they got the closeups of Laura Dern and Sam Neill - since Jeff Goldblum is clearly not in the car when Sam Neill stands up 😕 [He is leaning forward](https://40.media.tumblr.com/c771394f2414a7885fd2950850d950bc/tumblr_nimdgvuYeB1rqaonio1_540.png) and the back of his leather jacket is clearly visible. Also, in HD it sure looks like the lips of the “dummy” breathe. I think you need to let this “screw up” go. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/111 "2015-01-23T11:54:32Z")
> [@from\_a\_to\_z](#): > > Even more curious, Fredo didn’t leave the table until his older brother told him, “Go on, get me a drink. Go on!” At least this gave Tom Hagen plenty of elbow room. :smack: I didn’t even catch that. Just like the life-sized, breathing Jeff Goldblum dummy in JP, this one has been reclassified as “not a mistake.” ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/112 "2015-01-23T19:29:57Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > 😕 > [He is leaning forward](https://40.media.tumblr.com/c771394f2414a7885fd2950850d950bc/tumblr_nimdgvuYeB1rqaonio1_540.png) and the back of his leather jacket is clearly visible. > > Also, in HD it sure looks like the lips of the “dummy” breathe. > > I think you need to let this “screw up” go. I still think it’s a dummy but I’ll concede that it’s not clear. The jacket in your picture is indeed the back of Ian Malcolm, but I seriously question that it’s Jeff Goldblum’s back. If it is then I’d love to be present at the film shoot when Steven Spielberg was giving direction: Spielberg to Sam Neill: "Ok Sam, let me set this up for you. This is the scene immediately preceding the big reveal of our dinosaurs to the audience for the first time. I need you to be the audience proxy. Show as much shock and awe as you can and really dial up their expectations to 11 because when we reveal the dinosaurs in a few seconds we’re going to deliver a 15! This is an iconic scene that sets the tone for the whole movie. We need everything you have - go as big as you can! Sam Neill: Gotcha - go big or go home! Steven: Exactly - now Jeff, I know you’re an A-List actor and we paid you a lot of money to be here with us on set today - so while Sam is acting his ass off I want you to lean forward really far so the audience can’t see your face. Jeff: I thought you said go big or go home - is there some way I can convey a sense of wonder and excitement to the audience too? Steven: What do you have in mind? Jeff: I could do jazz hands (Jeff Goldblum demonstrates leaning really far over with hands shaking in the air) Steven: Hmmmmm, that’s not really working for me, what else do you have? Jeff: I once played an excited rock in Hamlet - I could do that again Steven: Could you portray a super excited rock? We want to go big! Jeff: I’ll be the best damned rock you’ve ever seen - you won’t even know I’m there! Steven: We have our scene - Action! ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/113 "2015-01-23T20:54:30Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > In **Gladiator** , Maximus is wounded in battle in Germany. He hops on his horse and rides it to Spain to visit his family. When he gets to his villa in Spain, he’s still bleeding. There are so many gaffes in _Gladiator_ that if you turn them into a drinking game, you’ll be dead before Marcus Aurelius. That said, it never fails to make me giggle when Russell Crowensius is choosing a helmet to hide his face from the emperor, and one of the choices is the Sutton Hoo helmet. ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/114 "2015-01-23T21:22:11Z")
Did I miss Sonny’s phantom punch in The Godfather? ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/115 "2015-01-23T22:13:31Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > I still think it’s a dummy but I’ll concede that it’s not clear. Since you haven’t mentioned it showing up in any other shots, do you think they spent all the time and money to create such a lifelike dummy for just these 2 shots alone? Do you think before production started JG said, “Sorry, even though I’ll totally be on set in the jeep with the other main characters for several shots, I’m totally not going to be available for those 2 specific shots, so let’s schedule an extra day for you to take a life cast of my face and put in on a mannequin.” If he really wasn’t there, wouldn’t it have been a lot easier and cheaper and quicker to just have his stand in take his place in the jeep and then just block him in such a way that you can’t see any of his face? And again, you are, apparently, the only person on the internet making this claim. Does that say anything to you? ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/116 "2015-01-23T22:30:14Z")
> [@zbuzz](#): > > Since you haven’t mentioned it showing up in any other shots, do you think they spent all the time and money to create such a lifelike dummy for just these 2 shots alone? Do you think before production started JG said, “Sorry, even though I’ll totally be on set in the jeep with the other main characters for several shots, I’m totally not going to be available for those 2 specific shots, so let’s schedule an extra day for you to take a life cast of my face and put in on a mannequin.” If he really wasn’t there, wouldn’t it have been a lot easier and cheaper and quicker to just have his stand in take his place in the jeep and then just block him in such a way that you can’t see any of his face? > > And again, you are, apparently, the only person on the internet making this claim. Does that say anything to you? My thinking is that the scene was filmed over 2 different shooting times - once with Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern, and Sam Neill present. Another with Richard Attenborough, Laura Dern, and Sam Neill present. A later shot (I’m no longer interested in finding the time) shows Richard Attenborough in his jeep, Laura Dern and Sam Neill getting out of theirs, and no Jeff Goldblum present. But this whole debate has stopped being fun. I’ve acknowledged in every on of my posts that I could be wrong - and I very well could be. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/117 "2015-01-23T22:38:13Z")
One minor screw-up I noticed was in _The Two Towers_. When Gandalf first enters Theoden’s hall, the position of his staff changes from being held perpendicular to the ground to being held parallel between shots - you see it one way when he’s filmed from the front, and the other when he’s filmed from the back. Well, it is a _magic_ staff after all. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/118 "2015-01-23T22:43:46Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Well, it is a _magic_ staff after all. 😃 That’s what she said. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/119 "2015-01-23T22:58:18Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > […] > > Another Cooper whopper. In “Pride of the Yankees”, Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game streak ends when he comes out during the game. Sorry, that’s not how consecutive game streaks work. Gehrig did leave games during his streak. And at the end, he called it quits before the game, not during one. (Sam Goldwyn took plenty of liberties with the facts to make the movie ‘more interesting,’ in his opinion. Send me an e-mail at [montgomerydou55@hotmail.com](mailto:montgomerydou55@hotmail.com) and I’ll tell you more.) ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245/120 "2015-01-23T23:28:12Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > My thinking is that the scene was filmed over 2 different shooting times - once with Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern, and Sam Neill present. Another with Richard Attenborough, Laura Dern, and Sam Neill present. A later shot (I’m no longer interested in finding the time) shows Richard Attenborough in his jeep, Laura Dern and Sam Neill getting out of theirs, and no Jeff Goldblum present. But this whole debate has stopped being fun. I’ve acknowledged in every on of my posts that I could be wrong - and I very well could be. Just for accuracy’s sake and in case it does make a difference to you, JG is indeed in the shot where Dern and Neil get out of the jeep (and Attenborough is standing in his jeep in the background). We see him lean forward twice to get a better look at the dinosaur. But I see that you say you’re not having fun, I’m not trying to belabor the point, only offering it up if it makes a difference to you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-screw-ups-that-made-you-chuckle/710245.md?page=7)