This puzzle is a collection of movie titles with something in common… in one way or the other. The titles have been broken into “doublets,” and the doublets then alphabetized.
Example:
ZERO DARK THIRTY
ZE RO DA RK TH IR TY
DA IR RK RO TH TY ZE
Problems:
Prior to the titles being broken into doublets, the common factor in each was altered. If the common factor was one way, it was changed to an example of the other way.
A few of the altered titles contain an extra letter. In each case this extra letter is not part of the altered title at all, but it does give that altered title an even number of letters so that it can be broken into proper doublets.
Mitigating Circumstance:
The extra letters in the altered titles can be arranged to spell out the common factor.
Generous Hint:
The titles are listed in alphabetical order* by their original common factors*.
Can you discover the altered titles, recover the original titles, and name the common factor?
DR EN HE ME MO NO NT OD OD ON ON RH WO
AR CC NA ON SA TI UR
ES ES EV GA MI NP OL RO
CE DR EN GM IN IV LA OI SS ST WR
AT DU IN OR SI
EA EH MO NG ON OW RA SC TH YD
AN AN DE DR EY FA GR NL IO ST
AT CO ER IA IG LU MB PT SU WH
AN AR AY CT EF EM FE GA IG IN MM NM NT OF OO RI SO SS TH TH
AB CE EC HI NA NI NG UR
AB BO CO EL ET EY LO ME MY ND ON ST TA TH UK
CE EE EJ ES FT HE LA LE LO NA NN QU TH WE
AR BE EH HE IT LE MB OF ST TH TH
AC AM AN DA EB ES HE LO OD ON OR ST TF TH TH UN WH
CK EA ES HF II IL KI ON OR QU RC RE RT SJ SS TA TH
AI BE BL EI ES GO NC NI TH
AD AN AN CR DE DG EN EN ER LD NA NG RE ST TZ TZ UI YA
Exactly ten of the original titles relate to the common factor in one way, and exactly ten relate in the other way. While just a hair over a third of the altered titles contain an extra letter, that letter never occurs amid the alternate common factor. * Don’t tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead *could have been used as a title in this puzzle, but wasn’t.
Final hints before I let this drain into that place where all unsolved puzzles go…
The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking could have been included as a title in the puzzle, but wasn’t.
Most of the film titles are well known, though the earlier title of a recent popular remake is the one I used in this puzzle. The horror movie is rather obscure, though I gotta say I secretly like it. That picture does involve a reptilian monster. Two altered titles contain historically important (and usually connected) examples even if they are not the most well-known today. My wife is especially fond of one of the movies in the list, and I tell myself it is because of the story and not the naked guys.
After giving up, I was just staring at the list feeling stupid, and then number 11 suddenly seemed so obvious. :smack:
After getting one, it’s a little easier. It took an hour to get one, but only 10 minutes for the next 2.
I think Biotop using the word ‘Drain’ was also a very good clue. A very big clue.
I was worried this puzzle might have been too hard even for the SDMB, but that thought is just water under the bridge now. Kudos for finding the extra hint I planted in the spoilers. Well done!
I’ve only got 3 so far. I was just posting so that people will keep trying - all you need is one, and that will help with the rest. If no one solves the lot by tomorrow, I might post the titles that I have.
It is a good puzzle. I’d quit on it, but the generous letter placement for number 11 sparked the solution. If you’d shuffled those letter groups differently, I’d be up the creek without a paddle.
To specify, I’m pretty sure I got #8. I’d previously stumbled on something promising for #12 that matches my solution for #8, but I can’t get a movie out of it. I used my success on #8 to work on #4, but I can’t make that one match the pattern I thought I’d find after getting #8. So unlike Snerky Snerk, I still feel dumb. But I still think I got one.
I’m going to start spoilering my random blithering.
[spoiler]So I see what you’re saying about the generous letter placement in #11. I’ve got most of a title there, and I can see what it’s supposed to be thanks to IMDB, AND it even has something to do with the pattern I came up with for the other 3 I’ve been working, but… nothing’s clicking. GRAR this is frustrating. Damn you Biotop!
eta: Ah! The missing word clicked. I can’t make sense of it, but it clicked.[/spoiler]
In the spoiler boxes below are some of the corrected movie titles that I have so far. I’ll post 3 a day until done. Feel free to post any y’all might have - especially numbers 2 or 12. Those have me stumped at the moment.
I considered the puzzle, a type I enjoy and am often good at, and gave up, fearing that the movie titles were ones I just didn’t know.
Examining Snerky’s spoilers, I’m pleased to see three titles I’d never heard of.
I’m posting my answers in the format of what the letters unscramble to, what the movie title is, and the extra letter, if applicable. I still think there’s an issue with #12, so now everyone can fact check me. Also, ADDITIONAL SPOILER WARNING THAT THIS FORMAT ESSENTIALLY GIVES AWAY THE PATTERN! Don’t look if you still want to challenge yourself.
DRIVING MISS ST. LAWRENCE (Driving Miss Daisy) (O)
WHATS UP TIGER COLUMBIA (What’s Up Tiger Lily)
ABBOT AND COSTELLO MEET THE YUKON-MY (Abbot and Costello Meet the Mummy)
THE JEWEL OF THE QUEEN ANNES LACE (The Jewel of the Nile)
ANACONDAS THE HUNT FOR THE BLOOD THAMES (Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid) (W)
