# What is extremely common in TV or movies but almost never happens in real life? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 6, 2021, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311 "2021-02-06T04:16:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 248
**Author:** ![JohnnyEcks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnnyecks/32/18197_2.png) [@JohnnyEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnyEcks)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2025, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4969 "2025-05-10T22:36:45Z")
The actor claimed he did it deliberately to see if Ed Wood would do a second take…. He didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4970 "2025-05-16T00:27:13Z")
The “dead or nearly dead tropes” thread just recently got bumped, and I noticed my own post in that thread about the old trope of the fancy restaurant where the menu is entirely in French. And that made me wonder if that was ever actually a thing. Was there a time when fine dining establishments in the US had menus written in French? I could imagine at one time maybe educated upper class people were expected to know French, and I could see fancy restaurants writing their menus in French as a way of keeping out the unwashed masses. But was it actually a thing, or a creation of Hollywood? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4971 "2025-05-16T00:43:34Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Was there a time when fine dining establishments in the US had menus written in French? [The origin and history of restaurant menus - Menubly](https://www.menubly.com/blog/history-of-menu/#:~:text=Fine%20dining%20establishments%20often%20featured,to%20enhance%20the%20dining%20experience). _Fine dining establishments often featured elaborate descriptions of dishes, sometimes in French, reflecting the perception of French cuisine as the height of culinary achievement. Menu design became an art form, with restaurants commissioning beautiful illustrations and typography to enhance the dining experience._ ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4972 "2025-05-16T01:20:53Z")
My memory is a little different - I think the trope was that all fancy restaurants were French , not that a fancy Italian restaurant /steakhouse had a menu written in French. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4973 "2025-05-16T01:45:43Z")
But when they were French restaurants, the protagonist would randomly point at something and then be brought escargot. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4974 "2025-05-16T01:49:27Z")
I’ve never been to a Michelin star restaurant but I do like to go to good places. I’ve been to multiple restaurants that have menus in Italian or in German. If there is a description it’s usually in English but if it’s just the name of the food and there is no attempt to translate the terms into English. I’m reasonably good at restaurant Italian and German but I’m happy to have Google at times like that. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4975 "2025-05-16T02:00:08Z")
And sometimes it’s more adventurous to not know what’s on the tasting menu. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4976 "2025-05-16T02:25:28Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > My memory is a little different - I think the trope was that all fancy restaurants were French , not that a fancy Italian restaurant /steakhouse had a menu written in French. It was both – the restaurants were French, and the menu was written in French. The trope was that the character was embarrassed to admit they couldn’t read French, so they would randomly point at something on the menu. Usually they would end up being brought escargot, like @Nars_Glinley mentioned. I also recall a variation where the snooty waiter would inform them that they were pointing at the dress code, or something else that isn’t food (which would imply that literally everything was in French, not just the names of the items). ---
**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 16, 2025, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4977 "2025-05-16T02:43:58Z")
One might suppose someone would have published a translation guide specifically for restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4978 "2025-05-16T03:30:38Z")
I think it’s the snobbery of “if you don’t know (understand), you don’t belong” ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4979 "2025-05-16T04:09:03Z")
I recall the tired gag. “Oui mousier, one order of ‘closed Sunday.’” Similar to “but I’ve always wanted a singing telegram. C’mon, just this once?” “Well okay: (sung to “Hooray for Hollywood”) ‘Your brother George is dead! It says right here he died in bed!’” ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4980 "2025-05-16T11:04:06Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > But when they were French restaurants, the protagonist would randomly point at something and then be brought escargot. Or crayfish [Mr Bean](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkA18x3Pvzc&t=15s) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4981 "2025-05-16T13:51:52Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > > [@doreen](#): > > > > My memory is a little different - I think the trope was that all fancy restaurants were French , not that a fancy Italian restaurant /steakhouse had a menu written in French. > > It was both – the restaurants were French, and the menu was written in French. The trope was that the character was embarrassed to admit they couldn’t read French, so they would randomly point at something on the menu. Usually they would end up being brought escargot, like @Nars_Glinley mentioned. I also recall a variation where the snooty waiter would inform them that they were pointing at the dress code, or something else that isn’t food (which would imply that literally everything was in French, not just the names of the items). Having the total knowledge of the human race on your phone kind of ruined that. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4982 "2025-05-16T14:27:18Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > I recall the tired gag. “Oui mousier, one order of ‘closed Sunday.’” “Your flaming hog balls, sir.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4983 "2025-05-16T23:29:27Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I’ve never been to a Michelin star restaurant but I do like to go to good places. I am more a gourmand than a gourmet, but once i did eat at one- right before it got its star. Tasty, great service, not worth the money- but someone else was paying. > [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > then be brought escargot. If you like butter and garlic, escargot isnt bad. Not good mind you, but I ate it. > [@Melbourne](#): > > Or crayfish … Crayfish can be damn good- **Cajun Crawfish Etouffee** is great. In Jingo, Vimes figures out and has confirmed that the sheep eyeballs thing is a joke on newbs. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4984 "2025-05-16T23:57:47Z")
I’ve read a couple of English history books written in the 1950s that when quoting French people (and only French people) it would be entirely untranslated French for absolutely no reason. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2025, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4985 "2025-05-17T17:38:11Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > The classic example: > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAMGtJLNy4s%2F](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAMGtJLNy4s%2F) God yes. Even as an idiot child in the 50’s that scene bothered me. A cop with enormous balls but no brain. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2025, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4986 "2025-05-17T18:34:09Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > > [@mbh](#): > > > > The classic example: > > > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAMGtJLNy4s%2F](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAMGtJLNy4s%2F) > > God yes. Even as an idiot child in the 50’s that scene bothered me. A cop with enormous balls but no brain. Maybe I missed the 100 foot tall lizard with my first 4 shots. Let me move 2 steps closer that should help. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2025, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4987 "2025-05-17T19:00:21Z")
If only he had taken a couple of more steps. Or aimed. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4988 "2025-05-17T19:04:20Z")
He’d have been fine if he hadn’t stopped to reload. Guns in those days never needed to be reloaded. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311.md?page=247) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311.md?page=249)