Wikipedia:Reference desk/Entertainment
of the Wikipedia reference desk.
Main page: Help searching Wikipedia
How can I get my question answered?
- Select the section of the desk that best fits the general topic of your question (see the navigation column to the right).
- Post your question to only one section, providing a short header that gives the topic of your question.
- Type '~~~~' (that is, four tilde characters) at the end – this signs and dates your contribution so we know who wrote what and when.
- Don't post personal contact information – it will be removed. Any answers will be provided here.
- Please be as specific as possible, and include all relevant context – the usefulness of answers may depend on the context.
- Note:
- We don't answer (and may remove) questions that require medical diagnosis or legal advice.
- We don't answer requests for opinions, predictions or debate.
- We don't do your homework for you, though we'll help you past the stuck point.
- We don't conduct original research or provide a free source of ideas, but we'll help you find information you need.
How do I answer a question?
Main page: Wikipedia:Reference desk/Guidelines
- The best answers address the question directly, and back up facts with wikilinks and links to sources. Do not edit others' comments and do not give any medical or legal advice.
June 19
Old Russian cartoon
I am looking for an old russian/soviet cartoon. It is a musical, and features a pony. (I know just how vague that is, but that is what I know about it ...) Cold Light (talk) 20:53, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
It might be called Volshebny Loshad ... I cant find anything about it ! Cold Light (talk) 20:53, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
Song
Sorry, I know this question may be a little vague. I'm looking for a rap/hip-hop song, perhaps made by a brazilian or spanish rapper. It conists mainly of a string of incomprehensible lines (more so than other rap), but while it has the look of a parody I don't think it is. Thanks in advance. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.92.4.238 (talk) 01:48, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- If you don't know if it's Brasilian or Spanish, you obviously don't speak either language. So wouldn't it all sound like gibberish to you any way?? You're not giving the Ref Desk much to go with. Can you describe the music video? More info is gonna be needed to figure out who you are refering to. --Endless Dan 16:22, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- If it has 'the look' of a parody, where did you see it? This could help narrow down the search. slυмgυм [ ←→ ] 18:55, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- Trust me, you can't make out any words or syllables. It's sorta hard to explain, but if you saw it you would understand immediately. I saw it on youtube if that helps. PS It's portugese, not brazilian, and I know some spanish. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.92.4.238 (talk) 01:46, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
- If it has 'the look' of a parody, where did you see it? This could help narrow down the search. slυмgυм [ ←→ ] 18:55, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
Film Budget
Can someone tell me what the budget of Hamlet (2000 film) (Ethan Hawke) was, and where they found out? Harland1 (t/c) 06:57, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- Estimated at $2,000,000, found here. Leeboyge (talk) 07:04, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- haha thanks, is that a lot for a film? Sorry for my ignorance. 86.157.134.22 (talk) 07:14, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- Terminator 2 had a $102,000,000 budget, while Clerks was made for $27,000. I think $2,000,000 would be considered a modest budget. D0762 (talk) 09:00, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- Thanks. Harland1 (t/c) 09:38, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- Terminator 2 had a $102,000,000 budget, while Clerks was made for $27,000. I think $2,000,000 would be considered a modest budget. D0762 (talk) 09:00, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- haha thanks, is that a lot for a film? Sorry for my ignorance. 86.157.134.22 (talk) 07:14, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
music fandom in East Asia
I keep hearing about how various midlevel musicians from the US are considerably more popular in East Asia than in the US. But aren't the big stars from the US also popular in East Asia? And I know there are a lot of East Asian stars popular in East Asia as well. How does this work? Is the average East Asian a fan of more artists than the average American? Or is the East Asian market more fragmented and diverse, allowing for more niches? Or is the whole thing about midlevel bands being huge in Japan and Korea just a myth or stereotype? --Allen (talk) 11:06, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- This is an educated guess on my part, but I know that on the Japanese billboards, a single can hit #1 with less than 50,000 copies sold, so I think it's just more fragmented. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 16:50, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
Who's the youngest gymnast who win gold medal in the Olympic Games?
men and women. Breckinridge (talk) 16:55, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- Women:Nadia Comăneci#Montreal Olympics Oda Mari (talk) 17:39, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- Men: Rowland Wolfe. [1] Mike H. Fierce! 19:48, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
Tennis balls
What does the number just below the brand name mean? Like Penn, and then a 4 or something at the bottom... 21655 ταλκ/01ҁ 18:52, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- Nothing; it's just so players can tell their balls apart from their neighbors' balls when they start rolling across courts. The balls in each new can have matching numbers. --Allen (talk) 19:01, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- Golf balls have these arbitrary numbers too, right? I remember it coming up in the movie Goldfinger. Are there other sports where it's also done? And the most important question... is there a Wikipedia article about it? --Anonymous, 21:14 UTC, June 19, 2008.
- Unfortunately, neither the golf ball nor the tennis ball articles mention the numbers. But yes, I agree with Allen, they're to tell the balls apart. Dismas|(talk) 23:59, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- Golf balls have these arbitrary numbers too, right? I remember it coming up in the movie Goldfinger. Are there other sports where it's also done? And the most important question... is there a Wikipedia article about it? --Anonymous, 21:14 UTC, June 19, 2008.
- Yes the numbers help people distinguish their balls from another can of the same brand on an adjacent court. I have added this information to the tennis ball article if thats ok. Jessica - N10248 (talk) 18:33, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
Movie scripts translated
Somebody knows where can find scripts of movies translated in Spanish? David Pro (talk) 21:38, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- Which movie are you looking for in particular? JessicaN10248 18:36, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
- For action and horror movies. David Pro (talk) 19:35, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
- Hmm... I can't find anything other than original Spanish language films. You could try using the Spanish subtitles from a DVD, maybe transcribe you own version. Otherwise you'll have to pay someone to translate it, and that would be very expensive. JessicaN10248 19:48, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
Tekken VHS mix-up
I recently opened a promotional copy of Tekken: The Motion Picture that I'd acquired in a yard sale still in its shrink wrap. The cover clearly stated "dubbed in English," but it was actually dubbed in French, and said so on the tape itself. Has anyone else had this happen? Will it affect the resale value in English-speaking parts of Canada? NeonMerlin 22:40, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
The name game
According to the article The Name Game, about the Shirley Ellis song, some names, if subjected to the song's playful treatment, will produce a profanity as a result of changing the initial consonant. I can understand how this works with most of the examples given, such as Bart, Chuck, and Mitch, but the one I couldn't figure out was Helen. Where is the profanity in "Helen, Helen, bo belen, banana fana fo felen, fi fi mo melen, Helen"? - Aletheia —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.104.139.75 (talk) 22:53, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- If I'm completely abreast of the situation, it's in the "mo' melon Helen" part. (When trying to find nasty interpretations of names in this song, one's cups truly runneth over.) StuRat (talk) 23:32, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
- Helen was added in this diff, by an anonymous editor who has no other contributions. I do believe I'll go remove it now. --LarryMac | Talk 20:37, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
- For what it's worth, an editor has posted an explanation on The Name Game talk page, saying that Helen was added because it will result in "felon" which has "negative connotations". --LarryMac | Talk 20:01, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
Nice pair of groaners, Stu! Thanks. -Aletheia
- Thanks. I always appreciate a nice pair. StuRat (talk) 23:47, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
June 20
Animal actors
Clearly, real animals are often used in TV shows, films, live plays, etc. And, sometimes, they are listed in the end-credits. I was wondering. Are these animals considered "actors" just as human beings are? I assume that they get paid for their, umm, "work". But, like human beings, are they entitled to have their names appear as an end-credit in the TV show or film? Or is that simply a nicety that the producer allows? Are these animals in any way entitled to "benefits" or do they work under any set of rules, much like SAG dictates how human actors are treated in the industry? I was curious if anyone knows anything about this sort of thing? Thanks. (Joseph A. Spadaro (talk)
- They are called "animal actors" in the industry and the agency or individual who provides the animal is paid for the animal's use. (Usually, the animal will be hired with a trainer who will also be paid.) Credits are a different matter. Human cast and crew are credited based on general agreements between their respective unions and the production company involved in the film. (For instance, the Writer's Guild has rules about which writers must be credited, where the writing credit falls in the credits, etc.) Contractors, on the other hand, are credited based on the contents of the contract. Animal agencies are considered contractors. So it depends on what the contract says; in some cases, the animal itself is credited in the cast list and the trainer in the crew list, while in other cases the trainer and agency are credited but the animal isn't credited at all. And of course in older films animals were rarely credited at all. --NellieBly (talk) 03:45, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
- Thanks, that was very helpful and informative. (Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 01:52, 21 June 2008 (UTC))
Cantonese Opera
Is 大戲, or Cantonese opera, in A flat Major?68.148.164.166 (talk) 05:54, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
- Listening to the audio sample in that article, I don't think it's reasonable to say it's in a major key. It sounds like it's in some Chinese scale really, probably pentatonic. Hopefully a Chinese music expert will be along. 79.66.20.219 (talk) 15:53, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
movie credits question
This has puzzled me for years....why is it that at the beginning of a movie or television program, as the names of the actors appear on the screen, the last name to appear also lists the character name that the person is portraying? For example it will list (these are just made up names) something like John Doe, Suzy Q, and then finally it will say "Luo Smith as Papa Jones." I have always wondered why this is common practice...is it because they are trying to give the person a little extra for their name appearing last? Does it have something to do with age, etc? thanks! 10draftsdeep (talk) 18:48, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
- Sometimes a big actor or star is invited to perform a supporting role. They do not have a major part in the movie, so after the credits for the other supporting actors are shown the "star" is credited with the role they are performing to show they are not among the bunch of supporting or minor roles, but have a special role. JessicaN10248 19:03, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
- That's a great question! You might be interested to read this Wikipedia article: Billing (film), as it specifically mentions what your question refers to. The article states, in part: An actor may receive "last billing", which usually designates a smaller role played by a famous name. They are usually credited after the rest of the lead cast, prefixed with "and" (or also "with" if there is more than one, as Samuel L. Jackson was in the latter two Star Wars prequels). In some cases, the name is followed by "as" and then the name of the character. This is not the case if that character is unseen for most of the movie (see Ernst Stavro Blofeld). (Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 20:31, 20 June 2008 (UTC))
Singing "R" in Italian Opera
I've been listening to Puccini's Tosca a ton lately and I just got the thought---what do opera singers do if they can't roll their "R"'s? I know I can't (that's why I took French!) and I know a ton of people who can't either. So what do they do when they come across the rolled "R" in Italian opera? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.219.143.150 (talk) 20:10, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
- They're coached by professional voice coaches, so there are possibly some tricks of the trade. But if all else fails, the voice is the first priority, and if that's good enough to compensate for poor diction, poor acting ability, or other imperfections, that will usually get them a gig. Our own dear Dame Joan Sutherland was renowned for her audiences not being able to understand a word she sang, even when she was singing in English. I exaggerate, of course, but she did have a problem. It never stopped her career, though. The Italians dubbed her "La Stupenda", so they didn't seem to mind. -- JackofOz (talk) 22:21, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
Ricky Martin song
I'm trying to find the name of a song by Ricky Martin that has the following lines:
- No puedo más
- Yo ya estoy harto de jugar a amar
- donde estarás
- no se si el amor que busco existirá
David Pro (talk) 22:21, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
- It's "Donde Estarás" from the album A Medio Vivir. David Pro (talk) 22:28, 20 June 2008 (UTC)
June 21
90's mystery show
I've been looking everywhere, but I can't seem to find this tv series/miniseries/movie (not sure which). It's about a boy and girl (I think) that go around collecting special scrolls from skeletons to find a treasure or something by reading the messages in the scrolls.... Ring a bell for anyone?
Cheers,
Kermuffle —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.167.129.104 (talk) 03:41, 21 June 2008 (UTC)
- Sounds a bit like Skeleton Warriors. JessicaN10248 14:53, 21 June 2008 (UTC)
How high is a good jump in soccer? In basketball?
Thanks. Imagine Reason (talk) 12:54, 21 June 2008 (UTC)
Dress in Spain
Moved to Humanities upon OP's request Dismas|(talk) 03:20, 22 June 2008 (UTC)
June 22
Will baseball ever try anything different?
Football has tried many sub leagues and failed every time. Baseball hasn't tried. With MLB approval, let's have a once a year game where we shoot all the players up with PCP (with legal and medical waivers). Or how about letting a random ticketholder play? Have a playoff game with no crowd, to see if it makes a difference. Have the beard game where everyone wears a beard, no exceptions. Bb guns for outfielders (for very limited circumstances, only!). I have other ideas but I've probably bored you eneough.Baseball and and and Popcorn Fanatic (talk) 01:39, 22 June 2008 (UTC)
- Do these suggestions correlate at all with your opening comment about football "sub leagues"? Subs might have footballs, but that post-dates the league. Anyway, baseball has a long history of the sort of promos you suggest. Disco Demolition Night is a particularly infamous one. — Lomn 04:06, 22 June 2008 (UTC)
- Well, baseball has tried something different and it is still controversial after all these years. Also, a minor league team did try having a game with no crowd. [2] As to the beard game, in 1972, the Oakland A's got their entire roster to wear mustaches (some for the full season, but all at least temporarily). They became known as the Mustache Gang. [3] --Metropolitan90 (talk) 05:34, 22 June 2008 (UTC)
- One problem with taking on too many of the ideas you suggest is that baseball is probably the most steeped in tradition of all American sports, and a great many fans prefer that. Baseball attendance is at its highest ever, television ratings and revenue are setting records, all while keeping the game virtually as it was 150 years ago. To change baseball radically in order to attract a few more fans would seriously risk alienating a substantial percentage of current fans, to the extent that attendance would actually drop. Minor tweaks every decade or two (the DH, wild cards, interleague play) already cause major riffs among fans. — Michael J 00:57, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
Van Halen song
There is a Van Halen song that starts off acoustically, then David Lee Roth says something like "let's go boys" and it becomes a full rock song. It was on a "deep cuts" weekend on one of the radio stations here, so it's apparently on the second side of its album, or at least not a single. I don't remember any other lyrics. So before I start searching for every DLR-era non-single Van Halen song, I was wondering if anyone here had any idea what I'm talking about? Adam Bishop (talk) 06:13, 22 June 2008 (UTC)
- Yes! Thanks! Adam Bishop (talk) 19:20, 22 June 2008 (UTC)
- The name of the song is "Ice Cream Man" It's an old blues song that Van Halen did. It's on their first album.Bluesmanjay (talk) 14:49, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
Dylan in the Movies
In the Belle & Sebastian song "Like Dylan in the Movies," from their masterful 1996 album If You're Feeling Sinister, Stuart Murdoch sings, "If they follow you, don't look back, like Dylan in the movies..." Does anyone know which Dylan and which movies he intends to reference here?
Thank you!
MelancholyDanish (talk) 08:23, 22 June 2008 (UTC)MelancholyDanish
- Dont Look Back was the name of a documentary film about Bob Dylan. --Metropolitan90 (talk) 14:39, 22 June 2008 (UTC)
- Thanks!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by MelancholyDanish (talk • contribs) 22:12, 22 June 2008 (UTC)
Rock song from riff
I'm trying to find this rock song, and all I can remember is the following riff (say it starts in D because I don't know what key it's in):
dcAG F CD * dcAG F CD * edBA G DE * edBA G DE
where capitals are in a lower octave, spaces are rests, and asterisks represent something like a cymbal crash. Does this ring a bell for anyone? All suggestions appreciated. —Keenan Pepper 20:38, 22 June 2008 (UTC)
Central Dark
I've noticed there are some intruiging propositions offered by the latest installment of Alone in the Dark regarding some of the mysteries of the park, but the article on Central Park is devoid of any references. Is there a factual or mythological basis to any of the claims it makes? It'd be very interesting to hear about some oddities of it's history, even if there are rational explanation for them. 167.1.163.100 (talk) 23:45, 22 June 2008 (UTC)
- Considering many of us have probably not played the game, we may not be able to help you as far as the "claims it makes". The Alone in the Dark article doesn't state any claims. Could you maybe go over a few for us? That might get you more than silence in response to your question. Dismas|(talk) 12:42, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- I just rechecked the plot section of the article and it does appear to make quite a few references to the mythology surrounding the park. 70.65.196.13 (talk) 12:39, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
June 23
Groups with no line-up changes
Which currently active group has been together the longest time with no line-up changes since it was first formed? Cowboy Junkies formed in 1985 and have had no line-up changes since then. Can any group beat that? --Richardrj talk email 07:55, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- How do you define "currently active". There are many groups from the 50's and 60's that are still on tour. Is that active? Are you arbitrarily requiring an album release in the last XX years? What about a recording contract like the one that Guns 'n' Roses has had for the last, what is it, 15 years without a release? -- kainaw™ 12:03, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- Guns N'Roses don't come into it since they have had numerous line-up changes in their lifetime. I'd be surprised if there are many groups from the 50s and 60s still playing with the same line-up as when they started, but if you can name any, I'm all ears. As for defining "currently active", album releases and record deals might help, but it would be on a case-by-case basis. --Richardrj talk email 12:27, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- ZZ Top. 1969-present. Same line-up, still recording and touring. U2 would be second place as far as I can tell. Kreachure (talk) 14:32, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- Cool, looks like we have a winner. Thanks Kreachure. --Richardrj talk email 15:11, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- No problem! I don't think there's another band out there that outlasts ZZ either. Kreachure (talk) 16:28, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- Cool, looks like we have a winner. Thanks Kreachure. --Richardrj talk email 15:11, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- I asked about criteria because this came up before. The studio musicians commonly change all the time. So, the "band" is simply whatever the band considers itself to be. As such, the Everly Brothers have been a duo since 1956 and have not replaced either one of the brothers. They have retired and un-retired many times - as recent as a 2004 concert tour. So, this creates a special class of "band" that easily continues for many years without a lineup change. What makes it more complicated is solo artists. Does the lineup for Aretha Franklin change? -- kainaw™ 18:33, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- Well, the spirit of the question makes it fairly obvious to me that something like the Everly Brothers is not what is being sought, no matter how well they fit the definition of a currently active group. Aretha Franklin is not a group, as you're aware, and even if she had used the same backing musicians for her entire career, she wouldn't be what the question was looking for either. --Richardrj talk email 19:07, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- Aretha may not be a whole group, but she's definitely on the chunky side these days. Deor (talk) 05:31, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
- Well, the spirit of the question makes it fairly obvious to me that something like the Everly Brothers is not what is being sought, no matter how well they fit the definition of a currently active group. Aretha Franklin is not a group, as you're aware, and even if she had used the same backing musicians for her entire career, she wouldn't be what the question was looking for either. --Richardrj talk email 19:07, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
The Adicts. 1975 to present. No line-up changes. --Endless Dan 14:16, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
Billy Joel song about a couple getting married young, struggling through life, growing old, something like that...
I can't remember the lyrics, but the melody is stuck in my head, from verse to chorus to the bridge which is a melodic "who-oh, whoa-oh, whoa-ooohh oh oh oh ooohhh". I realize the song I've described is Jack and Diane but I swear it's a different song and it is definitely sung by Billy Joel. It's just I can't find it anywhere. I've searched every lyric database I could find on the man, now it's up to you Wikipedia answer patrons. Please help me! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Beekone (talk • contribs) 14:27, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, it's about Brenda and Eddie. --LarryMac | Talk 14:35, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- And, ummm, we're not Yahoo. hrmph! --LarryMac | Talk 14:37, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- StuRat sends LarryMac a bottle of white, a bottle of red, perhaps a bottle of rose instead, for his excellent answer.
- sorry, Larry. Wow, I totally read those lyrics too, I thought it was too obvious to be the right song... also I didn't read far enough. Sweet lord, I can finally get this amorphic blob of a song out of my head. Beekone (talk) 14:41, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- Mercy sakes. I was once talked into writing a filk song based on "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" dealing with a storyline from Due South of all things. It is one of the worst possible songs to use as a base for trying to write a parody song (along with Paul Simon's "You can call me Al", which I also filked). Anyone who's masochistic enough to be interested in such things can probably still find it on my website somewhere...(rummages online)... here, in fact (/selfpromo mode :) Grutness...wha? 00:25, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
adding name to Tony Awards recipients page
The female actor, Frances De La Tour, won a Tony Award in 2006. However, she is not listed on the Wikipedia page of Tony Award winners which are presented alphabetically. I cannot edit the page, and wouldn't want to mess it up, anyway. Can someone help? Thank you, Karen Johnson/ log-in username is kjpr/ email is (deleted)—Preceding unsigned comment added by Kjpr (talk • contribs) 18:39, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- She is listed in 60th Tony Awards. I can't find the specific alphabetical list you mention, do you know the page title? --LarryMac | Talk 19:08, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- The "list" might be the Category: Category:Tony Award winners. Look under T for "Tour" instead of D for "De". Does that solve the problem? --tcsetattr (talk / contribs) 19:43, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
Trying to identify a song . . . all I remember is one line and a few notes
There was a song I loved when I was much younger that I'm trying to find now, but I remember almost nothing about it. It would have been on soft-rock/adult contemporary radio stations circa the early 90's. I think the singer was a man or a deep-voiced woman, but the voice isn't that distinct in my memory. The one line I remember at all is repeated regularly throughout the song, at the end of a verse or chorus, and it's something like "Imagine all the people that make the world go round," or "Think of all the people that make the world go round." I know the last five words are "make the world go round." After those five words is a distinctive nine-note piano sequence. I don't know the names of the notes, but without resorting to my own mental imagery I can only say the first five notes present a brief rising and falling sequence with the third note held slightly longer than the others, and the last four notes are short and quick and all the same except for the second to last. So, to approximate, "Duh-dum-DAH-dum-dah, dah-dah-dum-dah." Sorry I've given you so little to work with, but I'd really like to find this song (I'm on a huge nostalgia kick right now) and I have no idea where else to go. - ARFDJ —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.104.139.75 (talk) 23:58, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- Perhaps "people make the world go round", done by the Stylistics, Raven Symone, and Michael Jackson.[5] --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 03:10, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
No . . . that's definitely not it. I've streamed enough of that song on a few sites to know. I'm pretty sure the title is nothing like the line I remember, or I would have found it through Google. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.104.139.75 (talk) 22:30, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
There's a documentary that interviewed the player of a common practice period song. He never played it before, but he learned it, and Robert di Niro starred in it when we was a lot younger, when he didn't have gray hair, wrinkles, among other things. The director wanted this player to practice this song until perfect and then at the time of shooting, to surprise Robert di Niro, and thus, his character. Before, the player never knew how to play piano. In the sense, Robert di Niro is with another guy, who was equally surprised and taken aback by the player’s ability as he too did not know the player had been practicing the song.
What is this song?
(The clues I gave may not be EXCATLY right, but I think most of them are, or close to the fact.)68.148.164.166 (talk) 22:09, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- Not really enough clues to really begin this one. best idea might just be to go through the discography on the Robert de Niro article (de, not di), and click onto the individual films. Those film articles might discuss the music of the films. Any other clues as to the music? Was it a slow piece, a fast piece, and are you sure it was common practice period music, or just something that sounded like it was intended to be? A first guess, if it's a slow piece that sounds vaguely like CPP, it might be Cavatina, the theme from The Deer Hunter. Grutness...wha? 00:38, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
- Yes, I know for certain it was a composer who composed this song during that period, maybe Haydn, Chopin, Mozart, etc. etc.68.148.164.166 (talk) 01:08, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
- Mmmmm. Once Upon a Time in America used part of Gioachino Rossini's The Thieving Magpie... hardly what I'd call a standard piano piece, but could that have been it? (BTW, there's no need to reply on my user talk page - here is fine! :) Grutness...wha? 01:25, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
- Going back to The Deer Hunter, I remember a scene where a character plays a slow piece by Chopin on the piano. It was set in a bar, and his friends were listening quietly (a but unrealistic, but that's Hollywood for you). My memory insists it was one of the slower mazurkas (it's been 20 years since I saw it), but according to IMDB, it was the Nocturne in G minor, Op. 15, No. 3. This confirms that the Nocturne was played by John (played by George Dzundza), in his bar, just before the scene jumps to a Vietnamese jungle. But I haven’t been able to establish what Dzundza’s pre-Deer Hunter piano-playing skills were, to confirm that he had to learn to play the piano for the movie. (Oh, it's De Niro, not de Niro, btw). -- JackofOz (talk) 23:33, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
June 24
Name that Movie, porn edition
Hi, this will sound kind of pervy, but I'm trying to find out the name of a porn movie. It was featured on Sexcetera (no useful episodes guides anywhere) in a piece about whether being a pornstar is the perfect job, and apparently had a budget of either 300k or 3mil (something with a 3, and it was about 3* as much as a standard one). The plot of the movie involves a small town in America, where this couple go and rob the garage (I think). He then falls for a local girl, who is his real-life girlfriend. I think the title had only one word, but for the life of me I can't remember it. I don't suppose anyone here can help? -mattbuck (Talk) 08:54, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
- You seem to be mistaken in thinking that a porno would have a plot or have less than 3" in it. --Drop Dead Ed (talk) 13:03, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
Movie
Hi. I'm searching for a movie, which I've seen year ago, but can't remember now. I can only recall one scene of it: a stereotypical neo-nazi and stereotypical jew are approaching to each other, and when they meet, they stare at each other for a while, and then start hugging as old friends. What's the name of the movie? Thanks. 89.236.214.174 (talk) 10:35, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
Jewelry question
How do you make jewellery easily but so that it looks nice and is made of silver or gold? with cheap equipment —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.164.126.17 (talk) 10:45, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
- Use pewter or lead. It is easy to manipulate because it is soft, melts easily, and can fill molds nicely. When you get your pewter/lead item the way you like it, electroplate it with gold/silver. You can set up a cheap electroplating system with a fishtank and a car battery. I believe it is a common high-school science experiment. In the end, you will have gold/silver jewelry with a pewter/lead core - which is what most of the gaudy junk you find on the street is made of. -- kainaw™ 15:16, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
June 25
Which one
Out of Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, which one is more popular? Interactive Fiction Expert/Talk to me 10:10, 1 June 2008 (UTC)
- According to this, Super Mario 64 is the 7th best selling video game in the United States, while Zelda didn't make the list. Think outside the box 16:54, 1 June 2008 (UTC)
- Also, if you're going to ask a zillion questions, please try to give them descriptive subject names. "Which one" is worthless as a heading APL (talk) —Preceding comment was added at 16:57, 1 June 2008 (UTC)
- While we're at it, this question could have been answered if you'd simply read the article that you linked to. From the Mario 64 article : "Super Mario 64 has been commercially successful; it was the best-selling Nintendo 64 game."
- Please try to put a little effort into finding answers for yourself before asking the reference desk. It's really supposed to be more of a 'last resort' for difficult to find information. APL (talk) 17:03, 1 June 2008 (UTC)
I said "popular", not "best-selling". Normally one would expect Mario 64 to be more popular since it's more successful (as you stated above), but Zelda is often put higher in lists of good games. So which one is more popular? Interactive FictionExpert/Talk to me 10:36, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
- Define "popular" - Highest rated by games magazines?, highest rated in game players polls?, game that has been enjoyed the most by the people who have played it? What conclusion are you trying to get to? - X201 (talk) 12:46, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
- "Popular" is a matter of opinion. This is a factual reference desk, not a message board or discussion forum. Ask for facts, not opinions. -- kainaw™ 15:08, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
Please stop doing this. Wikipedia is not a forum. You are not supposed to be "bumping" threads up to the top. And please stop trying to start soap-box topics about Nintendo. Thanks. APL (talk) 15:20, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
- I am so asking for facts. And I am not "bumping" this thread - I am repeating it because I didn't get a good enough answer. Interactive Fiction Expert/Talk to me 22:11, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
score of 10
in gymnastics, in addition of Nadia Comăneci, who's get a score of 10 in the Olympic games and the World Gymnastics Championships?. Breckinridge (talk) 14:17, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
- Mary Lou Retton plus others who slip my memory. - X201 (talk) 15:02, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
- Others include: Nellie Kim, 1976 Olympics; Alexander Dityatin, 1980 Olympics; Bart Conner and Mitch Gaylord, 1984 Olympics; Daniela Silivaş, 1985 Worlds and 1988 Olympics; Aurelia Dobre, 1987 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships; Yelena Shushunova, 1988 Olympics; Lu Li and Lavinia Miloşovici, 1992 Olympics - with Miloşovici earning the last perfect 10, according to her article; 24 men at the 1924 Summer Olympics, all in rope-climbing(!), with one Albert Seguin getting a second 10 in the side vault. Clarityfiend (talk) 18:00, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
wendy wu homecoming warior
I would like to know where can I find Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior: the Junior Novel (June 30, 2006) Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior 2: the Junior Novel (December 2008) Series Poetry in Motion by Alice Alfonsi (May 12, 2007) Wendy to Shen by Helen Perelman (November 17, 2007) Yan Low is Back by Catherine Hapka (February 26, 2008) Homecoming Dance by Alice Alfonsi (April 28, 2008) Wilson j21 (talk) 16:17, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
Help me treat my parents
I want to do something nice for my parents. It happens they will be in New York City on August 2. Their theater tickets have been canceled. They like musicals, but there don't appear to be any Producers-style megahits that everyone wants to see that will be on then. What type of special night or day out can I buy for my parents for about $200-$300? (They already have Yankees tickets for Aug. 1.) -- Mwalcoff (talk) 21:05, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
- You definitely need a good dinner. I work with doctors that go to New York often. Everyone I know who has been to Tavern on the Green has hated it. You wait until you are hours past starving for an overpriced pile of junk that you are no longer in the mood to eat. So, I wouldn't waste money on that. Something smaller, cheaper, and not as well known would be nice. The Firebird will allow you to purchase a dinner ahead of time. One doctor loved it and told others. Now, it is one of the main restaurants they all want to go to. I've also heard a lot of talk about an Italian place, but everyone forgets the name. They only know the location... walk south on Broadway until you hit the NYPD station. Turn right. Walk one block and it is on the right. -- kainaw™ 22:15, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
How about a not-so-mega musical by an up-and-coming writer and theater company? I'm not talking about community theater - this is New York, after all. You might discover the next big smash before everyone else does. And even if the name isn't good for bragging rights when they get back home, the story and music may very well be just as entertaining. - Aletheia