# The Language of Cinema Cliche: This is how you know that ...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [March 19, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317 "2005-03-19T15:10:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 8
### Author:  [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/141 "2005-03-27T12:57:24Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> Come to think of it, wasn’t the Empire State Building designed to double as a zeppelin mooring tower?
Nah, that was just PR. Nobody actually involved with the building’s construction ever seriously considered using the spire for anything but decoration (and bragging rights).
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### Author:  [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/142 "2005-03-27T12:59:24Z")
> [@HPL](#):
>
> Yep, which _Sky Captain_ takes advantage of.
>
> Too abd they found that zepplin mooring in the middle of the city doesn’t work, and the fact that zepplins went into decline after the Hidenberg acccident.
>
> Sorry, I think zepplins are very cool.
May you be haunted by the souls of several dozen deceased military airmen and well-to-do international travelers. 😉
But damn! They _were_ cool. Read a book called [Dr. Eckener’s Dream Machine](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0805064583/qid=1111929435/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-3869398-2112152?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) sometime.
[sub]About the mooring: The problem was doing it 1/4 mile off the ground at the top of a very tall tower. The updrafts made it impossible to do anything but throw down a couple bundles of newspapers. From the Goodyear Blimp.[/sub]
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### Author:  [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2005, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/143 "2005-03-27T19:42:46Z")
A young woman wearing a fashionable neck scarf will later be discovered to be a transsexual.
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### Author:  [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/144 "2005-03-27T19:48:04Z")
Cite?
No really, I want to know, and… :eek:
You are wanted on charges of murder, theft and many more crimes at [Which Doper did it? : The Game](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5984255&postcount=112) I’ll need you to come down to the station, for questioning, Madame.
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### Author:  [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/145 "2005-03-27T20:32:56Z")
> [@Scott\_plaid](#):
>
> Cite?
I’m not sure how I know this, it’s just I saw an episode of Law&Order once about this girl who was wearing a cute little neck scarf and my first thought was, “She’s an MtF”. I was right and it was critical to the plot. Maybe it’s just a device on television (I don’t see many movies anymore), like any woman huddled in a corner with a torn skirt and a bruise on her thigh has been raped.
The neck scarf thing was used in the movies Soapdish and Victor/Victoria to indicate transgenderism. If I can think of another example, I’ll post again later.
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### Author:  [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/146 "2005-03-27T20:37:38Z")
Whoa! And I always thought that neck scarves were to keep their heads from falling off, concealing fang wounds and other evidence of the supernatural. No, wait, that’s The Language of Written Fiction Cliche.
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### Author:  [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/147 "2005-03-27T22:33:08Z")
> [@Scott\_plaid](#):
>
> Whoa! And I always thought that neck scarves were to keep their heads from falling off, concealing fang wounds and other evidence of the supernatural. No, wait, that’s The Language of Written Fiction Cliche.
You are very close.
If you can see a bosom below the neck scarf, it’s a MtF transsexual or a transvestite. If no bosom is visible, such as the woman is wearing a turtleneck or a high-collared blouse then she is hiding hickies, fang marks or suspicious tattoos. Older women wearing massive chokers (necklaces that are thicker and ride higher on the neck) are hiding goiters.
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### Author:  [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/148 "2005-03-27T23:00:50Z")
If a man cheats on his wife, he is a cold-blooded duplicitious cad who will suffer a well-deserved horrible retribution _{Fatal Attraction}_. If a wife cheats on her husband, she is boldly exploring her burgeoning sexuality, and will be rewarded with a happy ending _sans_ hubby _{The Piano}_.
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/149 "2005-03-27T23:21:58Z")
> [@Merl Minnozza](#):
>
> In movies which are dedicated to lawyers, courts, etc, the judge is usually not a black woman.
Exception: _Legally Blonde_
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### Author:  [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/150 "2005-03-28T14:54:33Z")
> [@HPL](#):
>
> For summoning Gozer, obviously. Having LA covered In Mashmellow is something everyone can enjoy.
That’s _New York_, thank you.
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### Author:  [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2005, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/151 "2005-03-28T15:19:26Z")
If a child has an imaginary friend, evil is afoot in the land.
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### Author:  [@junk\_sampan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/junk_sampan)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/152 "2005-03-29T01:28:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> Naw, 2001-present is Empire State Building again. No one would recognize that space. And let’s not forget the NYC Skyline. The Chrysler Building also belongs in the mix.
Any film shot in San Francisco must include a crazy car chase up and down the hills of SF. Add cable cars to taste.
See The Rock, Metro, Bullitt
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### Author:  [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/153 "2005-03-29T02:22:34Z")
> [@acsenray](#):
>
> That’s _New York_, thank you.
Yeah, but we’re building the ziggeruat in LA.
That way, it’ll be like Blade Runner, except without the Flying cars and Replicants.
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### Author:  [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/154 "2005-03-29T02:44:00Z")
> [@HPL](#):
>
> Yeah, but we’re building the ziggeruat in LA.
>
> That way, it’ll be like Blade Runner, except without the Flying cars and Replicants.
No replicants? Whaddya call Pamela Anderson then? 😃
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### Author:  [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/155 "2005-03-29T04:50:22Z")
If a scene takes place in a checkout line of a supermarket, the payer will NOT wait for their change.
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### Author:  [@Theobroma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theobroma)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2005, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/156 "2005-03-29T06:49:52Z")
> [@The Devil's Grandmother](#):
>
> Older women wearing massive chokers (necklaces that are thicker and ride higher on the neck) are hiding goiters.
[nitpick]I have never seen this in a movie. I happen to have a stupid goiter, and a massive choker would hugely emphasize it on anyone. I think massive chokers are for cross-dressers hiding an adam’s apple, or females from The Flinstones. [/nitpick]
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### Author:  [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2005, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/157 "2005-03-29T11:05:48Z")
> [@Superdude](#):
>
> If a scene takes place in a checkout line of a supermarket, the payer will NOT wait for their change.
Also, if a character exchanges dialog with the checker, the checker is likely to either fall in love with that character or do him an unexpected good turn later in the film. The more dialog, the greater the likelihood.
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### Author:  [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2005, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/158 "2005-03-29T11:43:44Z")
> [@Sampiro](#):
>
> Homeless people are never mentally ill if played by a celebrity.
With the exception of Robin Williams, of course.
If you´re on a horror or suspense movie and you are skeptical or weary, you´ll die a horrible and premature death that confirms your suspicions.
Heros get bullet magnets implanted on their shoulders.
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### Author:  [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/159 "2005-03-29T13:29:13Z")
Anyone driving an older car in a car chase will crash. Anyone in a new car will survive/get away.
Any movie that uses “O Fortuna” in the trailer will suck.
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### Author:  [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-language-of-cinema-cliche-this-is-how-you-know-that/295317/160 "2005-03-29T14:19:08Z")
> [@Superdude](#):
>
> If a scene takes place in a checkout line of a supermarket, the payer will NOT wait for their change.
In a similar vein, if a character has a telephone conversation on film, they will not say any form of “goodbye” at the end of it.
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