# Ruin Old Film Plot By Adding Cell Phones To Story **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 3, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558 "2012-09-03T17:37:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/41 "2012-09-04T18:01:13Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > _The Big Sleep_. Much of the plot revolves around characters not being able to communicate in a timely fashion. Actually, that is probably just as true for most noir films. I thought their failure to communicate was the result of trying to be so clever and arch that nobody could tell what the hell they were talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/42 "2012-09-04T18:09:34Z")
Somewhat on topic, every time I re-read a Rex Stout novel, I’m struck by how many times Archie has to find a pay phone to check in with Wolfe. I try to suppress this, because it takes me out of the story. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/43 "2012-09-04T18:21:43Z")
**Desk Set** Do I need to explain why? ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/44 "2012-09-04T18:23:22Z")
_Cool Hand Luke_: “What we have heah is a faaaailure to communicate…” “Warden, you know my number.” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/45 "2012-09-04T18:57:17Z")
“Hello, Private Ryan? This is Captain Miller at HQ. We have orders for you to return to Omaha Beach. Just grab a jeep. We’ve already cleared it with your sergeant. Great, see you soon.” ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/46 "2012-09-04T19:05:06Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Somewhat on topic, every time I re-read a Rex Stout novel, I’m struck by how many times Archie has to find a pay phone to check in with Wolfe. I try to suppress this, because it takes me out of the story. I’m not completely understanding this. The Nero Wolfe novels far predate the cell phone era. Why does the difference in technology levels in a period piece bother you? Are you bothered when a character in a Western sends a telegram? Reading the above, I can see how it would come off snarky. I don’t mean it to, and I apologize if it does. I’m just not following **Lynn** here. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/47 "2012-09-04T19:10:09Z")
_All the President’s Men_ wouldn’t be ruined, as such. But they would spend a lot less time looking for telephones to use and then dialing them. (Curses to phone numbers with 9s and 0s!) ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/48 "2012-09-04T19:28:20Z")
_The Princess Bride_ Buttercup, baby, I’m totally still alive. Just gotta make some bank before we get married. DON’T do anything stupid like agree to marry Humperdink. Gotta go, have a job to do. As you wish, Westley ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/49 "2012-09-04T19:37:10Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > _Pulp Fiction_. “Five long years, he wore this phone up his a–. Then when he died of dysentery, he gave me the phone. I hid this uncomfortable piece of metal up my a-- for two years. Then, after seven years, I was sent home to my family. And now, little man, I give the phone to you.” “No thanks, weird old man. I got an Android for Christmas.” ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/50 "2012-09-04T19:40:57Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Somewhat on topic, every time I re-read a Rex Stout novel, I’m struck by how many times Archie has to find a pay phone to check in with Wolfe. I try to suppress this, because it takes me out of the story. > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’m not completely understanding this. The Nero Wolfe novels far predate the cell phone era. Why does the difference in technology levels in a period piece bother you? Are you bothered when a character in a Western sends a telegram? > > Reading the above, I can see how it would come off snarky. I don’t mean it to, and I apologize if it does. I’m just not following **Lynn** here. I tend to be taken out of the story because most of the action could still take place today, except that of course Archie and Wolfe didn’t have computers. I tend to lapse into putting the story into a modern setting, instead of a 1930s-1960s setting (approximate dates). I haven’t read a Western in ages, so I don’t know if I’d be bothered or not. The setting might be different enough from today that it wouldn’t bother me. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/51 "2012-09-04T20:28:21Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > **Desk Set** > > Do I need to explain why? Um, yes, please? I know this movie backwards and forwards. The only withheld information is withheld on purpose, because it is a secret; it is a secret to prevent a stock jump (and possible charges of insider trading, although they don’t go into that). Roddy ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/52 "2012-09-04T23:38:09Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > _Pulp Fiction_. “Five long years, he wore this phone up his a–. Then when he died of dysentery, he gave me the phone. I hid this uncomfortable piece of metal up my a-- for two years. Then, after seven years, I was sent home to my family. And now, little man, I give the phone to you.” Must have been a Nokia. It occurs to me that any movie where someone sends a telegram could be replaced by someone texting someone instead. “The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly” - The famous Mexican Standoff is interrupted by Tuco’s cell phone going off to the tune of “Sexy and I Know It” ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/53 "2012-09-05T03:22:35Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > “The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly” - The famous Mexican Standoff is interrupted by Tuco’s cell phone going off to the tune of “Sexy and I Know It” That Super Bowl commercial would sell the hell out of anything. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/54 "2012-09-05T03:31:05Z")
In _Casablanca_, no cell phone is necessary: all Major Strasser has to do is phone the airport from his office and order them to hold the plane to Lisbon, rather than driving out there himself and getting shot! Mein Gott, real Nazis weren’t that stupid! :smack: ---
**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:** [September 5, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/55 "2012-09-05T04:01:59Z")
\>\>Miss Appleyard pissed - u all bettr get back here 4 picnic!\<\< ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/56 "2012-09-05T04:15:04Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > _Spartacus_ > > _Pulp Fiction_. “Five long years, he wore this phone up his a–. Then when he died of dysentery, he gave me the phone. I hid this uncomfortable piece of metal up my a-- for two years. Then, after seven years, I was sent home to my family. And now, little man, I give the phone to you.” A SEVEN YEAR OLD CELL PHONE! I can’t even play Angry Birds on this thing. There is no camera!?!?! Gee thanks but no thanks, I got a free phone when I signed a new contract. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/57 "2012-09-05T04:31:36Z")
“Hello, President Mufley, please. Try the War Room. … Mr. President? Group Captain Mandrake, here. E.O.P., O.P.E., something like that. You’re welcome.” ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/58 "2012-09-05T04:43:29Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > “Hello, President Mufley, please. Try the War Room. … Mr. President? Group Captain Mandrake, here. E.O.P., O.P.E., something like that. You’re welcome.” Turgidson would no doubt spend half the movie sexting his secretary and not getting anything productive done. ---
**Author:** ![slitterst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@slitterst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slitterst)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/59 "2012-09-05T16:23:55Z")
Rocky Horror: Janet whips out her cell and calls AAA from the car. They come repair the flat and the happy couple drive off, wondering about all the motorcycles gathered at the strange castle. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558/60 "2012-09-05T17:29:49Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > [QUOTE=tdn] > **Desk Set** > > Do I need to explain why? Um, yes, please? I know this movie backwards and forwards. [/QUOTE] So you remember the title? 😉 (I’m guessing it’s either that, or **tdn** figuring you can now use a cellphone to google various answers yourself: the names of Santa’s reindeer, how much the earth weighs in tons, whether the Watusis even still have a king, and every Wiki entry from _Corfu_ to the full text of _Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight_.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-old-film-plot-by-adding-cell-phones-to-story/633558.md?page=4)