# Scenes where the villain laughs and so all the henchmen also have to laugh **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 11, 2008, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089 "2008-01-11T04:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/1 "2008-01-11T04:58:59Z")
You know what I mean. There are always moments in movies where the main villain is laughing at something, and then all of his henchmen then also laugh along with him, superficially agreeing with him but also implicitly afraid _not_ to laugh. A great example of what I’m talking about is the part at 3:10 in [this](http://youtube.com/watch?v=xl4YjS0HhfU) wonderfully-animated scene from _Metal Gear Solid 3_. I also recall this happening in Star Wars with Jabba the Hutt. ---
**Author:** ![neorxnawange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f4b2a3/32.png) [@neorxnawange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neorxnawange)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/2 "2008-01-11T05:04:16Z")
You forgot to add that the villain will abruptly stop laughing, immediately adopting a sour face, and so too the henchmen must stop laughing and smiling, making it all the more uncomfortable for them. This is one of those movie memes that happens so often I can’t think of an actual example. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/3 "2008-01-11T05:27:51Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] You know what I mean. There are always moments in movies where the main villain is laughing at something, and then all of his henchmen then also laugh along with him, superficially agreeing with him but also implicitly afraid _not_ to laugh. A great example of what I’m talking about is the part at 3:10 in [this](http://youtube.com/watch?v=xl4YjS0HhfU) wonderfully-animated scene from _Metal Gear Solid 3_. I also recall this happening in Star Wars with Jabba the Hutt. [/QUOTE] See [this after 0:50 seconds](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9RxU_5_c8M) Mwahh-hah-hah-hah-hah! Mwahh-hah-hah-hah-hah! Mwahh-hah-hah-hah-hah! Mwahh-hah-hah-hah-hah! erm . . . mwuh huh . . . huh ---
**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:** [January 11, 2008, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/4 "2008-01-11T05:35:47Z")
Nearly every Dr. Evil scene in an Austin Powers movie. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/5 "2008-01-11T05:46:07Z")
Wasn’t there a scene like this in _Goldfinger_? I seem to recall that Goldfinger has all the mobsters over to his place. They’re waiting for him, shooting pool and having drinks from his bar when he presents his plan to rob Fort Knox. Then Goldfinger laughs–and most of the mobsters laugh with him. The one who doesn’t laugh; and indeed, disagrees with Goldfinger’s plan, is invited to leave (and subsequently, shot). Didn’t really matter; those who laughed with Goldfinger, and stayed; are gassed anyway. So much for saving your life by laughing with the villain! ---
**Author:** ![WoodenTaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@WoodenTaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WoodenTaco)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/6 "2008-01-11T05:54:09Z")
Oh, the [Goodfellas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twW_riHWz_4) scene is clearly the king out of this crop. Edit to add: NSFW for language. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/7 "2008-01-11T07:19:33Z")
In [_Labyrinth_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2_cD3BCUZg), the goblins suck up to Jareth that way. Particularly at 3:40, and again from 5:55 to 6:15. ---
**Author:** ![Survey1215](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Survey1215](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Survey1215)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/8 "2008-01-11T16:14:35Z")
The movie that immediately came to my mind was Pale Rider, where the Preacher is summoned to meet with Mr. LaHood, who is surrounded by his minions when they chat. No clip of it on Youtube but I did find the [final showdown.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBAATBWR1L0) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/9 "2008-01-11T16:23:18Z")
Doc Savage, man of bronze. Captain Seas starts laughing, and all his cohorts start along. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/10 "2008-01-11T16:24:01Z")
Sleeping Beauty. Maleficent and her minions do the laugh. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/11 "2008-01-11T16:27:03Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] … Maleficent and her minions … [/QUOTE] Band name! ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/12 "2008-01-11T16:32:14Z")
I immediately think of Mom and her three sons on **Futurama**. Except instead of them stopping the laughter on their own, the henchmen are usually silenced either by verbal threats (“Cram a bastard it in you crap!”), or slaps in the face. I loved Mom. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/13 "2008-01-11T16:39:58Z")
[QUOTE=neorxnawange] You forgot to add that the villain will abruptly stop laughing, immediately adopting a sour face, and so too the henchmen must stop laughing and smiling, making it all the more uncomfortable for them. This is one of those movie memes that happens so often I can’t think of an actual example. [/QUOTE] Barbossa does exactly that in the 1st POTC movie; stops laughing and remonstrates his crew to get back to work. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/14 "2008-01-11T18:26:31Z")
Not exactly the same, but in Blazing Saddles we get a “Harrumph for the Governor.” IIRC it also happens in Mom and Dad Save the World. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_in\_second\_hand\_clothing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9d8465/32.png) [@wolf\_in\_second\_hand\_clothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_in_second_hand_clothing)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/15 "2008-01-11T21:56:47Z")
They do this in _Cannibal! The Musical_ when the Packer Party confronts the trappers in the Indian camp. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-where-the-villain-laughs-and-so-all-the-henchmen-also-have-to-laugh/433089/16 "2008-01-11T23:14:50Z")
Not a movie, but: > [@](#): > > **Ferdinand:** Why do you laugh? methinks you that are courtiers should be my touchwood, take fire when I give fire; that is, laugh but when I laugh, were the subject never so witty. – John Webster, _The Duchess of Malfi_ (1613)