Fun Fact Friday - Bluffin' with my MacGuffin

I figured we could start off the return of Fun Fact Friday with a little story from one of the great film directors of all time, Alfred Hitchcock:

Two men are riding in a train compartment together.  One man says, “What’s that package up there in the baggage rack?”  And the other answers, “Oh, that’s the MacGuffin.”  The first one asks, “What’s a MacGuffin?”  ”Well,” the other man says, “it’s an apparatus for trapping lions in the Scottish Highlands.”  The first man says, “But there are no lions in the Scottish Highlands,” and the other one answers, “Well then, that’s no MacGuffin!”

In short, the MacGuffin is a literary device.  Unlike a red herring (like Communism, for example), the MacGuffin does not aim to mislead but instead it serves to drive the plot of a story while being unimportant of itself.  The MacGuffin puts a story into action, like Janet Leigh stealing forty grand, then leaves the story faster than you can say "Oh God, Mother!"

Hitchcock was a master of the MacGuffin, like Harry in 'The Trouble with Harry', or the original theatre scene in 'The 39 Steps', and the unnamed government secrets in 'North by Northwest'.  Also widely regarded as MacGuffins are the briefcase in 'Pulp Fiction', the Maltese Falcon in 'The Maltese Falcon', the egg salad recipe in 'What's Up, Tiger Lily?', and my favorite, the gold in 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly'.

someone has too much time on their hands...

So remember kids, go out and drive a plot line.  Even if it turns out, in the end, you're really not important at all.

Movie Mania Monday - a conjuring trick, that's what it is

It was a bright and sunny weekend, and other than an afternoon drive, I felt quite unproductive. Not that an afternoon drive is productive, by any means. Had the wind been calmer, it would have been beautiful bike weather, but I don't feel like getting slammed into the side of a moving car by Mother Nature.

Of course, daylight savings time always throws me off, too. I really have no clue what time it is right now, not that knowing would matter.

Back in third or fourth grade, one of the projects I got to participate in with some classmates was a 'radio recording' (more precisely, a cassette recorder) of 'The Invisible Man'. This was something, reading lines and trying not to sound stilted and nervous, despite hating my voice on tape. I was the man, invisible as I was. Of course, dying at the end kind of sucks. It obviously wasn't too traumatic, as I went on to star in such middle school theater performances as 'Blanche Neige' as the level-headed Doc, leader of les sept dwarfs. I rocked it for those seven parents and two other French classes, let me tell you. "Au palais, mes freres, au palais."

I've had my yearbooks piled in a box by my desk for some time now, meaning to scan them in. Sunday, I came to the conclusion that my awkward years weren't necessarily consecutive. 3rd grade, I was smart-looking, adorable, and dapper in my turtleneck and green sport coat. Yes, my mother cuts my hair. Wanna make something of it?4th grade? Let the awkward commence! Those teeth, that I subsequently knocked out in 8th grade, early attempts at parting my own hair, the ivory fly-collared shirt with brown detailing and a sweater vest? I really wore sweater vests? Must have blocked that out of my head, since I remember this shirt in great detail, but I don't remember ever owning a sweater vest. Because yeah, that's the worst part of this picture. Fifth grade? Who knew 1981 was the year of the collar. I can only hope that was a white shirt, because I distinctly remember the navy blue sweater with the periwinkle collar. Because bulky layers is just what a fat kid needs for his school pictures. I'm sure I was wearing powder blue corduroys with this, because that's how I rolled. Fifth grade was also the year of our trip to Quebec, which included such highlights as me projectile vomiting in a mall, having scalding tomato soup spilled on me and my powder blue cords by a maitre d', and getting two black eyes on my first attempt at roller skating, ever. At least I didn't pull a Sarah Moylan, walking dead into a parking meter on the streets of Montreal. Because two solid days of public barfing is far less embarrassing.

Enough reminiscing, though. Obviously, last week's movie was The Invisible Man, the 1933 version drawn closely from the original Wells novel and a brilliant piece of early cinema. Credit goes to Ms. for picking this one out of the lineup.

For this week, a cursory review of the rules. Identify the film being quoted below using only your noggin. No Google, Bing, Altavista, Yahoo, Ask Jeeves, the like. If you're first, you win the peoples' ovation and fame forever, along with the coveted title of Iron Quote Guesser. Watch this space for the wall of Iron Quote Guessers of yore, I'm also debating the relative merits of declaring a three-and-out rule, or at least a three-and-Tuesday rule, just to give everyone a fighting chance. Voici la quote de la semaine:

Oh, I don't know much of anything.

Allez guessing!

The Treasure You Seek

If you have arrived here, it is hopefully because you have tried and failed and really, REALLY need to know the answers. Well, I'm here to provide closure.

1 - L
2 - H
3 - O
4 - I
5 - A
6 - M
7 - Q
8 - G
9 - B
10 - N
11 - J
12 - E
13 - C
14 - F
15 - P
16 - D
17 - K

Bonus question, since you're here: Which famous actor/director changed his name from Albert Einstein?

Sexy time, very nice

From this quiz, take it first...

1) Phoebe Cates' ultimate bikini scene in 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High'

2) Nicole Kidman gets sexy in the rain to this song in a short little sundress in 'To Die For'

3) Demi Moore bursts onto the screen in 'Striptease'

4) Bo Derek insists on making love to this song in 'Ten'

5) Heather Graham gets naked (except for the roller skates) in 'Boogie Nights'

6) Laura Dern rides Nic Cage while this death metal song plays over the top in 'Wild at Heart'

7) Kelly Macdonald is magnificently dirty in the back of a cab to this song in 'Trainspotting' (and in her schoolgirl uniform)

8) Christian Bale expounds on the brilliance or banality of Genesis and Phil's solo work to this song while an escort and a prostitute he's hired have sex with one another for his pleasure in 'American Psycho'.

If you haven't seen these movies, see them. 

Puff Puff Pass/Fail

Don't cheat, kids!  Take the quiz here first.

1) What actor starred in a Disney film under the alias Paul Mall?



Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman) starred in the 1986 film Flight of the Navigator under the psuedonym Paul Mall.

2) Name the television show that featured a character named Salem?


Sabrina, the Teenage Witch


3) What iconic ad man did Don Johnson usurp for a 1991 film?

Don Johnson starred with Mickey Rourke as 'The Marlboro Man', with Rourke taking on the role of Harley Davidson in that film nobody ever saw.


4) What brand of cigarettes does Bruce Willis smoke in Die Hard? 


Bruce is squarely a Marlboro man in Die Hard, but picks up the villains' Gauloises 


5) What about in Pulp Fiction?


As with every Tarantino smoker, only Red Apples will do for Butch.


6) What Academy-award-winning film is set in Newport, RI?


The 1974 version of The Great Gatsby was set in Newport, and won Academy awards for Best Costume Design and Best Music.

7) Name the brand mentioned by Billy Joel in an iconic 80's song.


In 'Keeping the Faith', Joel sings about a fresh pack of Luckys. 


8) What series of code phrases does James Bond use to identify a fellow agent?


See "From Russia with Love":

James Bond: Pardon me, do you have a match?
MI6 Contact: I use a lighter.
James Bond: Better still.
MI6 Contact: Until they go wrong.
James Bond: Exactly.


9) In which film did Clint Eastwood light a match on the face of his opponent?



This took place in both Hang 'Em High and The Good, The Bad, The Ugly.


10) What is my favorite Kool and the Gang song? (Hint - it's featured in one of the films listed above.)

From Pulp Fiction:  "Tell me again about the hash bars." Background music rocks, too.

Bonus:  Kurt Vonnegut famously smoked Pall Malls his entire life, bringing us back to question number one.

Bond Girls are Easy

Okay kids, no cheating.  Make sure you check out the quiz first!

Which actor has starred in the most Bond films to date?  Robert Llewellyn portrayed 'Q' (or Major Boothroyd) in 17 Bond films, the most appearances by any actor.
    
Which Bond character has been played by the most actors in the franchise history: M, Ernst Stavro Blofeld or Felix Leiter?  Blofeld was portrayed by nine actors in the history of Bond films, one more than Felix Leiter.
    
Which of those characters was played by more than one actor in a single film?  Blofeld accomplished his feat in question two by being portrayed by two different actors in Thunderball, From Russia With Love and For Your Eyes Only.
    
Name two actors to play a different role in a subsequent film than in their original Bond appearance.  (Check the CDS archives for this one, kiddoes!)
    
Of the many makes and models of car James Bond has driven, and given his history of destroying anything he drives, which car has featured in more films than any other?  The ubiquitous Aston Martin DB5 has made more appearances than any other vehicle in the series.  And she's a beauty.
    
What children's author wrote the screenplay for one of the film adaptations of Ian Fleming's novels?  Roald Dahl wrote the screenplay for 'You Only Live Twice'.
    
What non-Bond film did said author screenwrite based on an Ian Fleming story?  Dahl also adapted Fleming's story 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' for film.  This film featured Gert Frobe, best known for his role as Auric Goldfinger, and Benny Hill, best known for his role as Benny Hill (pickle pinger op pate, indeed.)
    
Which film featured more actors playing Agent 007 than any other?  The non-canonical 1967 'Casino Royale' featured a plethora of actors and actresses billed as 'Agent 007'.
    
Of those actors, who is the only one to act in one of the 'official' Bond films?  In addition to her appearance in 'Casino Royale', Ursula Andress donned the now-famous white bikini in Dr. No.
    
Who was the best Bond girl ever?  Discuss.  So many choices here, some far better than others.  I've always been fond of Daniella Bianchi ('From Russia With Love'), Claudine Auger ('Thunderball')  Carole Bouquet ('For Your Eyes Only') and Barbara Bach ('The Spy Who Loved Me').  In the end, as much as I'm drawn to Bianchi's character for her beauty, I love the independence and strength of Bouquet.  In the real end, it's such a part of the genre it seems wrong to exclude any of them.

Except Halle Berry.  I mean, come on.

Role Models

Did you take the quiz? 


Good for you, score yourself with the answers below.  Didn't take the quiz?  Don't cheat.  You're only hurting yourself.













1:  Dr. Who
2:  Rusty Griswold
3:  Superman
4:  Annie Oakley
5:  Batman
6:  Eliot Ness
7:  Elvis Presley
8:  James Bond
9:  Doc Holiday
10: Wyatt Earp

Home is where the heart is

Did you take the quiz? Good. Because otherwise, looking here would be cheating.











1) North by Northwest (Alfred Hitchcock)

2) Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

3) Happy Days (aayyyy!)

4) Diamonds are Forever

5) Clue

6) Ferris Bueller's Day Off (John Hughes)

7) Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock)

8) Goonies

9) Secret Window

10) The Exorcist

11) Home Alone (John Hughes)

12) Miracle on 34th Street

Tired.

Take the original quiz HERE before you ruin all the fun...








Done? Good.

(1964) - 1964 Aston Martin DB5 (Silver) 'Goldfinger'
(1968) - 1968 Mustang fastback (Green) 'Bullitt'
(1977) - 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III (Black) 'The Car'
(1977) - 1976 Lotus Esprit Type 79 (White and submersible) 'The Spy Who Loved Me'
(1977) - 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (Black) 'Smokey and the Bandit'
(1978) - 1973 Chevrolet Corvette (Orange) 'Corvette Summer'
(1979) - 1973 Ford Falcon (Black) 'Mad Max'
(1980) - 1974 Dodge Monaco (Black & White) 'The Blues Brothers'
(1981) - 1980 Lamborghini Countach LP400S (Black) 'Cannonball Run'
(1983) - 1976 Porsche 928 (Gray) 'Risky Business'
(1985) - 1967 Camaro (Black with SS Stripes) 'Better Off Dead'
(1985) - 1981 DeLorean DMC12 (Silver) 'Back to the Future'
(1985) - 1984 Ferrari 308 GTS (Black) 'To Live and Die in L.A.'
(1987) - 1959 Corvette (Red and White) 'Less Than Zero'
(1988) - 1986 Porsche Carrera Cabrio (Red) 'Shakedown'

You two-timing sonuva...(spoilers)

Cheating are we? Take the quiz here first!
















Done now? Then check your answers.


Name Two Films...

1) ...based on board games:
Jumanji
Clue

2) ...featuring characters named Chance:
Tom Sizemore in Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man
Jean Claude Van Damme in Hard Target

3) ...based upon video games, but that DON'T feature CGI:
Street Fighter (1994)
Super Mario Bros (1993)

4) ...based on 'true stories of alien abduction'
Communion (1989)
Fire in the Sky (1993)

5) ...starring Bill McKinney and Geoffrey Lewis
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
Any Which Way You Can (1980)
Bronco Billy (1980)
Pink Cadillac (1989)

6) ...based in part on both Dashiell Hammett's book Red Harvest and the works of Akira Kurosawa
A Fistful of Dollars/Per un Pugno di Dollori (1964)
Last Man Standing (1996)

Actors who starred in movies from more than one category:
Jean Claude Van Damme (2 & 3)
Christopher Walken (4 & 6)
Clint Eastwood (5 & 6)

One of these things just doesn't belong

Group 1:

Roger Ward – Young Einstein (1988)
André René Roussimoff – The Princess Bride (1987)
James George Janos – Predator (1987)
Terry Bollea – Rocky III (1982)
Laurence Tureaud – D.C. Cab (1983)

All actors are former wrestlers. Of these, only Andre "the Giant" Roussimoff has been featured on a Dead Wrestler Trading Card
***

Group 2:

Cool World (1992)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964)
Kill Bill, Vol 1 (2003)
Space Jam (1996)

All films feature a combination of live-action and animation. Only in Kill Bill, Volume 1 do these two media fail to interact.
***

Group 3:

Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
I Am Legend (2007)
Never Say Never Again (1983)

All films are remakes of previous films:
Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
Bedtime Story (1964)
The Omega Man (1971)
Thunderball (1965)

Only The Thomas Crown Affair retained the same title in both films
***

Group 4:

Mad Max (1979)
Yojimbo (1961)
Fistful of Dollars (Per un pugno di dollari) (1964)
Old Boy (2003)
Wild at Heart (1989)

All five films feature a severed human hand. Only Old Boy fails to have this severed hand interact with a dog.

The bonus bonus? I've never seen D.C. Cab, Space Jam, or I Am Legend.

Holli Wouldn't Cheat Like This...

The Kims:

Bassinger - Holli Would (Cool World)
Cattrall - Gracie Law (Big Trouble in Little China)
Darby - Mattie Ross (True Grit)
Delaney - Detective Diane Russell (NYPD Blue)
Fields - Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey (The Facts of Life)
Hunter - Zira (Planet of the Apes)
Jones - Tina Parker (Juwanna Mann)
Kardashian - Summa Eve (Deep In the Valley aka Hot Babes)
Novak - Madeleine Elster & Judy Barton (Vertigo)

Spoilers - Recursion

Hey, cheater!  Go here for the questions before you read all the answers!

 

Films featured in a later film:

Rambo - Son of Rambo
Casablanca - When Harry met Sally
Rio Bravo - Get Shorty
Touch of Evil - Sneakers/Get Shorty
Goldfinger - Catch Me if You Can
Spartacus - Clueless
Miracle on 34th Street - Home Alone
Captain Blood - The Goonies
Watership Down - Donnie Darko
Myrt and Marge - O Brother, Where Art Thou?
It's a Wonderful Life - Bruce Almighty/Scrooged
Gilda - The Fisher King/The Shawshank Redemption

Name two movies that feature video stores, though no actual film footage is ever seen:

Gross Pointe Blank
Clerks

Name two movies that feature fake films as part of the main film's plotline.

Purple Rose of Cairo
Singin' in the Rain
Last Action Hero
For Your Consideration
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

Name two movies that feature 'themselves' in the film.

Spaceballs
Singin' in the Rain
Blazing Saddles

Sure, there are more answers than I requested.  That's why you should have done better than you did.  Now look sad and say "d'oh."