Expert: Popcorn Guy - 6/24/2004

Question
I'm a teacher and I'm starting a unit on names and where they come from.  I have a lot of literature about how different people got names and how they feel about them.  But I always like to start with a movie clip.  I'm no expert in this area.  Can you think of any movie or tv show that is avaialble on DVD that has a scene about someone getting a name or a nickname?

OR someone talking about where their name comes from?

I would be eternally grateful

Mel

Answer
Hi, Mel...

Well, the obvious choice is "National Lampoon's Animal House." The scene where John Belushi assigns "pledge names" to the new members is a prime example of what you're talking about.

Do you have a DVD burner on your computer? I can imagine an "Academy Awards" montage of scenes. Morgan Freeman's quick retort, answering how he got the nickname "Red." Rhett Butler commenting on Bonnie Blue Butler's eyes, giving her her name. Mary McConnell explaining in her halting English how she got her Sioux name, "Stands With A Fist," in "Dances With Wolves." Michael Corleone telling Kay the importance of his father's title of "godfather." Fred Ward indignantly not letting "Life"  magazine refer to him by his character's real name, "Virgil," in "The Right Stuff" (By the way, if you like this particular scene, it's right after the intermission point, maybe 95 minutes in or so...).

Then throw in a few quick shots of Gilda Radner saying, "Rosanne Roseannadanna." Marty Feldman and Gene Wilder arguing about the pronounciation of "Frederick Frankenstein" and "Igor" in "Young Frankenstein." And, maybe a couple of quick cuts of the horses reacting to Cloris Leachman's "Frau Blucher" name in the same film. Drop a cut of Harvey Korman forcing people to say "HEADLEY Lamarr" instead of "Hedy Lamarr" in "Blazing Saddles."

And, to wrap it up, there is a scene in "My Favorite Year" where Alan Swann (Peter O'Toole) and Benjamin Stone (Mark Linn Baker) confess to changing their names to be successful in show business.

Not trying to plan your class, of course, but that's what all flashed at me when I read your question.

Let me know how it turns out! Sounds like an interesting class!

Thanks, and hope I helped,

PCG