Reflections from the Bell Curve: #16: The Mt. Rushmore Series
When I published the post above in October 2013, I'd seen Fargo once - with my wife - not long after its 1996 release, eighteen years into our lifelong partnership. What follows is a brief tale of complete trust and faulty memory.
From 1996-2013 my wife had repeatedly quoted a line of dialogue from the Coen Brothers' modern-day masterpiece. She'd said this line over and over with such total certainty that as I finished constructing Mt. Rushmore #16 - without first verifying - I decided to use "Whatcha got in the chippa?" as the last entry of four in that post. Such was my confidence that sheriff Frances McDormand said those exact words to homicidal Peter Stormare that I used the verb "deadpan" in my post describing McDormand's delivery. I'd heard my wife say the words so often I could hear McDormand while composing that post thirteen years ago. (BTW, those of you who have seen Fargo will readily recall Stormare's nearly mute psychopath, perhaps the creepiest creep the Coen Brothers have ever conjured, and those two twisted minds have conjured a memorable slew of them over their long film career.)
Fast forward to several nights back, my first re-watch of Fargo. As the gruesome scene near the end of the movie unfolded, imagine my surprise as McDormand confronts Stormare, blood spewing from the woodchipper - Steve Buscemi's remains - and says nothing remotely similar to that line I'd used in my Mt. Rushmore. Before that re-watch I would have bet anyone McDormand asks Stormare "Whatcha got in the chippa?" Indeed, I would've gone to my grave swearing these were the exact words used. Over the years, I myself had repeated that line to others in different contexts, sure beyond any doubt that McDormand had said it. Such is what complete trust - and thirty years (1996-2026) of both hearing and repeating a line of non-existent dialogue - can do.
Call this our married version of "Play it again, Sam." Except, Ingrid Bergman says those four words - just not in that exact order - speaking to Dooley Wilson in Casablanca. McDormand does say woodchipper - in the penultimate scene in her police car - but none of the rest. She doesn't deadpan at all; that was my invention. But under oath, I would've sworn differently.
I feel better after reading this! I've done it and have seen others do it too. It's like a personal Mandela Effect. Makes you wonder about historical accounts.
ReplyDeleteIn War and Peace one of the characters who fought in a battle finds that he cannot tell the other soldiers what actually happened to him, but rather what they wanted to hear, so his story got shaped that way.
Regina; Thanks for the comment. Mandela Effect, huh? I'll have to look that one up.
DeleteMemory is such a tricky thing! I would love to know what Aunt Kim heard or saw that created that moment in her mind that she was so sure was in the movie.
ReplyDeleteGina; Thanks for comment. Interesting that your comment and Ines's (directly below, posted 3 minutes after yours) both used "tricky" when referring to memory.
Delete.Memory is a tricky thing. We are so certain we are correct, but study after study has shown how incorrect our memory can be. And, it apparently gets worse with time, which makes sense. Remind me to tell you the story about Alan Alda and memory he did for his science program many years ago.
ReplyDeleteInes; How funny that both you & my niece Gina used "tricky" in your comments, given you were both typing within the same three-minute span. I'll look forward to hearing the Alan Alda story when I see you next.
DeleteHey Pat. OK, so I loved Fargo - gruesome bits and all. Ms. McDormand is one of my favorite actors. Very worthy of the recognition she's received over her career. But, I digress .. yet again. My wife and I will often quote from movies we both have watched and love and, more often than either of us would admit to, we have misquoted many times I'm sure. But, when realizing what the actual line/lines is/are, it usually is good for a laugh and a refresh of how we will use the line. Win Win, maybe? We're going to go with that.
ReplyDeleteBe well,
Bob
Bob; Thanks for this comment and all the others you made yesterday. I'm relieved to know we're not the only ones who "remember" movie lines that were never uttered.
DeleteWhat's important here is that Dormand SHOULD have said, "Whatcha got in the chippah?" It's a great line, and if you asked the Coen brothers today, they would agree with you. So kudos to Kim for improving an already brilliant film if only in your memory.
ReplyDeleteJim; Thanks for the comment. I'll be sure to pass along your endorsement of that line of non-existent dialogue. And if you have Joel or Ethan's phone # or e-mail, I'll also let them know of my wife's' screenwriting savvy.
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