Quiz Guy John Chaneski presents a puzzle about fanciful sequels to real movies. John proposes new movies using a synonym of each of two words in a real title. For example, Vulgar Velour would be the title of what remake? This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Cinema Synonym Sequels”
You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.
I’m Martha Barnette.
And I’m Grant Barrett.
And way up high, getting ready to dive in a Speedo and with a wave to the crowd, it’s our stunt performer and quiz master, John Chaneski.
Hi, John.
Hi, guys.
Watch it.
Here I come.
Whoa!
Splash.
Let me towel off and get to this quiz.
Here we go.
If every word in English only had one meaning, I would be out of a job.
Luckily, many words have several meanings, as illustrated by the term autumn rear.
It doesn’t sound like it means anything.
Autumn rear.
Oh, fall back.
Yeah, or fall behind.
Yeah, either way.
But if you place each word with a similar meaning word, you get it right.
Fall behind or fall back.
And this is a common game, but I’m a movie fan.
Let’s do it with classic movie titles.
I’ll give you a two-word movie title in which I’ve replaced each word with a synonym.
You tell me the original.
For example, vulgar velour would be…
Something velvet.
Blue velvet.
Oh, blue velvet.
That’s a word for vulgar talk, blue velvet.
Now, none of these titles have definite or indefinite articles.
They’re just two words.
And for no good reason whatsoever, they are all alliterative.
Oh, boy.
Yeah.
Not the answers, though.
All the clues are alliterative.
Here we go.
Gotcha.
Let’s begin with catastrophe currently.
Apocalypse Now.
Yes.
Apocalypse Now.
You got that right now.
Apocalypse Now.
Great film.
Great film.
Currently.
Very good.
Yeah.
Dwelling deserted.
Home alone?
Home alone.
Home alone.
That’s right.
Operative Offspring.
Spy Kid.
Yes, Spy Kids.
Oh, Kids Plural, yeah.
Kids Plural, that’s fine.
Also a great film.
Yeah, sure.
Average Avenues.
Oh, Mean Streets.
Yes, Mean Streets.
Very good.
I think we’ve got into Grant’s wheelhouse here.
Headliner Hostilities.
Headliner, main war?
Main bat?
No.
Headliner.
So a headliner is somebody who is the key performer at a show.
How about Star Wars?
Yes.
Star Wars.
Very good.
Plaything parable.
He said.
Toy story.
Toy story, indeed.
Very good.
Posterior porthole.
Rear window.
Yes, rear window.
Foul flea.
Flea, F-L-E-E?
Yes, F-L-E-E.
Foul flea.
Chicken run.
Yes, chicken run.
Finally, a classic.
Velocipede villains.
Bicycle thieves?
Bicycle thieves.
Yes, the movie is Bicycle Thieves.
Classic Italian film.
Very good.
Well done, guys.
Let’s go to the movies.
All right.
Rock and roll.
You’ve got a friend in us, John.
John will be back next week with another quiz.
You can call me and Martha, though, to get on the show.
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