# The mind-boggling movie quote? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608 "2005-05-19T17:51:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2005, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/81 "2005-05-22T07:15:48Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The longer this topic goes on, the more I believe the explanation that it was a joke created to drive people nuts. Or what if it’s an Ontological paradox? The qoute comes from somewhere, but nobody knows where. In the future, nobody knows where, so eventually a time machine is invented and one of the trips is to go back in time to figure out where it comes from. Unfortunatly, the time traveler, while in the past, lets it slip and it eventually ingrains itself in the general conciousness of the population. Probably not true, but a really cool idea anyway. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2005, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/82 "2005-05-22T07:21:14Z")
Oh, it does remind me of a joke from the BBC series Black Books. In the 1st episode, The main female character Fran, who runs a trinket shop, spends much of her time trying to identify a strange globe with a stud on it. At first she tries to pawn one off on her Neighber, Bernard. Bernerd: “What does it do?” Fran: “It’s very in” ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2005, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/83 "2005-05-22T07:48:59Z")
I believe it was a slightly changed version of a line from THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES From Hans Christian Andersen!: > **[Memories of Rick Walton](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfngoPBNI3_EUCkVfdLEHmNBvczVYVGR9nCzIpa_o7_WtLlwQ/closedform)** > > We would love to hear your memories of Rick. Write a story below. Or, if you want to submit a photo or record yourself telling a story, email it to rick@rickwalton.com. > [@](#): > > Among the courtiers were the two men who had already been there. They thought that the others would see something upon the empty looms, so they began to cry out at once, “Look, your Majesty. Do you see the beautiful design? And the color - is it not gorgeous?” > > “What is this?” thought the Emperor. “I see nothing at all! Am I not fit to be Emperor? Am I a dunce? If that were known, I should be deposed.” > > “Yes, yes, it is very pretty,” said the Emperor aloud. “I could not be better pleased.” > > He smiled and nodded his head, and stared at the empty looms. His courtiers, too, looked and looked, but saw no more than the others. Yet they all cried, “It is wonderful.” And they asked the Emperor to wear a suit made from this cloth in a great procession that was son to take place. > > The Emperor gave each of the rogues a royal badge to wear, and called them the Imperial Court Weavers. > > As the day of the procession came nearer, the two rogues worked with might and main. They were up the whole of the night before, and kept more than sixteen candles burning. > > Through the shining windows the people could see them hard at work. They took yards of nothing down from the empty looms. They made cuts in the air with big scissors. They sewed strong stitches without any thread; and at last they said, “The clothes are ready.” > > The Emperor, with his grandest courtiers, went to put on his new suit. > > The rogues lifted their arms as if holding something. “See!” they said. “Here is the coat! Here is the cape! Here are the trousers! The cloth is as light as a spider’s web. You may move as freely as if you had **nothing on. That is the beauty of it.** ” AFAICR the most faithful telling of this on TV or the movies was from a UPA short of the tale. Like the Sherlock Holmes quote (also never said): “Elementary my dear Watson” The mind-boggling movie quote simplifies the characters and the tale… I could see the Court weavers telling each other that. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Kenneth\_Noisewater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@Dr.Kenneth\_Noisewater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Kenneth_Noisewater)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2005, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/84 "2005-05-22T08:07:10Z")
Frankly I think we’re connecting two common phrases It doesn’t do anything & That’s the beauty of it and whoever we’re crediting has said only one of the pair. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2005, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/85 "2005-05-22T09:36:35Z")
Perhaps it’s from one of the Beatles’ movies. Help! maybe. I could certainly hear John saying it. Although I do think it fits nicely with BBC series of the Hitchhikers Guide. Yes, annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tyrrell_mcallister/32/16772_2.png) [@Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyrrell_McAllister)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/86 "2005-05-22T14:49:17Z")
I’m as mystified by how familiar this quote seems as everyone else. One thing that popped into my head, which I haven’t noticed anyone else mention, is that it could be a _Far Side_ quote. Does anyone have a complete anthology that they wouldn’t mind spending a few hours checking :). ---
**Author:** ![Avumede](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/avumede/32/7235_2.png) [@Avumede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avumede)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/87 "2005-05-23T13:34:28Z")
That’s the beauty of this quote. It’s not from anywhere! ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/88 "2005-05-23T13:41:20Z")
> [@Avumede](#): > > That’s the beauty of this quote. It’s not from anywhere! best post in this whole thread ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/89 "2005-05-26T19:05:18Z")
In my mind, the scene is a corporate conference room, and the IBM reps have just unveiled a glowing, floating thing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@The\_Hook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hook)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/90 "2005-05-26T19:35:53Z")
> [@pessimisticgrace](#): > > So, I pose it to you: > > “What does it do?” > “That’s the beauty of it. It doesn’t \do\ anything.” Isn’t that a variation in the story that inspired Hitchcock to use the term MacGuffin? ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/91 "2005-05-26T20:29:21Z")
Does anybody have a copy of “A Christmas Story” (known in my house as “Ralphie”)? It sounds like it would come from the part where Ralphie’s dad wins the lamp. The mother questions what it does and that is his response. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/92 "2005-05-26T21:16:54Z")
According to the IMDB thread that **Earl Snake-Hips Tucker** linked to, the answer has been found – the Bugs Bunny cartoon _Mad as a Mars Hare_. However, I’ve done several searches using +“Mad as a Mars Hare” along with key terms from the quote, and it turned up nothing. It seems to me that if a quote this pervasive _were_ from this cartoon, it would get more of a mention on the web. Therefore, I ain’t buying it. For the record, when I read the OP, I instantly thought “Oh…that’s from one of the _Hitchhiker’s_ books…” \ ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/93 "2005-05-26T23:46:35Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > In my mind, the scene is a corporate conference room, and the IBM reps have just unveiled a glowing, floating thing. One person early on in the mystery two years ago mailed IBM b/c he too remembered a computer/technology commercial. They said no. Gotpasswords and everyone else, please go to my post in Mundane, [link here,](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=318230) and help out. I plan on sending hundreds of letters out ASAP. MONSTER, you need to see the [web blog devoted to it](http://kcor1953beauty.tripod.com/blog/). Everybody go here.\*\* A Christmas Story has already been checked, Monster. SO HAS A LOT OF OTHER STUFF. BUT A LOT HASN’T BEEN. FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP\*\* 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/94 "2005-05-27T03:03:51Z")
> [@Hal Briston](#): > > According to the IMDB thread that **Earl Snake-Hips Tucker** linked to, the answer has been found – the Bugs Bunny cartoon _Mad as a Mars Hare_ Look again. PS: SDMB “Earl Snake-Hips Tucker” = IMDB “Mjollnir” ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/95 "2005-06-01T02:34:25Z")
Does anybody plan on/ feel like watching these movies soon: The Mask Peggy Sue Got Married What Dreams May Come Yellow Submarine Jumanji These are a few movies of a short list of movies I’ve seen that I plan on reseeing to check for the quote- and also b/c they’re enjoyable. But these aren’t as fun, so if anyone owns these and/or just likes them and feels like a rewatch, keeping the sentence in mind, be my guest. ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/96 "2005-06-01T02:35:29Z")
And by ‘keeping the sentence in mind’ I obv. mean ‘being attentive for the phrase,’ even though it’s not like you’d ever miss this phrase if you heard it ;). ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/97 "2005-06-01T03:36:11Z")
I was sure it was in “Independence Day” (1) but it’s not. Now I must check “II”. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/98 "2005-06-01T03:54:23Z")
I for some reason am picturing a Nextel or IBM Business Division thingy commercial. IT guy brings his invention, has a bunch of things on it, boss asks what it does. But I think that is for a device that does everything, not nohting. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/99 "2005-06-01T04:03:50Z")
'Kay, now y’all have sucked me in. My first mental response was hearing Steve Martin’s voice saying that second line, with “do” pronounced almost like “dyoooo.” Not sure why, as I haven’t really seen all that many Steve Martin films. But now I’m getting a distinct “Willy Wonka” (the Gene Wilder film) vibe here. I can hear one of those kids – maybe the blueberry chick or Veruca Salt? – asking Wonka what one of the gajillion doodads / buttons does, and Wilder’s sly response. No? ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608/100 "2005-06-01T04:05:41Z")
Oh ugh, sorry, just read that blog. Apparently the Wonka guess has been checked and refuted. And yet … and yet … I’m not convinced… 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mind-boggling-movie-quote/304608.md?page=6)