# "My Stradivarius!" \[in movies and TV\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 14, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371 "2010-05-14T00:52:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/21 "2010-05-14T11:51:44Z")
Wasn’t there a _Pink Panther_ movie where a violin gets destroyed and Peter Sellers says something lik, “Well if you’ve one Stradavarius youve seen them all.” ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/22 "2010-05-14T13:14:09Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > This is an old gag, used in the movies and on TV many times. A violin gets smashed, and the owner of the violin puts his hands on his head and cries, “My Stradivarius!” (He can’t just go, “My violin!”, it has to be a Stradivarius, otherwise not funny.) > > Can anyone think of a movie or comedy short or TV show where this gag was used? It’s in _In the Good Old Summertime_, the 1949 musical remake of _The Shop Around the Corner_. Van Johnson lends his neighbor the boss’s Strad for her recital, substituting a cheap instrument. The boss wants to play his violin at the Christmas party, and nephew Buster Keaton, in bringing it to him, smashes it in a classic pratfall. \*“My Stradivarius!” \* ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/23 "2010-05-14T14:15:14Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > It’s in _In the Good Old Summertime_, the 1949 musical remake of _The Shop Around the Corner_. Van Johnson lends his neighbor the boss’s Strad for her recital, substituting a cheap instrument. The boss wants to play his violin at the Christmas party, and nephew Buster Keaton, in bringing it to him, smashes it in a classic pratfall. > > \*“My Stradivarius!” \* Dang. You gotta get up pretty early in the morning to be the first one to mention _In the Good Old Summertime_. ---
**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/24 "2010-05-14T14:17:29Z")
It’s well-understood shorthand for something infinitely valuable. Nobody ever cries, “My Maggini!” or “My Amati!” because the only violin maker known to the average person is Stradivari (well, the average person would probably think his name was Stradivarius, but same deal). ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/25 "2010-05-14T14:18:19Z")
I’d be very, very happy to sleep late. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/26 "2010-05-14T15:35:21Z")
This device was used in the “Hawaii Five-O” ep “The Guarnerius Caper,” although you can see they altered the name of the priceless violin from “Stradivarius” to “Guarnerius.” At the end, the owner freaks when Anthony James appears to destroy it, but he only broke the strings. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/27 "2010-05-14T15:46:25Z")
There’s a scene in _The Prince of Tides_ where Tom Wingo (Nick Nolte) almost drops Barbra Streisand’s dickwad husband’s Strad off the balcony… ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/28 "2010-05-14T17:31:00Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > Nobody named Thudlow Boink gets to decide what’s funny. Now _that_ was funny. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/29 "2010-05-14T17:36:40Z")
“My insulin!” ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/30 "2010-05-14T18:13:56Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Oh, man, the accidental destruction of priceless valuables has always been one of my least favorite “comedy” devices—right down there with the painfully awkward misunderstanding leading to huge embarrassment or disappointment. Well, that leaves fart and dick jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/31 "2010-05-14T18:31:02Z")
> **[Priceless Ming Vase - TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PricelessMingVase)** > > When a fragile and priceless item is featured in a work of comedy, it will inevitably be destroyed by The Klutz. Despite their adoration for their prized treasure, the owner will not secure the item in a display case, but rather perch it … TV Tropes to the rescue. Caution, strap an anchor to yourself before you jump in… ---
**Author:** ![Vashbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Vashbul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vashbul)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/32 "2010-05-15T05:34:42Z")
> [@](#): > > I think Larry was trying to hit a bird with a hammer and ended up destroying his “Stradivarius! [His] beautiful Stradivarius!” Of course! The very one he used to play Pop Goes the Weasel on. [QUOTE] > [@](#): > > It’s in In the Good Old Summertime, > [@](#): > > This device was used in the “Hawaii Five-O” ep “The Guarnerius Caper,” Thanks to everyone for this essential information. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/33 "2010-05-15T07:02:40Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > Of course! The very one he used to play Pop Goes the Weasel on. But that violin was destroyed, too. Remember? Curly fell on it. Larry then went out on to the street and found a radio playing “Weasel,” then found a van playing it over a loudspeaker. But then, the Stooges were never big on consistency. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Vashbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Vashbul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vashbul)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/34 "2010-05-16T06:27:32Z")
Well, obviously Larry had a whole closetful of Strads. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/35 "2010-05-17T07:09:48Z")
First and only thing that comes to mind: Electric Dreams “My cello. It’s Gone!” … “My Cello…” “Yes?” “I broke it, its gone!” “How?” “An elevator ate it…” “What?” “Crushed it!” “Thats terrible! Why didn’t you call me?!” “I tried to all day, but your line was on hold…or out to lunch!” “Don’t worry! It’s just a piece of wood!” “Just a piece of wood!!! Miles I’ve had that cello since I was a kid, I cannot replace it. I thought you would understand…” “But I do understand. Madeline, Listen to me, Listen to me, Madeline! What made that cello special was you. Nothing else. Whatever came out of it, you put in it! Each sound, every scratch Each note, each feeling.” “Miles…!” “And thats not lost! Because it is inside of you! Here, where it always will be! And it will happen again.” “Do you think so?” “I know so!” ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/36 "2010-05-17T11:54:29Z")
A friend who used to work in insurance once handled a case when a violinist had managed to lose his Stradivari while on a drinking spree in London. I have no idea how it ended, though. Another violinist, I have read about, slipped while walking down from stage and sat down on his, totaling it. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/37 "2010-05-17T13:17:36Z")
“Stradi-who-vius?” ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371/38 "2010-05-17T16:21:01Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > A friend who used to work in insurance once handled a case when a violinist had managed to lose his Stradivari while on a drinking spree in London. I have no idea how it ended, though. > > Another violinist, I have read about, slipped while walking down from stage and sat down on his, totaling it. Yet another guy left his Stradivarius in the backseat of a cab in Newark, NJ on his way home from the airport. [He got it back](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/07/nyregion/07violin.html). I can’t for the life of me imagine what possesses someone to be so careless with something so valuable (both monetary and historic/artistic terms). > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Oh, man, the accidental destruction of priceless valuables has always been one of my least favorite “comedy” devices—right down there with the painfully awkward misunderstanding leading to huge embarrassment or disappointment. All I know is that the very thought of something happening to my relatively inexpensive, low-quality violin is kind of upsetting, and I don’t even play seriously. Shatter all the priceless ancient pottery you want for laughs, but smashing up a Stradivarius or Guarneri just doesn’t elicit giggles from me, but anguished cries at the idiot who left it in harm’s way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stradivarius-in-movies-and-tv/539371.md?page=1)