# Puzzle: Mutated Movies **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 24, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478 "2011-02-24T18:37:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/1 "2011-02-24T18:37:54Z")
It’s Oscar week, so how about a movie puzzle? This puzzle consists of a selection of movie titles with something in common. The movie titles were broken into “doublet” pairs, and then the doublets were alphabetized. * * * **Example:** THE KING’S SPEECH TH EK IN GS SP EE CH CH EE EK GS IN SP TH * * * **Problems:** 1. Prior to breaking the titles into doublets, the common factor in each title was mutated in a certain way. 2. In addition to the above problem, each of the 13 sets of doublets has an extra letter pair. This extra doublet is not part of the mutated title at all. **Mitigating Circumstance:** If you put the original titles in alphabetical order by their common factor, you may then read the extra doublets and thus discover what I did to mutate the original titles. Can you discover the original titles and what I did to them? Hint: Two of the titles are “made for TV” movies. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1. AJ AN AN BO DI DO DT ES FT HE HE IN KI KU LL LS MO NG ON TA TH WS 2. AP CH LI MA NE NO NT RI UB WS 3. AL DA EN EV IL NO NT TI 4. BA CK ER GA GO GR HO OA OO RB RE TH VE WS 5. AL DP DS EN IC KF OR RE TE 6. AT EH ER KE ME ON OR SE TH 7. BA EN ER ES EV GE OR RR TH TH YM 8. AN EE EM ES GR HA NC NE NE OF YL 9. AI AN AT BF EE FL FR IE KS RB RE SA 10. AE CH EN ES GA KL LA MI RB UC WH 11. EN ER HT IG NS ON SS TH TT WA 12. AS ES IC IN JE KI LO SL SS TE YD 13. DY ER EY GI LA OV RL SH SL TE VE ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/2 "2011-02-24T19:56:31Z")
Just so I understand how this works, the first two letters of the title would have to exist as a couplet, right? So, if you had put in Star Wars, for example, ST would have to be a couplet? Or am I completely not getting it? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/3 "2011-02-24T20:35:24Z")
Well, I figured out 1, but haven’t figured out the trick. 1: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the [Crys]tal Skull, with leftovers BO TH WS ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/4 "2011-02-24T20:51:58Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Well, I figured out 1, but haven’t figured out the trick. Nice, **jsgoddess**. And I thought #1 would be the hardest! ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/5 "2011-02-26T14:57:05Z")
It seems another hint may be in order if this is to be solved before the Oscar telecast. Therefore, to help break the quiet: All the theatrical release movies are well known. Of the two made-for-TV films, one is commonly known, having spawned two short-lived TV series (one good and one bad —IMHO). The other TV movie is fairly obscure even though it stars a very well-known actor. I only chose this flick because it was the absolute first movie using that particular common factor that came to mind. Though there were other better-known choices, this TV movie (based on a book) disturbed me as a child. Alas, current online reviews suggest I was too sensitive, and that the film isn’t very good. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/6 "2011-02-28T15:04:51Z")
In interests of trying something, anything: Is #7 BARRYMORES THE REVENGE (for JAWS THE REVENGE?) I have no idea what the pattern would be though. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/7 "2011-02-28T16:14:06Z")
Interesting puzzles. I think you may have too many layers of obfuscation, though, since you both added extra data and warped existing data in two different ways. I have solved an additional title, though, bringing us to two : 1. AJ AN AN **BO** DI DO DT ES FT HE HE IN KI KU LL LS MO NG ON TA **TH** **WS** - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the **Crys** tal Skull 1. BA CK ER **GA** GO GR HO OA OO **RB RE** TH VE WS - How S **tella** Got Her Groove Back ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/8 "2011-02-28T16:21:14Z")
Correction to Candid: 1. HO WS GA RB OA GO TH ER GR OO VE BA CK [del]RE[/del] - How S (GARBO -\> tell) a Got Her Groove Back So 1 could be Crys -\> Both or Bows (or Cry -\> Bow) and 4 is Tell -\> Garbo ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/9 "2011-02-28T17:53:55Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > Correction to Candid: > > 1. HO WS GA RB OA GO TH ER GR OO VE BA CK [del]RE[/del] > > - How S (GARBO -\> tell) a Got Her Groove Back > > So 1 could be Crys -\> Both or Bows (or Cry -\> Bow) > > and 4 is Tell -\> Garbo Sorry to correct your correction, but ‘Tella’ is mutated, not ‘Tell’. It could be the whole word ‘Stella’, though, mutated into something else that starts with an ‘S’. HOWS (tella) GOTHERGROOVEBACK Not sure where you got your ‘O’ for Garbo, either. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/10 "2011-02-28T17:57:05Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Sorry to correct your correction, but ‘Tella’ is mutated, not ‘Tell’. It could be the whole word ‘Stella’, though, mutated into something else that starts with an ‘S’. > > HOWS (tella) GOTHERGROOVEBACK > > Not sure where you got your ‘O’ for Garbo, either. There was an OA that you overlooked. ETA - if you look at my post above I rearranged the pieces in order. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/11 "2011-02-28T18:01:33Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > There was an OA that you overlooked. > > ETA - if you look at my post above I rearranged the pieces in order. On further review, you are correct. My bad! Though I must edit to add, you’re still making an assumption there. We know the ‘S’ in Stella sticks, you’re only assuming that the ‘a’ does. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/12 "2011-02-28T18:23:20Z")
#8 -\> ANNE OF GREEN [GAB]LES GAB -\> CHANEY Extra : EM So the pattern seems to be that the movie title has a ‘talk’ word buried in one of its words; (cry, gab, tell); and that talk word is replaced by the surname of an actor or actress (Bow, Chaney, Garbo) without other rhyme or reason I can discern. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/13 "2011-02-28T18:29:51Z")
Silent film stars put in place of talky words. Getting the film names is just so random that I don’t feel like pursuing it further. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/14 "2011-02-28T18:32:40Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Silent film stars put in place of talky words. > > Getting the film names is just so random that I don’t feel like pursuing it further. OK, that makes “Barrymores: the Revenge” make sense (JAWs: The Revenge, #7) #2 is Chaplin something ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/15 "2011-02-28T18:34:12Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > OK, that makes “Barrymores: the Revenge” make sense (JAWs: The Revenge, #7) > > #2 is Chaplin something Indeed it does. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/16 "2011-02-28T18:42:17Z")
So what I’ve got (2 is Chaplin, 3 is Valentino): 1. Indiana Jones and the crappy crystal skull (Bow - Cry) 2. CHAPLI NE NO MA NT RI UB WS (not solved yet) 3. DANTEVALENTINO IL == DANTESPEAK == Dante’s Peak 4. HOW SGARBOA GOT HER GROOVE BACK == HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK 5. AL DP DS EN IC KF OR RE TE 6. AT EH ER KE ME ON OR SE TH 7. BARRYMORES THE REVENGE TH == Jaws The Revenge 8. ANNE OF GREEN CHANEYLES EM == ANNE OF GREEN GABLES 9. AI AN AT BF EE FL FR IE KS RB RE SA 10. AE CH EN ES GA KL LA MI RB UC WH 11. EN ER HT IG NS ON SS TH TT WA 12. AS ES IC IN JE KI LO SL SS TE YD 13. DY ER EY GI LA OV RL SH SL TE VE ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/17 "2011-02-28T18:44:10Z")
Good call on Valentino. #6, I believe, is Keaton; and #12 Lloyd. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/18 "2011-02-28T19:01:25Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Good call on Valentino. #6, I believe, is Keaton; and #12 Lloyd. #9 is Fairbanks. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/19 "2011-02-28T19:06:05Z")
Well, my movie buff capabilities are pretty much exhausted. Here’s the letters rearranged with the actor component pulled together in one place (in addition to the solved ones): 1. Indiana Jones and the crappy crystal skull (Bow - Cry) 2. CHAPLI NE NO NT MA RI UB WS (not solved yet) 3. DANTEVALENTINO IL == DANTESPEAK == Dante’s Peak 4. HOW SGARBOA GOT HER GROOVE BACK == HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK 5. AL DP DS EN IC KF OR RE TE 6. KEATON EH ER ME OR SE TH (not solved yet) 7. BARRYMORES THE REVENGE TH == Jaws The Revenge 8. ANNE OF GREEN CHANEYLES EM == ANNE OF GREEN GABLES 9. BFAIRBANKS AT EE FL FR IE RE SA (not solved yet) 10. AE CH EN ES GA KL LA MI RB UC WH 11. EN ER HT IG NS ON SS TH TT WA 12. SLLOYD AS ES IC IN JE KI SS TE (not solved yet) 13. DY ER EY GI LA OV RL SH SL TE VE ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478/20 "2011-02-28T19:21:38Z")
#5 is Pickford. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-mutated-movies/572478.md?page=2)