# What is this medal/medallion? (From 1979's "The Black Hole")

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-medal-medallion-from-1979s-the-black-hole/746302>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 16, 2016, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-medal-medallion-from-1979s-the-black-hole/746302 "2016-02-16T23:59:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2016, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-medal-medallion-from-1979s-the-black-hole/746302/1 "2016-02-16T23:59:59Z")

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Viewers of Disney’s 1979 scifi picture “The Black Hole” might have noticed, during much of the last half or so of the film, Maximilian Schell’s character Dr. Reinhardt [wearing a medal or medallion on his dress uniform.](http://www.byyourcommand.net/cylongallery/albums/The%20Black%20Hole/Characters/Dr%20Hans%20Reinhardt/Dr__Hans_Reinhardt_03.jpg)

My question is…what _is_ it? It’s never mentioned in-dialogue, either as a real or fictional decoration, and I simply don’t recognize the design, if it was just taken out of a stock supply of props, although it _slightly_ resembles a US [Space Medal of Honor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Space_Medal_of_Honor).

Thus, I’m stumped. Is there a cult film buff and/or a Phalerist in the house?

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**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-medal-medallion-from-1979s-the-black-hole/746302/2 "2016-02-17T00:34:28Z")

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Looks like a [Legion of Merit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_Merit_Medal).

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-medal-medallion-from-1979s-the-black-hole/746302/3 "2017-07-14T12:56:51Z")

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Bumped.

Just saw the movie recently and wondered that myself. Dr. Reinhardt’s medal looks a lot like, but not exactly to my eyes, the Legion of Merit, as **SpoilerVirgin** suggested. But the five white branches of Dr. R’s medal look like they point outwards, as arrowheads, rather than being indented at the end, as in the Wiki link **SV** provided.

**Ranchoth** ’s first link has reverted to a picture of Dr. R. in casual wear, earlier in the film; here are some images of the mad scientist in formal wear with the medal:

[http://3.darkroom.shortlist.com/980/6f1e481ff567691a7162dec087216f57:4a6da48a81fe5d7ea3bfec32e1afa6bc/dr-hans-reinhardt](http://3.darkroom.shortlist.com/980/6f1e481ff567691a7162dec087216f57:4a6da48a81fe5d7ea3bfec32e1afa6bc/dr-hans-reinhardt)  
[![](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/51/97/47/519747de947ac48aa69fb9f269312b0a.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/51/97/47/519747de947ac48aa69fb9f269312b0a.jpg)  
[![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3e/43/68/3e4368f598316efdf1d7f7907d403a44.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3e/43/68/3e4368f598316efdf1d7f7907d403a44.jpg)

Perhaps it’s slight reworking of the Legion of Merit by the Disney costumers, intended to evoke a future version of the award?