# Movies & TV Episodes with Obsolete Plot Points (multiple spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 13, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961 "2014-07-13T00:22:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/81 "2014-07-20T21:14:07Z")
Pfft. That was the OLD timeline. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/82 "2014-07-20T21:32:11Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > The folks in _The Thing_ weren’t cut off from rescue because of primitive technology, they were cut off because Wilford Brimley flipped his shit and sabotaged the radio and the helicopters. Windows was unable to reach anyone before Blair destroyed the radio due to the storm. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/83 "2014-07-20T22:00:49Z")
Vincent calls Lance to tell him about how Mia ODed on the stuff Lance sold him and he is bringing her over, then Lance freaks out, “Wait a minute, are you on a mobile? I don’t know you! Prank call! Prank call!” Fact is, when I saw it in a theater when it came out, that seemed a bit unconvincing, even though I had a friend who said he could listen to cell conversations (analog) on his radio, now of course it just falls flat on the face of it. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/84 "2014-07-21T00:09:58Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > This reminds me… the show John Doe, not that old, had Dominic Purcell as a guy who had all the knowledge in the world in his brain. > > Nowadays people would be way less impressed by that feat. I’d be hellaciously impressed if he had it all in his head. Even more if he understood it and could access it at will. Imagine carrying _n_ times the amount of information on the internet IN YOUR HEAD (where _n_ is the stuff that hasn’t made it into the computers yet). I think my brain would burst. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/85 "2014-07-21T02:13:44Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Vincent calls Lance to tell him about how Mia ODed on the stuff Lance sold him and he is bringing her over, then Lance freaks out, “Wait a minute, are you on a mobile? I don’t know you! Prank call! Prank call!” Fact is, when I saw it in a theater when it came out, that seemed a bit unconvincing, even though I had a friend who said he could listen to cell conversations (analog) on his radio, now of course it just falls flat on the face of it. I had the impression Lance did that out of fear that cops and/or Feds could more easily monitor cellphone traffic. Not necessarily correct, now or then, but he’s a drug dealer, not a communications engineer or civil-rights lawyer, and it was kinda amusing anyway. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/86 "2014-07-21T02:15:32Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > I’d be hellaciously impressed if he had it all in his head. Even more if he understood it and could access it at will. Imagine carrying _n_ times the amount of information on the internet IN YOUR HEAD (where _n_ is the stuff that hasn’t made it into the computers yet). > > I think my brain would burst. Yeah. The guy would be able to tell us _exactly_ what’s up with Robert/Roberta Lukanen on that other thread. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/87 "2014-07-21T19:20:40Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > “Playback” is the one where Oskar Werner monkeys with security-camera footage. You’re thinking of “Fade In To Murder”, except (a) it was a baseball game, and (b) if I remember right, the murderer – a highly-paid actor – apparently _owned_ that video machine, casually discussing the cost with Columbo with no mention of borrowing it. You’re right, of course. I need to break out those DVDs again!:o However, it’s still the case that the plot of “Fade In” depended on the audience having little idea that a game showing on a TV could have been time-shifted. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/88 "2014-07-21T19:31:39Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > You’re right, of course. I need to break out those DVDs again!:o However, it’s still the case that the plot of “Fade In” depended on the audience having little idea that a game showing on a TV could have been time-shifted. Tried to add: And as well-written as that show usually was, I suspect that a viewing of the aforesaid DVDs might turn up additional examples of tech-dependent plots. In the 1970s, when the best episodes appeared, there was an explosion of newly-available consumer devices, and I suspect that the makers of \*Columbo \*found it timely to showcase these new parts of daily life in their stories. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/89 "2014-07-21T19:46:39Z")
Lots of technology dates stuff quickly. It’s the reason most 20-year-old episodes of _Law & Order_ are less dated than some 10-year-old episodes of _CSI_. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/90 "2014-07-21T20:12:36Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Lots of technology dates stuff quickly. It’s the reason most 20-year-old episodes of _Law & Order_ are less dated than some 10-year-old episodes of _CSI_. Good point. It’s also one reason for the greenlighting of “period” projects (both in television and in movies). The makers know that at least they’ll escape the Outdated phenomenon. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/91 "2014-07-21T20:33:31Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > No yearly inspections in Illinois (downstate) either. [Actually, there are quite a few states that don’t require them.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_inspection_in_the_United_States) Michigan ditched inspections many years ago, after everyone realized they were a pointless waste of time & money. The vehicles they were trying to catch were older cars that were grandfathered out of the inspection process . ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/92 "2014-07-21T22:14:17Z")
I saw a 1938 Nancy Drew flick on TV the other night. The battery in the '37 or '38 Ford convertible with another person hiding in the rumble seat died as she and her flunky boyfriend tried to escape the bad guys. “Crank it!” she ordered, handing him a very long starting handle, which, luckily, was on the floor behind the seat. “What’s a crank, Daddy?” “Your mother.” “What’s a rumble seat?” “It’s where the Jets and the Sharks fight.” ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/93 "2014-07-21T22:20:36Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > I saw a 1938 Nancy Drew flick on TV the other night. The battery in the '37 or '38 Ford convertible with another person hiding in the rumble seat died as she and her flunky boyfriend tried to escape the bad guys. > > “Crank it!” she ordered, handing him a very long starting handle, which, luckily, was on the floor behind the seat. Hah! I love that movie! I’ve seen all those Bonita Granville Nancy Drew movies from the 30s. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/94 "2014-07-21T23:04:07Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > 1975’s “Playback” hinged on an alibi provided by a friend who watched a football game with the murderer; it was a given that the friend would assume the game was live. In fact, the murderer had borrowed an ultra-expensive video machine (the ones that played those foot-wide tapes) from, I think, a TV station. Of course this was before either Beta or VHS were offering affordable machines for the home. [Hijack] That reminds me of the time where the show _Curb Your Enthusiasm_ played a part in proving a man [not guilty or murder](http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=1814312) when it happened to catch him in the background during a shot that took place at Dodger Stadium. [/Hijack] ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/95 "2014-07-21T23:37:02Z")
Apart from the obvious flaws, in the movie _2010_, near the beginning, they show an oddball Honda-brand recumbent tadpole trike (it is a protracted telephoto shot, so everything is moving pretty slowly). There has been a soft abundance of recumbent tadpoles for at least a decade, but the Honda is a rather ridiculous design that never caught on, today’s trikes are actually practical in comparison, and generally much more compact. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/96 "2014-07-21T23:41:32Z")
It seems like a good chunk of Seinfeld plots, especially in the early seasons, would be resolved if the had cell phones or the internet (of the top of my head, George waiting for a call at the Chinese restaurant, not knowing Mulva’s name, pretty much any story involving them getting separated from each other). It’s funny that the very last episode had a plot point involving whether or not you should make an important phone call from a cell phone. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/97 "2014-07-21T23:53:07Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > [Hijack] That reminds me of the time where the show _Curb Your Enthusiasm_ played a part in proving a man [not guilty or murder](http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=1814312) when it happened to catch him in the background during a shot that took place at Dodger Stadium. [/Hijack] Love it! (I bet that man is now a lifelong fan of all Larry David projects–yes, even “Clear History.” :p) Your post got me thinking about the use of time stamps in plots. The old magnetic tape video recorders had the time stamp right on the footage, but isn’t it the case that digital recorders don’t do this unless programmed to do so? Isn’t the time of shooting available only somewhere in the file…not on the video as it’s seen by the viewer? I’m ignorant of these matters, but do seem to recall a discussion of it somewhere. If the time stamp can be manipulated (and can be made to show up) then that would have plot implications that wouldn’t exist if the time stamp is in a hard-to-access part of the digital file that constitutes the video. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/98 "2014-07-26T00:55:45Z")
I recently watched _Back to the Future_ for the first time in ages, and it occurred to me that it’s essential to the plot that Marty’s girlfriend Jennifer not have a cellphone. Jennifer is going to visit her grandmother and has to write down her grandmother’s phone number so Marty can call her there. She uses the back of the “Save the Clock Tower” flier, and this is the only reason why Marty keeps the flier. Without the flyer, he wouldn’t have know the exact date and time of the crucial lightning strike. Some necessary exposition is introduced a little later because Jennifer tried to call Marty at home while he was outside looking at the wrecked family car. This is what prompts Lorraine’s speech about how she wasn’t so forward when she was in high school, as well as her story about how she fell in love with George McFly. (Marty has heard all this before, but the audience hasn’t.) It would be easy to update this to instead have Lorraine annoyed that Marty is texting Jennifer at the dinner table, though. Other now-dated technology plays a role in the story, like Doc’s video camera, Marty’s cassette player, and even the photograph of Marty with his siblings, but the plot would be unchanged if Marty instead had a cellphone that he used for making videos, playing music, and looking at personal photos. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2014, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/99 "2014-07-28T09:07:53Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > It’s not just changed technology that make some plot points obsolete, but also changed behavior relating to technology. For example, in The Maltese Falcon, the police are questioning Sam Spade about his movements at the time a murder took place: > > No one today would assume that failure to answer a land-line phone could reveal anything about the whereabouts of the phone’s owner. (Many people don’t answer their phone until checking to see whether the caller is someone to whom they want to talk.) Yeah well, I know People In Movies Don’t Shit and that the only ones who shower while not in a locker room are female murder victims to be, but that kind of thing wasn’t very logical way back then either. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2014, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961/100 "2014-07-28T10:04:05Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Like others have said, I think the lack of cell phones are one of the most glaring examples in older movies. Not just old movies. A lot of modern films either forget mobile phones exist, or at some critical point the protagonists’ phone battery runs out, or they don’t have signal. Can’t search for a list right now, but there are a number of montages and lists I’ve seen. I think it’s because in some senses mobile phones are a “spoiler” technology. Similar to how the existence of guns can spoil the potential for epic melee fights. So, many films either pretend guns don’t exist, or you get some contrivance like the main two guys run out of ammo at the same moment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-tv-episodes-with-obsolete-plot-points-multiple-spoilers/692961.md?page=6)