# Subtle Movie References on “Seinfeld” **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 22, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-movie-references-on-seinfeld/834380 "2019-05-22T21:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-movie-references-on-seinfeld/834380/1 "2019-05-22T21:35:51Z")
It occurred to me that “Seinfeld” liked to include scenes that some viewers might not realize were actually parodies from movies. Two that come to mind: Newman and Kramer trying to purchase black market shower heads was similar to Travis buying an illegal gun in “Taxi Driver” Kramer walking down the street and being recognized by German tourists was similar to a scene in “Marathon Man” Not that these were obscure movies, but I’m guessing not everyone understood the references. What were some others? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-movie-references-on-seinfeld/834380/2 "2019-05-22T21:39:31Z")
Well, it wasn’t subtle, but there was an episode that had a cameo by Jon Voight and incorporated references to _Midnight Cowboy_. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-movie-references-on-seinfeld/834380/3 "2019-05-22T21:40:52Z")
The [Keith Hernandez/magic loogie scene was a parody of JFK](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBz3PqA2Fmc) (which Wayne Knight was also in). ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-movie-references-on-seinfeld/834380/4 "2019-05-22T21:41:24Z")
[“The Betrayal”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Betrayal) (S09E08) is a an episode-long reference to the film [_Betrayal_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betrayal_(1983_film)) (and the play that came before it). In this case, it’s only subtle because of the relative obscurity of the reference, though. There’s nothing subtle about an episode that runs backward. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-movie-references-on-seinfeld/834380/5 "2019-05-22T21:58:04Z")
Very unsubtle: Jerry has a nightmare about Uncle Leo that references [Cape Fear](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC5L6YF2iAs). ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-movie-references-on-seinfeld/834380/6 "2019-05-22T22:14:44Z")
The reference to “Nixon” when Jerry’s dad got run out as the president of the condo association. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-movie-references-on-seinfeld/834380/7 "2019-05-22T22:20:17Z")
Just thought of another one: Frank recalling his bad experience as an Army cook is an obvious reference to “Platoon,” but the scene right before that, when he pours himself some Scotch and settles back to tell his story, almost seems like a parody of something else. Maybe “Apocalypse Now?” Or just a general parody of similar scenes in various old war movies? “It was War, Frank; it was a crazy time for everyone.” ---
**Author:** ![HowSoonIsThen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@HowSoonIsThen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HowSoonIsThen)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-movie-references-on-seinfeld/834380/8 "2019-05-23T04:11:50Z")
Not sure if it counts as subtle, but Newman coming to solve the muffin stump problem is definitely parodying the Wolf from Pulp Fiction. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2019, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-movie-references-on-seinfeld/834380/9 "2019-05-23T05:53:00Z")
> [@HowSoonIsThen](#): > > Not sure if it counts as subtle, but Newman coming to solve the muffin stump problem is definitely parodying the Wolf from Pulp Fiction. I wonder how many people realize that segment was actually parodying 1993’s _ **Point of No Return** _ (aka _ **The Assassin** _), also with Harvey Keitel. ---
**Author:** ![bizerta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-movie-references-on-seinfeld/834380/10 "2019-05-23T10:48:14Z")
This wasn’t subtle, but I never figured out the reference. In, “The Strike” > [@](#): > > JERRY: So, if I ask her out again - I don’t know who’s showing up: The good, the bad, or the ugly. > GEORGE: (Identifying what Jerry said) **Clint Eastwood!** That I understand, but in the next breath > [@](#): > > JERRY: It has a certain understated stupidity. > GEORGE: (Once again, Identifying) **The Outlaw of Josey Whales!** > JERRY: …Yeah. What does that quote have to do with that film? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-movie-references-on-seinfeld/834380/11 "2019-05-23T13:45:36Z")
If you click on the “Connections” link on an episode IMDb page, you might find some nice movie references others have caught. E.g., for _The Glasses_ S05E03, George does the same “spot a dime” bit that was used by Donald Pleasance in _The Great Escape_. In _The Bris_ S05E05, in addition to all the _Godfather_ references, there’s also the Pig Man/hospital thing which references the Malcolm McDowell film _O Lucky Man_! ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-movie-references-on-seinfeld/834380/12 "2019-05-23T13:54:05Z")
> [@bizerta](#): > > What does that quote have to do with that film? It has nothing to do with the film - that’s the joke. George thinks he’s keeping up with Jerry’s movie references, but he’s being typical George. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-movie-references-on-seinfeld/834380/13 "2019-05-23T14:27:16Z")
The scene where Newman is following Kramer in a mail truck and warning him to stop his vendetta against the US Postal Service is an homage to “Three Days of the Condor”