OT: Movie trivia, somewhere there's a puzzle in here...

[QuikSand]

This might not actually be a worthwhile puzzle... but it started with a semi-amusing observation (courtesy of yours truly)... and there might be a worthwhile question in here.


Recently, I made note of a movie that had an interesting characteristic. I mentioned to the friends in the room at the time "I think this movie will set a record..."

"This movie has two stars who, in total, have the fewest total letters in their names of any movie, ever."

(I'm implicity suggesting that we probably ought to use the most commonly-used names for actors... and not default to whatever leser-known full names they might actually have. So, we'd rather use, for example, "Madonna" rather than "Madonna Louise Ciccone" and that sort of thing)


So, I suppose the easy part of the puzzle is - what's the movie that probably sets the record in this regard?


As a subsidiary thought - what other movies might have been strong players in this "fewest letters" category?


And for the opposite direction... what movies might go in the other direction? The most letters, with its two top-billed stars?


So... again, I dunno if this is a worthwhile puzzle. But, as my friends rapidly discovered, it's a damned shame that Cher and Mr. T never hooked up on screen... we'd have a very strong player.


Any thoughts?

[Marmel]

Cradle 2 the Grave

[Hammer755]

Originally posted by QuikSand

And for the opposite direction... what movies might go in the other direction? The most letters, with its two top-billed stars?

Kindergarten Cop
Arnold Schwarzenegger & Penelope Ann Miller - 37

or

Running Man
Arnold Schwarzenegger & Maria Conchita Alonso - 39

First one was off the top of my head, credit to IMDB for the second. Both are debatable as to whether the female is the second billed star as well, but both are listed second in the credits at IMDB.

[Maple Leafs]

Very nice puzzle. Reminds me of the time a few friends and I wasted an hour trying to come up with baseball players with six letters in their name. The spelling of Robb Nen's first name almost caused a fist fight.

[QuikSand]

Maple Leafs - that would be the "Mel Ott" debate, I believe.


and yes, Marmel - the movie that got me on this was indeed Cradle 2 the Grave which stars Jet Li and DMX.

I haven't come up with much for another rival, though... honestly Silkwood might be a fair guess, with Cher and Meryl Streep getting the two top spots (15 letters).

[Maple Leafs]

Originally posted by QuikSand
Maple Leafs - that would be the "Mel Ott" debate, I believe.

Yep... along with Ty Cobb, J.D. Drew and (I think) one other that I can't remember right now.

Edit: J.T. Snow is the other one I was thinking of.

[Swaggs]

I will do you one better.

What about former Pirates catcher Ed Ott?

[Maple Leafs]

Originally posted by QuikSand
I haven't come up with much for another rival, though... honestly Silkwood might be a fair guess, with Cher and Meryl Streep getting the two top spots (15 letters).

Just thought of another 15er: "Freddy Got Fingered", with Tom Green and Rip Torn.

OK, I'm stretching the definition of "movie".

[Maple Leafs]

Dola.

Anyone want to take a shot at the movie with the fewest letters for the top two stars and the movie title? I can come up with a 21-letter combo for a semi-well known movie from the early 90s.

[QuikSand]

I think the "top two stars" list for this one is shaky, but if it qualifies on that regard - we have a strong player in multiple categories:

D.C. Cab
starring
Gary Busey
Mr. T

12 letters in the two names, 17 total including the title...

Thing is, this was something of an "ensemble" cast ("ragtag" might be a better term) with several other "actors" in it, including some Baldwin, a guy named Max Gail (even fewer letters!) and even Bill Maher (good lord!) - but I think it was billed with Mr. T and Busey as the "name" players at the time. (and what a time that was...)

[QuikSand]

Here's another one from the 1980s... no doubt about the qualifications, though:

Mask
starring
Cher
Sam Elliott
(or, if you prefer, Eric Stoltz - same letter count)

14 letters in the two star names, 18 including the movie title

[Maple Leafs]

Nicely done.

How about we say that we take the first two names listed on the Internet Movie Database as being "top billing"?

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Maple Leafs
Nicely done.

How about we say that we take the first two names listed on the Internet Movie Database as being "top billing"?

Though it's probably imperfect, I like having a formula to eliminate disputes. My only argument will come if it ever lists actors in credit order, which is sometimes in order of appearance. But I think they are usually/alwsy in order of "billing," more or less.

In that case, Mask is in, as Sam Elliott is listed second behind Cher.

[Craptacular]

"Belly" starring DMX and Nas. 6 and 11. Thank you.

[QuikSand]

suuuuper genius.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally posted by Craptacular
"Belly" starring DMX and Nas. 6 and 11. Thank you.

See, now this is the right way to kill a thread.

[Craptacular]

I tried to be cocky AND funny, but, like usual, my cock was just too large.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally posted by Craptacular
... my cock was just too large.

See, now this is the wrong way to kill a thread.

[Craptacular]

Oh well, I should have quit while I was a head.

OK, Kodos can keep the bad joke crown.