# Use Imdb.com to connect actors and/or movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 3, 2004, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-imdb-com-to-connect-actors-and-or-movies/262902 "2004-09-03T03:18:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![High\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8797f3/32.png) [@High\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/High_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-imdb-com-to-connect-actors-and-or-movies/262902/1 "2004-09-03T03:18:55Z")
I would like to mention a game a friend and me play via email using [www.imdb.com](http://www.imdb.com). (a movie facts database…in case someone doesn’t know). She will email to me the name of a movie or actor/actress (start) and the name of another movie or actor/actress (end). Then I must go to [imdb.com](http://imdb.com) and search for the (start) movie/actor. If it is an actor, I must follow the link of one of his/her movies, then the link of one of the actors in that movie, then one of links of _that_ actors movies, and so on, to get to the target (or end) actor/movie. A “degree of separation” type game. I would then compare my list with my friend’s and whoever had the shortest (honesty rules) was “the winner.” An easy example: (Start) _The African Queen_. (End) Dabney Coleman. Procession: _The African Queen_. Katherine Hepburn. _On Golden Pond_. Dabney Coleman. Obviously a short and easy example, but it can be really difficult with a little thought: 12 Angry Men -----\> Hilary Duff, for example. It is really fun, and challenging sometimes, especially if you like movies. I havn’t yet not been able to make a connection; but on many it took a lot of thought and linking. I’m sure at least some Dopers have heard of and/or done this, but I couldn’t find any search results to the like. Also: no outside research. No googling. Either before or after. Once you start, you can’t leave imdb for help. No eliminating links either. If you went through 6 links to make a connection and found out later you could have done it in 3 using a different actor/movie at an earlier point, you still must list all 6 links. I like to think it is a good measure of a persons movie I.Q. You can start with either a movie or actor and end with either a movie or actor. Lame or no? I’ll submit the first challenge and see how it goes. If it is lame and unpopular…at least I tried. The aforementioned: 12 Angry Men -----\> Hilary Duff ---
**Author:** ![High\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8797f3/32.png) [@High\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/High_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-imdb-com-to-connect-actors-and-or-movies/262902/2 "2004-09-03T03:25:33Z")
P.S. 1. T.V. shows, such as _Dynasty_ count as “movies” for purposes of the game. 2. No researching ahead, i.e. going to the end product and looking for an actor or movie that might link the start product more easily then going back and choosing a route accordingly. Once you start you must use only your knowledge to light your path. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-imdb-com-to-connect-actors-and-or-movies/262902/3 "2004-09-03T03:38:11Z")
First time I’ve heard of a PBEM [Star Links](http://www.cs.virginia.edu/oracle/). ---
**Author:** ![High\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8797f3/32.png) [@High\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/High_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-imdb-com-to-connect-actors-and-or-movies/262902/4 "2004-09-03T03:54:15Z")
> [@Jeff Olsen](#): > > First time I’ve heard of a PBEM [Star Links](http://www.cs.virginia.edu/oracle/). Ah. Sweet link. Thanks. I’ve added to my favorites. Of course this would not be allowable in the spirit of the game. For curiosities sake, I did 'Jack Klugman (12 Angry Men) and Hilary Duff. It resulted in 2 degrees of separation. But i wonder how many would know that playing the game without that reference. For the record, this was my progression: 12 Angry Men. Jack Klugman. The Odd Couple: Together Again. Dick Van Patten. The Love Boat (many “guest stars” that might make linking easier). Tom Bosley (one such guest star). Happy Days. Ron Howard. Gung Ho (Executive Producer is ok). Gedde Watanabe. Sixteen Candles. John Cusack. Better off Dead. Curtis Armstrong. Revenge of the Nerds. Robert Carradine. Lizzie McGuire. Hilary Duff. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-imdb-com-to-connect-actors-and-or-movies/262902/5 "2004-09-03T05:36:18Z")
1- E.G. Marshall was a juror in “12 Angry Men” 2- Diane Keaton was E.G. Marshall’s daughter in “Interiors” 3- Steve Martin was Diane KEaton’s husband in “Father of the Bride” 4- Hillary Duff was Steve Martin’s daughter in in “Cheaper by the Dozen” ---
**Author:** ![High\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8797f3/32.png) [@High\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/High_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-imdb-com-to-connect-actors-and-or-movies/262902/6 "2004-09-03T19:39:49Z")
In light of [this post,](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4397624&postcount=1) [this thread,](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4397624&postcount=1) [this already existing movie game thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=249945) and obvious lack of interest, I am self closing this thread. This thread is closed! [SIZE=2]100th post, BTW. This isn’t a count boost…just saying is all.[/SIZE]