Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2008 May 23

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May 23

David Capital from Heroes episode 2 deleted scenes

In the deleted scenes for Heroes season one episode 2 ("Don't Look Back"), there appears a man from Child Protective Services named David Capital. His face is familiar but I can't find any credits for this scene from which to get the actor's name. Can someone identify this actor? Thanks. John Darrow (talk) 07:06, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Is this the guy you're talking about? HeroesWiki lists him as "David Cavanaugh," and the Talk page of his article shows that you are not the only one who is looking for the actor's identity. I don't know his identity either, but maybe this will help someone else out. WDavis1911 (talk) 10:00, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Yes, that's the guy. I would have sworn the captions listed him as David Capital, but caption writers have been known to get it wrong before... John Darrow (talk) 01:53, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

That is true. The actor looks quite familiar... If I ever run across his name I'll be sure to drop it on your talk page. WDavis1911 (talk) 02:38, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Help identifying two weird, Christian-themed movies

Hi, Wikipedia.

Back in my Catholic school, the RE teachers would occasionally run out of stuff to do, and show us films. The Catholicism didn't stick, but the memories of some of the odder films remain with me to this day. In particular, I'm trying to identify two. Both were likely televised in the UK at some point, since that was where my school got most of their films...

The first was American, likely from the sixties or early seventies, set in a somewhat sanitised ghetto. It involved the efforts of a priest to stop fighting between two gangs and get a girl off drugs. Specific stuff I remember from it: The girl went cold turkey and was later tempted to try whtever drug it was (heroin maybe? I honestly don't recall) again, but it had no effect on her. One of the gang members was called Israel. The movie ended with one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen: The priest lures both gangs to a "youth rally" and then, somehow or other, manages to convert them all by giving them Bibles. The only reason I remember one of the gang members was called Isreal was from this final scene, in which he's flicking through his Bible, excited by the fact that his name appears in it. All in all, a pretty terrible film, but I'd still be fascinated to track it down.

The second one was British, and even stranger. I'm pretty sure it was in black and white, but it was probably made no earlier than the late fifties. This one features an idealistic young vicar (could have been a prist, but I've a feeling it was C of E) who upsets his rather conservative parish and superiors. He hires an African guy as his assistant, and is popular for a while before he somehow pisses off the whole parish (something to do with money, but the details are hazy). Like the previous film, this one has a really bizarre ending, in which the bishop decided to rid himself of the vicar by sending him into space. The last thing we hear in the film is him singing "Lord of the Dance" while in orbit around the Earth.

Of the two films, the second interests me more, simply because it was so thoroughly unconventional compared to other Christian-themed movies I've seen: The hierarchy of the Church were generally portrayed as cowardly buffoons, and the ending was just... yeah. Any help Wikipedians can give in identifying either of these would be much appreciated! Dooky (talk) 09:18, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

The first one is The Cross and the Switchblade, starring Pat Boone as the priest and Erik Estrada - yes, him out of CHiPs - in his first ever screen role, playing Nicky Cruz. The film tells the story of the New York gang, the Mau Maus. I remember watching it in RE, too. The second is familiar but can't remember its name. Neıl 龱 09:46, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

The second one is Heavens Above!, starring the immortal Peter Sellers. I saw it on British TV not long ago; it's a very entertaining film. There's a page about it here. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 10:07, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Fantastic! I've been wondering about these films for years, and Wikipedia sets me right in less than an hour! Having now read the article on Heavens Above, I have to say it makes more sense to me now than it did back then... I suppose a lot of the satire must have gone over my head. Also interesting to note that the incongrous ending is mentioned in the article, so it wasn't just me who found it odd. Especially fascinating to hear the big names involved in both of these films: I will now have to track them down and see how they compare to my memories. Many thanks! Dooky (talk) 10:45, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

BLU-RAY

What's the difference between DVD and BLU-RAY, and why is that format spelled so many different ways? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.169.124.168 (talk) 16:33, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

The official name for the new format is Blu-ray Disc. I would imagine that it is spelled in different ways because, among other things, "blu" is not a normal English word. The linked article has more specific information about the format, but very briefly, a Blu-ray Disc can hold significantly more data than a DVD, which means a higher definition movie can be placed on a single disc. --LarryMac | Talk 16:48, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

no need for a new section, please use the same one for follow-ups

Thanks for that link and your explanation. Now, can I play Blu-ray on my current (3-year-old) DVD player/recorder? 67.169.124.168 (talk) 17:27, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

I'm afraid not - you will need a Blu-ray DVD player. Neıl 龱 17:55, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

(after EC) No, you would need a player specifically branded with Blu-Ray Disc capability. I don't think BRD players have been on the market for three years, but nevertheless, you'd know if you'd bought one, because it would have cost nearly $1000 (or your local currency equivalend). BRD players can play DVDs, but not vice-versa. --LarryMac | Talk 17:58, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

For most of the last three years it was very easy to know if you had a blu-ray player. It goes like this: "Do I have a Blu-ray player?" "Did you buy a Playstation 3?" "No." "Then, you don't have a blu-ray player." -- kainaw™ 19:56, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Even now, it's arguable the same exchange is valid, if you render the last line "Then, you don't have a real blu-ray player." The PS3 remains one of the very few (and probably the all-out cheapest) players that is blu-ray 2.0 / BD-Live compatible and further upgradeable. — Lomn 13:15, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

There's no doubt. If you want Blu-Ray, the PS3 is the best value out there. For $350, you get the Blu-Ray player you want and you also get a home media center and video game console.

James Bond

Somebody knows in which James Bond films Bond doesn't wear a tuxedo? David Pro (talk) 20:44, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Perhaps Casino Royale. Check this site. WDavis1911 (talk) 02:36, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Didn't he wear a tux while playing poker? Dismas|^(talk) 13:29, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

That's what I was thinking too. Google yielded several pre-production reports stating that, for once, James Bond would not be shown in a tuxedo, including a "scoop" revealed by Daniel Craig himself. Maybe it was marketing hype, maybe a rumor, maybe the producers changed their mind. In any event, I did find some stills of Craig, in Casino Royale, at the poker table, wearing a tux. Here you see a juxtaposition of Craig in his Casino Royale tuxedo by Brioni, and his newly tailored Dunhill tuxedo for Quantum of Solace. ---Sluzzelin talk 13:35, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Nielsen Ratings

Is there a WP:RS that has old Nielsen ratings? I can find sites that list TV show Nielsens, but none are "reliable". --Endless Dan 20:53, 23 May 2008 (UTC)