# Really little known movie trivia

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 14, 2002, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639 "2002-04-14T23:44:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2

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### Author: ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2002, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/21 "2002-04-16T13:15:43Z")

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ftg–guilty as charged. I missed that last little bit.

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### Author: ![funkynige](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@funkynige](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funkynige)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2002, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/22 "2002-04-16T13:41:59Z")

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In **There’s Something About Mary** , there is a picture of a young Cameron Diaz outside the bathroom where Ted has his ‘zipper incident’.

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### Author: ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2002, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/23 "2002-04-16T18:22:37Z")

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In the movie _Aliens_ (Best. Movie. Ever.), the inscription on Vasquez’s breatplate reads “El riesgo vive siempre!” (“The risky always survive!”).

The insignia on the Sulaco’s primary dropship indicates that the particular Colonial Marine unit is nicknamed “The Bug Stompers” (“We endanger species!”), but anybody with the DVD can see that. What you might not notice is that the machine-gun toting, cigar-chomping bird in the insignia is facing one way on the life-size mock-up and the opposite direction on some of the smaller models.

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### Author: ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2002, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/24 "2002-04-16T20:17:30Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Sam Hell \*  
> \*\*Stephen Spielberg, Chuck Jones, and Jerry Goldsmith all have cameos in Gremlins. George Lucas is rumored to be in there as well.
> 
> \*\*

When Billy’s dad is talking to him on the phone from the invention convention, I believe that’s George Lucas that comes driving by on a little go-cart thingie.

In that same scene, look for the time machine behind Zach’s dad. In one shot it’s there, next shot is of Billy on the phone, next shot of Dad the time machine is gone replaced with a puff of smoke 🙂 Subtlety is funny 🙂

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### Author: ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/25 "2002-04-16T20:27:29Z")

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[QUOTE]  
While George Lucas was a film student, his telephone number was 849-1138.  
THX-1138  
[\QUOTE]  
I was just reading on the BBC website that Lucas referenced THX-1138 a couple of times in other movies. The cellblock where Leah was being held in Star Wars was 1138. The license plate on a car in American Graffiti referenced this too. Also in Empire strikes back at some point somebody says “Send rouges 10 and 11 to station 3-8”.

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### Author: ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2002, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/26 "2002-04-16T20:45:16Z")

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1138 is incorporated into every movie that George Lucas worked on.

Some not mentioned:

**Phantom Menace** : The battle droid that Jar Jar tips over after all the droids lose power is 1138. (The numbers themselves are in a funky font but are readable if you’re looking for them).

**Raiders of the Lost Ark** :  
[li]The number on the wing of the plane where Indy fights the big bald dude is THX-1138.[/li][li]When Indy is in the secret cave and climbs off the Nazi submarine, over the loudspeaker they say “ein, ein, drei, oct.” (one-one-three-eight.) [/li]  
I have never been able to find the reference in **Return of the Jedi** - anybody else?

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### Author: ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2002, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/27 "2002-04-16T21:08:11Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Cartooniverse \*  
> \*\*  
> Sorry…um… you wanna play with the big dogs, fine. Otherwise, stay on the porch, Lemuel.  
> \*\*

I don’t like your aggressive and patronising tone, and find it unnecessary. So, just to trump you in front of the rest of the class, here’s a piece of truly obscure movie trivia to blow you out of the water and teach you some humility.

It’s about a movie you haven’t even seen yet, and it concerns a fact you won’t find in any published source.

In Madonna’s new movie, **“Love, Sex, Drugs & Money”** , Madonna’s character (Amber) performs a fantastic dance number while miming to an old song recorded by Della Reese called “My House”. The original plan was to have Madge re-record the song herself, but in character as Amber, who is not meant to be a professional singer i.e. to sing it not very well. After the first edit, it was decided that Madonna’s performance was still a bit “too good” and so she recorded it again. It was still too good, and by this time they decided it was just too confusing and some people might not “get” that it was _meant_ to be less-than-perfect. So they left the original Della Reece track on. And it’s good that they did, because it’s one helluva track.

Now _that’s_ movie trivia, Cartooniverse. Play nice from now on, and we’ll say no more about it.

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### Author: ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/28 "2002-04-16T21:43:47Z")

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I was just about to say the same thing to Mr. Toony. Your posts are usually so fun to read, but I didn’t care for your tone either. Play nicely!

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### Author: ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2002, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/29 "2002-04-19T11:33:07Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> You want obscure? Check the closing credits for the Rolling Stones documentary “Gimme Shelter”. One of the people that provided footage they shot themselves will jump out at you.

I guess he was still a film student at the time.

My favorite is seeing Ted Knight as a jail guard at the end of _Psycho_. I thought everyone knew about it, but no one ever believes me until they see it for themselves.

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### Author: ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2002, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/30 "2002-04-19T15:39:23Z")

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I love these kinds of threads!

One of my fave obscure movie trivia tidbits:

The phrase “See you next Wednesday” appears in nearly every John Landis film (I have not seen EVERY John Landis film, so there could be some exceptions). A couple examples:

- In **Trading Places** , there is a movie poster in Jamie Lee Curtis’s apartment with the phrase.
- In **Michael Jackson’s Thriller** when MJ and his girl are watching the movie, one of the characters on the screen says this.

Extra points if you know in what movie this phrase appears originally (it’s not a Landis movie!)

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### Author: ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2002, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/31 "2002-04-19T16:23:12Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by HelloKitty \*  
> \*\*I love these kinds of threads!
> 
> One of my fave obscure movie trivia tidbits:
> 
> The phrase “See you next Wednesday” appears in nearly every John Landis film…Extra points if you know in what movie this phrase appears originally (it’s not a Landis movie!) \*\*

Isn’t it from **2001**?

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### Author: ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2002, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/32 "2002-04-19T17:13:04Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > You want obscure? Check the closing credits for the Rolling Stones documentary “Gimme Shelter”. One of the people that provided footage they shot themselves will jump out at you.
> 
> I guess he was still a film student at the time.

I guess I’m going to have to beg.

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### Author: ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2002, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/33 "2002-04-19T18:09:23Z")

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According to his autobiography, Moe Howard of the Three Stooges first started appearing in films in several silent films starring John Bunny (the first American film comedy star).

Liza Minelli’s first film role was as Judy Garland’s daughter in _In the Good Old Summertime_.

The one actor who appeared in the original sound versions of _Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein_, and _Dracula_ was Dwight Frye. He died in all three.

The first actor to get a pie on the face onscreen was Ben Turpin.

John Cazale appeared in six films. All were nominated for Best Picture Oscar.

_Limelight_ won an Oscar for best original score in 1973. The film was released in 1952. The gap is the largest between a film’s release and its winning an Oscar.

Alfred Hitchcock like to stage key scenes of his movies on staircases.

More on Oz: Ray Bolger, who played the scarecrow, decided to become a dancer/actor after seeing someone appear as the scarecrow on Broadway. He was cast as the Tin Man, but nagged Ebsen to switch parts so much that Buddy gave in. And when Louis B. Mayer learned about Ebsen being put into the hospital, he said, “That’s impossible! He was breathing pure aluminum dust!” (At the time, it was believed breathing aluminum dust was actually good for you.)

Humphrey Bogart had been in Hollywood ten years, and appeared in 43 movies, before he ever had to shoot on location (for _High Sierra_).

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was originally set up as a company union to keep the workers in line. As an afterthought, they decided to give out Academy Awards.

The first movie to get an X rating from the MPAA was _Birds in Peru_ (_Oiseaux vont mourir au Pérou, Les_).

The only X-rated film to win a Best Picture Oscar was _Midnight Cowboy_.

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### Author: ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2002, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/34 "2002-04-19T18:24:18Z")

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“The first actor to get a pie on the face onscreen was Ben Turpin.”

—That one’s long been debated and will never be solved. There are advocates that Mabel Normand, Minta Durfee or Fatty Arbuckle were the first pie recipients, too.

"Ray Bolger, who played the scarecrow, decided to become a dancer/actor after seeing someone appear as the scarecrow on Broadway. "

—That would have been Fred Stone, a famous acrobat-turned-B’way star. You may also have seen him as Katharine Heburn’s dad in “Alice Adams.”

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### Author: ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2002, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/35 "2002-04-19T18:27:47Z")

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"At that moment, Buddy inhaled, and in doing so coated his trachea, bronchii and alveoli with aluminum dust. He nearly died, withdrew from the movie and was plagued with respiratory problems for the balance of his life. "

—Buddy Ebsen is still hale and hearty at the age of 94. Ya think maybe inhaling aluminum dust is GOOD for you, in the long run?

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### Author: ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2002, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/36 "2002-04-19T18:41:30Z")

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The body being dressed at the funeral home at the beginning of “The Big Chill” was played by Kevin Costner.

The opening scenes of Rosemary’s Baby were shot in the doorway of the Dakota, where John Lennon was murdered.

Robert Vaughan, who played in Bullett, The Man from UNCLE, and scores of commercials for ambulance chasing attorneys has his Ph.D. His dissertation was on the Hollywood Ten.

Robert Stack, of the Untouchables, Unsolved Mysteries, and Airplane! was in the Olympics. He is a marksman of some reknown.

The sign in LA originally said “HOLLYWOOD LAND”

Jerry Garcia played the banjo playing bum in the remake of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”

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### Author: ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2002, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/37 "2002-04-19T22:50:03Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Balduran \*  
> **I was just reading on the BBC website that Lucas referenced THX-1138 a couple of times in other movies. The cellblock where Leah was being held in Star Wars was 1138.**

It’s “Leia,” not “Leah,” **Balduran**. Any _Star Wars_ fan worth his salt could tell you that the Princess is being held on “[level 5, detention block AA-23](http://members.aol.com/lithonius/aa23.wav).”

However, the fictitious block from which Han and Luke are transferring Chewbacca _is_ block 1138. 😉

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### Author: ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2002, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/38 "2002-04-19T23:01:21Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Ellen Cherry \*  
> \*\*
> 
> I guess he was still a film student at the time.

I guess I’m going to have to beg. \*\*  
[/QUOTE]

George lucas, as taken from [http://us.imdb.com/Credits?0065780](http://us.imdb.com/Credits?0065780)

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### Author: ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/39 "2002-04-19T23:23:57Z")

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Fred “Herman Munster” Gwynn attended Harvard, where he was editor of the Harvard Lampoon. He also wrote and illustrated a successful series of children’s books (e.g., “The King who Rained,” “A Chocolate Moose for Dinner”).

Humphrey Bogart’s mother was a famous commercial illustrator. He is not, as some legends indicate, the Gerber Baby, but he was used as the model for another (long gone) brand of baby food.

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### Author: ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2002, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-little-known-movie-trivia/103639/40 "2002-04-20T02:31:22Z")

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I stated that Andy Williams was the singing voice for Lauren Bacall in _To Have, And Have Not_, to which **Mjollnir** replied…

> [@](#):
>
> \*\*Actually, I think this is no longer believed to be the case. \*\*

C’mon, **Mjollnir** , don’t just be a spoiler without saying why. _Who_ no longer believes this? And why don’t they? I got it from a book of movie trivia (not at hand right now, so no cite…sorry). I assumed that its author had researched his subject before publication. Sure, he could have been wrong. But if the voice wasn’t Andy Williams, who was it? How do you know?

Others in this thread have been challenged, too, but with the “right” answer as the poster believed it. You just gainsay my post without even giving me your own “correct” answer. Play fair!

:rolleyes:

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