# SHOCKER! Things work differently in the movies. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 3, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778 "2016-05-03T14:42:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/201 "2016-05-11T19:28:14Z")
Double-dog agree on movie-TV cancer and preggers. On an episode of “Outlander” we watched last week, both my predictions were correct: Black Jack Randall’s little brother coughed = yup, he’s got the consumption! Claire Randall upchucks = yup, she’s pregnant! I’m constantly amused by the animal sounds that are inevitably used whenever a horse, dog, cat, or “wheeling-bird-in-the-sky” appears. Neigh! Woof! Meow! SCREEEE! It’s as if viewers won’t know what the animal is by sight, sp sound must be added. As well, female detectives must have at least personal three issues – and sometimes all – from the following menu: Rape victim Painful divorce Recovering alcoholic Lapsed alcoholic Bratty drug fiend kid Kidnap victim Infertility/adoption probs Mean mommy issues Overbearing daddy issues Must avenge sibling and/or parent’s murder ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/202 "2016-05-11T20:02:14Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > And whenever someone puts on an original play in a too bit theatre, some Broadway bigwig will be in the audience to make them a star. > > It do not work like that. Family Guy did the opposite: Brian wrote a play that the community theater put on, that seemed to be a hit, but when he went to Broadway (as Stewie, challenged to write a play of his own, wrote one that was so good that he was opening it in New York), he met some writers who made fun of the play, not knowing that Brian was the author ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/203 "2016-05-11T21:16:01Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Security doors can’t be opened by shorting their keypads. Depends on the security door and what it’s protecting, but at least some keypad locks fail to an unlocked state. It’s a bad idea for the doors to lock during, say, a fire, if the keypad or power line gets damaged. Many of the ones I’m familiar with have a magnet that will withdraw the bolt, and the correctly functioning keypad/etc. runs an electromagnet to counteract it. Break the keypad or cut the power, and the electromagnet turns off and the door unlocks. They may do things differently in nuclear silos. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/204 "2016-05-11T23:23:23Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > This is the most consistent departure from reality across all entertainment media. People get knocked on the head, keel over, and wake up an hour later with a slight headache. And this is something that pretty much cannot happen. You can hit someone hard enough to knock them unconscious. They’re likely to have a fractured skull, concussion, and possible lifechanging brain damage. Or they lie there unconscious for a while, and then die. Or like what happens in boxing, the guy gets knocked down and can’t get up for a while, but he’s not completely unconscious, just dazed and possibly concussed. > > Human beings don’t come with an off switch, and knocking someone unconscious or drugging them into unconsciousness is pretty difficult without risking serious injury or death. Martial arts fighters and boxers… ? football players? they all get knocked out dazed and confused. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/205 "2016-05-12T04:46:12Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > You can’t conveniently knock someone out by bopping 'em on the head. Any blow to the head which causes unconsciousness will typically result in a severe brain injury. Likewise with knockout drops and knockout gas. Anything that can knock you out can also kill you; administering a dose both safe and effective is a tricky business. That is why anesthesiologist is a medical specialty. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/206 "2016-05-12T04:50:04Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > People do not fall in love wit their stalkers and/or rapists. :(:mad: Shut up, dammit! _sob_ She **will!** It was meant to be! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/207 "2016-05-12T05:49:19Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Likewise with knockout drops and knockout gas. Anything that can knock you out can also kill you; administering a dose both safe and effective is a tricky business. That is why anesthesiologist is a medical specialty. There’s no such thing as a truth drug, either. ---
**Author:** ![Commander\_Benson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Commander\_Benson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Commander_Benson)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/208 "2016-05-12T15:01:46Z")
If a police, private eye, or some other form of action-adventure series is successful enough to run three years (and, sometimes, it doesn’t take _that_ long), four things will eventually happen to Our Hero. 1. He will be blinded (temporarily). 2. He will suffer amnesia. 3. He will encounter an evil double. 4. He will be accused of a major crime—usually homicide. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/209 "2016-05-12T17:27:32Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Depends on the security door and what it’s protecting, but at least some keypad locks fail to an unlocked state. > > It’s a bad idea for the doors to lock during, say, a fire, if the keypad or power line gets damaged. Many of the ones I’m familiar with have a magnet that will withdraw the bolt, and the correctly functioning keypad/etc. runs an electromagnet to counteract it. Break the keypad or cut the power, and the electromagnet turns off and the door unlocks. > > They may do things differently in nuclear silos. No, no, no. The door can read the hero’s mind. If he needs to get through the door, shooting the keypad will open in. If he needs to stop someone else from getting through, shooting the keypad will _lock_ it. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/210 "2016-05-12T19:49:29Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > No, no, no. The door can read the hero’s mind. If he needs to get through the door, shooting the keypad will open in. If he needs to stop someone else from getting through, shooting the keypad will _lock_ it. However, make sure the keypad doesn’t also activate the bridge control for the chasm you need to cross. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/211 "2016-05-13T01:39:33Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > There’s no such thing as a truth drug, either. Ha! Next you’ll be saying there’s no such thing as Spanish fly. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/212 "2016-05-13T02:11:47Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Martial arts fighters and boxers… ? football players? they all get knocked out dazed and confused. See: Mohammed Ali. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/213 "2016-05-13T02:23:27Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > There’s no such thing as a truth drug, either. Oh, yes there is. The formula is CH3CH2OH. Unfortunately, it is equally and unpredictably effective as a lie drug. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/214 "2016-05-13T02:27:24Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Ha! Next you’ll be saying there’s no such thing as Spanish fly. [There is, but it’s best not to mess with it.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lytta_vesicatoria_(Spanish_fly)) ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/215 "2016-05-13T04:14:07Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Movies set in ancient and medieval times are usually riddled from start to finish with inaccuracies. > > A couple of entertaining take downs by an expert (links to YouTube videos): > [Great Movie Fighting Techniques as illustrated by “Helen of Troy”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFBK-eVl76M) > > [The history-pedants’ guide to The Last Kingdom - episode one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCJUDdEirco) Lindybeige!! ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/216 "2016-05-13T04:23:31Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > No, no, no. The door can read the hero’s mind. If he needs to get through the door, shooting the keypad will open in. If he needs to stop someone else from getting through, shooting the keypad will _lock_ it. Fingerprint-scan door and retinal-scan door can be fooled easily. Some dust or a picture is enough ---
**Author:** ![Windchaser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/windchaser/32/294_2.png) [@Windchaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windchaser)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/217 "2016-05-13T07:07:30Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > When you fast reverse or fast forward a videotape, you don’t hear the sound pitched higher and at a faster speed. The VCRs I’ve used have all muted the sound when you rewind or fast forward. You do not hear people on the tape speaking like Chip and Dale. Depends on the tape deck. My top-loading Sanyo did the high-pitched squeak, though it wasn’t very easy to understand. My front-loading Fischer muted the sound. My GoVideo plays the sound at the right pitch but sped up, which is both neat and weird. ---
**Author:** ![Defective\_Detective](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d2c977/32.png) [@Defective\_Detective](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defective_Detective)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/218 "2016-05-13T11:48:20Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > For that matter, in the movies, you can strangle a person to death in fifteen seconds. You grab them, they choke, flail for about ten seconds, and they’re dead. > > It takes a lot longer than that for a person to die of asphyxia or brain hypoxia. They can become unconscious very quickly - no more than 15 seconds if you can cut off the blood supply almost entirely - but **you need to keep strangling them to kill them.** If you just walk away after they fall unconscious, they’ll wake up quite rapidly. I’ve made a couple of people unconscious in about 5 seconds with a good sleeper hold. They woke up maybe 5 seconds later, but they were in no condition to get up and start running after me. I was in the Navy, and we were bored. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/219 "2016-05-13T22:54:41Z")
> [@Commander\_Benson](#): > > If a police, private eye, or some other form of action-adventure series is successful enough to run three years (and, sometimes, it doesn’t take _that_ long), four things will eventually happen to Our Hero. > > 1. He will be blinded (temporarily). > > 2. He will suffer amnesia. > > 3. He will encounter an evil double. > > 4. He will be accused of a major crime—usually homicide. He/she will be pursued by a stalker mastercriminal serial killer, kidnapped, and tortured. > [@Lukeinva](#): > > Martial arts fighters and boxers… ? football players? they all get knocked out dazed and confused. Not generally by being conked on the back of the head, and not without repercussions. Like concussion syndrome leading to long term health problems for football players. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778/220 "2016-05-13T23:47:02Z")
How many times in his career was Mike Hammer knocked out? The guy should have been a slurring stumbling wreck by the later books. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocker-things-work-differently-in-the-movies/753778.md?page=12)