Does James Caan say "Beam me up, Scotty" in Godfather 1?

Nick227 · 26th November 2012, 02:56 PM

Was watching the original Godfather movie the other night and distinctly heard James Caan, as Sonny, say "Beam me up, Scotty" in the background. It's at 53 mins 17 secs on my avi version. Totally ridiculous, I know! Nick

alfaniner · 26th November 2012, 04:27 PM

Can you describe the scene in particular?

hgc · 26th November 2012, 05:32 PM

Yes! Describe the scene. I can't wait to see this and find out what you're hearing. Is his face on camera at the time? Is he in dialog?

Also, I'm not sure if "beam me up, Scotty" was yet a pervasive meme in 1971 when the movie was being filmed.

alfaniner · 26th November 2012, 06:00 PM

Haven't seen the scene in question yet, but just guessing:

Could it be "Bring me a biscotti!"?

Stupefied · 26th November 2012, 07:46 PM

On my version at that time Sonny, Tom, Michael, and a couple others are in a room talking about where Luca is and what to do if the Godfather dies. I hear Sonny say, "I don't know. If Luca sold out we're in a lot of trouble, believe me. A lot of trouble." Right after that he says, "Hey Mick do me a favor, try him again on the phone." Followed immediately by something in Italian or possibly "keep on" ending in mumbling. I didn't notice anything that close to "beam me up, Scotty."

JerryGarcia · 26th November 2012, 07:53 PM

Whenever I miss a bit of dialogue I turn on the closed captions.

Stupefied · 26th November 2012, 08:01 PM

The captions only had perhaps half of what Sonny said.

Puppycow · 26th November 2012, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by Stupefied

On my version at that time Sonny, Tom, Michael, and a couple others are in a room talking about where Luca is and what to do if the Godfather dies. I hear Sonny say, "I don't know. If Luca sold out we're in a lot of trouble, believe me. A lot of trouble." Right after that he says, "Hey Mick do me a favor, try him again on the phone." Followed immediately by something in Italian or possibly "keep on" ending in mumbling. I didn't notice anything that close to "beam me up, Scotty."

Could 'believe me' have sounded like "Beam me"? (and our brains often fill in the rest involuntarily.)

I imagine just an auditory hallucination or simple mishearing. Some neuron misfiring or something like that. Happens to me from time to time.

Tomtomkent · 27th November 2012, 12:03 AM

Yes. It is a little known fact that the entire trilogy is set on the Gangster planet in theTrek universe.

NotJesus · 27th November 2012, 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by alfaniner

Could it be "Bring me a biscotti!"?

An Italian would never say that, since he would know that "biscotti" is plural.

Nick227 · 27th November 2012, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by hgc

Yes! Describe the scene. I can't wait to see this and find out what you're hearing. Is his face on camera at the time? Is he in dialog?

Also, I'm not sure if "beam me up, Scotty" was yet a pervasive meme in 1971 when the movie was being filmed.

I have the same doubts!

The scene is Sonny, Clemenza, Tessio, Michael, and Tom sitting around discussing what to do in the wake of the Godfather's shooting. Dialogue runs...

* Solazzo's the key. You get rid of him everything falls into line
* What about Luca? Solazzo didn't seem worried about Luca
* [Sonny opens his hands and looks upward as though somewhat despairing] Ahh, beam me up, Scotty. I know, if Luca sold out we're in a lot of trouble, believe me"

I agree it makes no sense at all, but Sonny does actually give a despairing gesture while he's saying it. It's ridiculous.

I'll post the clip online in a bit

Nick

Nick227 · 27th November 2012, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by hgc

Yes! Describe the scene. I can't wait to see this and find out what you're hearing. Is his face on camera at the time? Is he in dialog?

Also, I'm not sure if "beam me up, Scotty" was yet a pervasive meme in 1971 when the movie was being filmed.

I have the same doubts!

The scene is Sonny, Clemenza, Tessio, Michael, and Tom sitting around discussing what to do in the wake of the Godfather's shooting. Dialogue runs...

* Solazzo's the key. You get rid of him everything falls into line
* What about Luca? Solazzo didn't seem worried about Luca
* [Sonny opens his hands and looks upward as though somewhat despairing] Ahh, beam me up, Scotty. I know, if Luca sold out we're in a lot of trouble, believe me"

I agree it makes no sense at all, but Sonny does actually give a despairing gesture while he's saying it. It's ridiculous.

I'll post the clip online in a bit

Nick

Puppycow · 27th November 2012, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by NotJesus

An Italian would never say that, since he would know that "biscotti" is plural.

Caan was not Italian.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Caan

Quote:

Caan was born in The Bronx, New York City, the son of Sophie (née Falkenstein) and Arthur Caan, Jewish immigrants from Germany.[3]

Jack by the hedge · 27th November 2012, 02:32 AM

I just Googled a .pdf of the screenplay and it says;

"Aw... I don't know if Luca sold out we're in a lot of trouble, believe me. A lot of trouble."

http://www.public.asu.edu/~srbeatty/394/Godfather.pdf

But that likely isn't exactly what made the edit, since the preceding line is Tom's "Sollozzo's the key..." and the "What about Luca?" line is missing.

NotJesus · 27th November 2012, 02:38 AM

Originally Posted by Puppycow

Caan was not Italian.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Caan

No, but Sonny Corleone was. You understand how movies work, right?

Nick227 · 27th November 2012, 02:52 AM

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rzpplgur965vawi/z0L-UDgLqU

Hopefully works!

Nick

Salerio · 27th November 2012, 03:21 AM

Originally Posted by Nick227

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rzpplgur965vawi/z0L-UDgLqU

Hopefully works!

Nick

Well I must say, after listening to it a few times, it DOES sound like "beam me up Scottie" (to me at least. I'd never have spotted it in the middle of the film though with all the hullabaloo going on

OnlyTellsTruths · 27th November 2012, 03:34 AM

He definitely says it. He even looks up at the sky and raises his arms up...

ETA: That or it is a phrase, in Italian, that sounds just like it...

OnlyTellsTruths · 27th November 2012, 03:40 AM

Here's just that 1 second of audio with the volume raised as high as it can be without deforming it:

beamMeUp.mp3

calebprime · 27th November 2012, 03:56 AM

Not hearing it that way in OTT's clip.

Listening on good cans, best effort.

Actually, a little bit of wider context around the clip would help. Tightly trimmed or cropped like that, and it's harder to understand. Give the ear a little time to acclimate.

Maybe the "Scot", or "Scod" or something, but not the "Beam me up".

The first part sounds as much like "It ain't" or something as anything else.

What it's not is a clear sentence intended to be heard that way.

Could be "He ain't up, Scot."

calebprime · 27th November 2012, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by Nick227

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rzpplgur965vawi/z0L-UDgLqU

Hopefully works!

Nick

Originally Posted by calebprime

Not hearing it that way in OTT's clip.

Listening on good cans, best effort.

Actually, a little bit of wider context around the clip would help. Tightly trimmed or cropped like that, and it's harder to understand. Give the ear a little time to acclimate.

Maybe the "Scot", or "Scod" or something, but not the "Beam me up".

The first part sounds as much like "It ain't" or something as anything else.

What it's not is a clear sentence intended to be heard that way.

Could be "He ain't up, Scot."

Now that I have the good computer, I can hear/see the scene.

I'm impressed that anyone could hear what's going on at all in that babble.

It's been dubbed -- it's not recorded live. Especially "You want to kill all those guys?" stands out -- it's got more presence, more high end.

OTT did a good job isolating that line, which doesn't appear to match what Caan's mouth is actually doing in that scene. So looking at it doesn't help much.

Nor does hearing more of the context around it.

When Caan raises his hands and does his upward gaze, we're not hearing whatever he originally said -- it's dubbed afterward.

The only lines we're really intended to hear are "You want to kill all those guys?" and "Stay out of it." and a few other things. "...everything else falls into line" etc.

Worm · 27th November 2012, 06:23 AM

The transcript I found has:

"Sollozzo's the key. You get rid of him, every falls into line. Now what about Luca? Sollozzo didn't seem to be worried about Luca."

"Aw --I don't know -- if Luca sold out we're in a lot of trouble, believe me. A lot of trouble."

Brown · 27th November 2012, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by calebprime

It's been dubbed -- it's not recorded live. Especially "You want to kill all those guys?" stands out -- it's got more presence, more high end.

This is what I heard, too. It's Michael speaking, and Sonny tells him to stay out of it.

zooterkin · 27th November 2012, 07:12 AM

I don't know what he is saying. It could possibly be, "Beam me up, Scotty", but I doubt it. I can sort of hear him saying that, but it's as convincing as the examples of pareidolia I've heard, such as hearing "It's fun to smoke marijuana" when playing Another One Bites the Dust backwards. Once you're told what you're listening for, you tend to hear it.

Checkmite · 27th November 2012, 07:26 AM

It wouldn't make much sense. Isn't The Godfather supposed to be set in the 30's or sommat?

bjornart · 27th November 2012, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by Checkmite

It wouldn't make much sense. Isn't The Godfather supposed to be set in the 30's or sommat?

The Enterprise did travel in time a few times, and the films and books span "the years 1945 to 1955" according to wikipedia, but yeah, it wouldn't make sense.

Nick227 · 27th November 2012, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Checkmite

It wouldn't make much sense. Isn't The Godfather supposed to be set in the 30's or sommat?

The Godfather is set in '46, so it doesn't make any sense and for sure it's unlikely the line was in the original script!

I think Star Trek came out in the late 60s. But what I recall was that Kirk never actually uttered the famous line in the original TV series. It's one of those lines, like "Play it again, Sam", or "Alas poor Yorick, I knew him well" that passed into popular culture even though they were never actually said in the original production. So I guess there will be a time when people started saying "Beam me up, Scottie" and the phrase passed into popular culture. Godfather was made in 71 and 72, I think, so maybe the phrase was around then or maybe it didn't emerge until later.

I guess, in reality, Sonny should be saying qualcosa in Italiano, though despite having spent some time there and speaking a bit of da lingo I don't recognise it. Any Italians out there care to have a go? The scene is clearly dubbed also, which doesn't make things easier.

Nick

OnlyTellsTruths · 28th November 2012, 01:01 PM

It just seems like an ad-lib that wasn't thought through.

It wouldn't be the first consistency problem that survived editing in a period piece. I doubt it would even be the first one in the Godfather movies.

Again, I say he either says "beam me up scotty" or something in Italian that sounds about as much like that as you can get. I say that again, just to be clear that I am not "convinced". I am just making a case here.

It just seems like too much of a coincidence that he would look up at the sky and we hear a phrase like beam me up scotty....

Out of all the phrases in the English language that we could be hearing as pareidolia, it just happens to be one that matches his actions?

Please note that I do realize that pareidolia often does "match", but this seems to be pushing it.

On top of that, at that point Sonny is "fed up" with something. People say "beam me up scotty" when they are fed up.

So not only does it match his actions, it matches what we know he's thinking...

Again, I say an ad-lib that wasn't throught through.

OnlyTellsTruths · 28th November 2012, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by calebprime

When Caan raises his hands and does his upward gaze, we're not hearing whatever he originally said -- it's dubbed afterward.

That could just be the audio out of sync. Unless you are a professional lip-reader...

Monketey Ghost · 28th November 2012, 01:21 PM

How interesting. Even knowing it's supposed to sound like "Beam me up Scotty", I don't hear "beam" as a complete word.

On the clip, he raises his hands... I think maybe it's Italian?

calebprime · 28th November 2012, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by OnlyTellsTruths

That could just be the audio out of sync. Unless you are a professional lip-reader...

No, just look/listen. It's not even anywhere near close.

It's dubbed. I mean the whole scene. That sentence you quoted sounded like I meant just that line, but it's the whole scene.

It's not out of synch.

If it were out of synch, you'd see lip movements in the other actors with a consistent relation to the sound, a consistent delay one way or the other.

There's one recording of most of the audio, and then there's a line or two that were recorded on another track -- they have a different sound.

Not to mention that it would be gross professional incompetence on the film-maker's part to be out of synch.

I'm not a professional lip-reader, but I did video post-production work for over ten years as a pro in the 90's. You do develop an eye/ear that way, or you don't keep working in that world. My perceptions were consistently accurate down to the frame. That was one thing I was good at.

And no, he's not saying "beam me up, scotty." It doesn't even sound like that.

As a side note, I'm acutely aware when sound and picture are out of synch -- it makes me physically nauseous when I see it on the news, for example, or YouTube. That's training, and because I have fast reflexes.

truethat · 28th November 2012, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Puppycow

Could 'believe me' have sounded like "Beam me"? (and our brains often fill in the rest involuntarily.)

I imagine just an auditory hallucination or simple mishearing. Some neuron misfiring or something like that. Happens to me from time to time.

good catch. Believe me a lot, could sound like Beam me up Scot

StankApe · 28th November 2012, 01:42 PM

Plus, anyone who knows anything about Coppola's meticulous attention to detail (he flew in french actors who had no lines and ensured that the wine was served at the correct temperatures for the ,later cut, French Plantation scene in Apocalypse Now for example, and was very very hard assed about the Italian being "right" in The Godfather films)would know he'd never let something like that get through. He would have shot another take, or dubbed it out later.

OnlyTellsTruths · 28th November 2012, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by calebprime

It's dubbed. I mean the whole scene.

I agree that there is dubbing in the scene, don't get me wrong. That does not mean that all or some of the original scene audio is not used as well. They could do nifty stuff with audio, even in the 70s.

I agree without in actuality, I just was saying there is no way to be 100 percent convinced, and it came out wrong. I'm 99 percent in agreement with you that line is not what his lips say. It's possible, a slight chance, that we are wrong though.

Originally Posted by calebprime

And no, he's not saying "beam me up, scotty." It doesn't even sound like that.

Well, we're just going to have to agree to disagree here, because I am just as sure that it does sound exactly like "beam me up, scotty" as you are that it doesn't.

Also, you didn't address the two coincidences that I pointed out in my post.

OnlyTellsTruths · 28th November 2012, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by StankApe

Plus, anyone who knows anything about Coppola's meticulous attention to detail (he flew in french actors who had no lines and ensured that the wine was served at the correct temperatures for the ,later cut, French Plantation scene in Apocalypse Now for example, and was very very hard assed about the Italian being "right" in The Godfather films)would know he'd never let something like that get through. He would have shot another take, or dubbed it out later.

Oh please. If only you weren't serious.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/trivia?tab=gf

109 Goofs, just from Godfather 1. Dozens of them are much bigger goofs than this.

OnlyTellsTruths · 28th November 2012, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by calebprime

Not to mention that it would be gross professional incompetence on the film-maker's part to be out of synch.

Oh, please not you too. I missed that when I first read your post.

Go to the same like I just gave StankApe.

There are several examples of such "gross professional incompetence".

lionking · 28th November 2012, 02:14 PM

For what it's worth it sounds like "beam me up Scotty" to me.

calebprime · 28th November 2012, 02:19 PM

Not wanting to be wrong on the internet, I watched again. maybe for the 5th time, now.

It's dubbed. dubbed. dubbed. dubbed.

not out of synch.

watch any given actor and listen.

not even close.

Again, one mike for most of the audio, one track. (same ambience, same distance from the mic, no separate levels: that's how I know that.)

Then, some lines recorded separately: "You want to kill all those guys?"

(because it's at a higher level, and has more treble on it.) different track, so different timing, potentially.

The line we're arguing about is on the "one mike" track.

If it were out of synch, you'd see a relation between what each of the actors is saying, when you can hear them, and the picture. the delay would be consistent, because it's one track.

it would make me physically sick if it were out of synch.

it doesn't make me sick, because it's dubbed, so there's none of that nauseating timing weirdness.

OnlyTellsTruths · 28th November 2012, 02:37 PM

Please note that I already agreed with you that it is dubbed and not out of sync:

Originally Posted by OnlyTellsTruths

I'm 99 percent in agreement with you that line is not what his lips say. It's possible, a slight chance, that we are wrong though.

We are past that.

OnlyTellsTruths · 28th November 2012, 02:41 PM

But just for the sake of doing this logically I hope we can leave out the "Coppola" has perfect and "meticulous attention to detail" so him making a mistake is 100 percent impossible.

Or the "I am an expert so me being wrong is 100 percent impossible".

We need to focus on the evidence.

We do not need a competition to see who has done the most hours of professional audio/video work.

Literally what we need at this point is someone who is fluent in Italian!

26th November 2012, 02:56 PM	#1
Nick227 Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 3,353	Does James Caan say "Beam me up, Scotty" in Godfather 1? Was watching the original Godfather movie the other night and distinctly heard James Caan, as Sonny, say "Beam me up, Scotty" in the background. It's at 53 mins 17 secs on my avi version. Totally ridiculous, I know! Nick
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26th November 2012, 04:27 PM	#2
alfaniner Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sorth Dakonsin Posts: 11,382	Can you describe the scene in particular?
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26th November 2012, 05:32 PM	#3
hgc Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 13,008	Yes! Describe the scene. I can't wait to see this and find out what you're hearing. Is his face on camera at the time? Is he in dialog? Also, I'm not sure if "beam me up, Scotty" was yet a pervasive meme in 1971 when the movie was being filmed.
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26th November 2012, 06:00 PM	#4
alfaniner Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sorth Dakonsin Posts: 11,382	Haven't seen the scene in question yet, but just guessing: Could it be "Bring me a biscotti!"?
	__________________ Science doesn't lie.

26th November 2012, 07:46 PM	#5
Stupefied Student Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 35	On my version at that time Sonny, Tom, Michael, and a couple others are in a room talking about where Luca is and what to do if the Godfather dies. I hear Sonny say, "I don't know. If Luca sold out we're in a lot of trouble, believe me. A lot of trouble." Right after that he says, "Hey Mick do me a favor, try him again on the phone." Followed immediately by something in Italian or possibly "keep on" ending in mumbling. I didn't notice anything that close to "beam me up, Scotty."
Stupefied Student Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 35

26th November 2012, 07:53 PM	#6
JerryGarcia Muse Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Montpelier, VT Posts: 784	Whenever I miss a bit of dialogue I turn on the closed captions.
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26th November 2012, 08:01 PM	#7
Stupefied Student Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 35	The captions only had perhaps half of what Sonny said.
Stupefied Student Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 35

26th November 2012, 09:41 PM	#8
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 15,741	Originally Posted by Stupefied On my version at that time Sonny, Tom, Michael, and a couple others are in a room talking about where Luca is and what to do if the Godfather dies. I hear Sonny say, "I don't know. If Luca sold out we're in a lot of trouble, believe me. A lot of trouble." Right after that he says, "Hey Mick do me a favor, try him again on the phone." Followed immediately by something in Italian or possibly "keep on" ending in mumbling. I didn't notice anything that close to "beam me up, Scotty." Could 'believe me' have sounded like "Beam me"? (and our brains often fill in the rest involuntarily.) I imagine just an auditory hallucination or simple mishearing. Some neuron misfiring or something like that. Happens to me from time to time.
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27th November 2012, 12:03 AM	#9
Tomtomkent Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Kent, United Kingdom Posts: 5,213	Yes. It is a little known fact that the entire trilogy is set on the Gangster planet in theTrek universe.
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27th November 2012, 12:17 AM	#10
NotJesus Unsaviory Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: LA Posts: 5,467	Originally Posted by alfaniner Could it be "Bring me a biscotti!"? An Italian would never say that, since he would know that "biscotti" is plural.
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27th November 2012, 01:02 AM	#11
Nick227 Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 3,353	Originally Posted by hgc Yes! Describe the scene. I can't wait to see this and find out what you're hearing. Is his face on camera at the time? Is he in dialog? Also, I'm not sure if "beam me up, Scotty" was yet a pervasive meme in 1971 when the movie was being filmed. I have the same doubts! The scene is Sonny, Clemenza, Tessio, Michael, and Tom sitting around discussing what to do in the wake of the Godfather's shooting. Dialogue runs... * Solazzo's the key. You get rid of him everything falls into line * What about Luca? Solazzo didn't seem worried about Luca * [Sonny opens his hands and looks upward as though somewhat despairing] Ahh, beam me up, Scotty. I know, if Luca sold out we're in a lot of trouble, believe me" I agree it makes no sense at all, but Sonny does actually give a despairing gesture while he's saying it. It's ridiculous. I'll post the clip online in a bit Nick
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27th November 2012, 01:05 AM	#12
Nick227 Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 3,353	Originally Posted by hgc Yes! Describe the scene. I can't wait to see this and find out what you're hearing. Is his face on camera at the time? Is he in dialog? Also, I'm not sure if "beam me up, Scotty" was yet a pervasive meme in 1971 when the movie was being filmed. I have the same doubts! The scene is Sonny, Clemenza, Tessio, Michael, and Tom sitting around discussing what to do in the wake of the Godfather's shooting. Dialogue runs... * Solazzo's the key. You get rid of him everything falls into line * What about Luca? Solazzo didn't seem worried about Luca * [Sonny opens his hands and looks upward as though somewhat despairing] Ahh, beam me up, Scotty. I know, if Luca sold out we're in a lot of trouble, believe me" I agree it makes no sense at all, but Sonny does actually give a despairing gesture while he's saying it. It's ridiculous. I'll post the clip online in a bit Nick
	__________________ "Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies"

27th November 2012, 01:38 AM	#13
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 15,741	Originally Posted by NotJesus An Italian would never say that, since he would know that "biscotti" is plural. Caan was not Italian. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Caan Quote: Caan was born in The Bronx, New York City, the son of Sophie (née Falkenstein) and Arthur Caan, Jewish immigrants from Germany.[3]
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27th November 2012, 02:32 AM	#14
Jack by the hedge Safely Ignored Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5,416	I just Googled a .pdf of the screenplay and it says; "Aw... I don't know if Luca sold out we're in a lot of trouble, believe me. A lot of trouble." http://www.public.asu.edu/~srbeatty/394/Godfather.pdf But that likely isn't exactly what made the edit, since the preceding line is Tom's "Sollozzo's the key..." and the "What about Luca?" line is missing.

27th November 2012, 02:38 AM	#15
NotJesus Unsaviory Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: LA Posts: 5,467	Originally Posted by Puppycow Caan was not Italian. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Caan No, but Sonny Corleone was. You understand how movies work, right?
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27th November 2012, 02:52 AM	#16
Nick227 Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 3,353	https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rzpplgur965vawi/z0L-UDgLqU Hopefully works! Nick
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27th November 2012, 03:21 AM	#17
Salerio Thinker Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 206	Originally Posted by Nick227 https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rzpplgur965vawi/z0L-UDgLqU Hopefully works! Nick Well I must say, after listening to it a few times, it DOES sound like "beam me up Scottie" (to me at least. I'd never have spotted it in the middle of the film though with all the hullabaloo going on
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27th November 2012, 03:34 AM	#18
OnlyTellsTruths Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,787	He definitely says it. He even looks up at the sky and raises his arms up... ETA: That or it is a phrase, in Italian, that sounds just like it...
OnlyTellsTruths Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,787	__________________ ________________________ Last edited by OnlyTellsTruths; 27th November 2012 at 03:35 AM.

27th November 2012, 03:40 AM	#19
OnlyTellsTruths Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,787	Here's just that 1 second of audio with the volume raised as high as it can be without deforming it: beamMeUp.mp3
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27th November 2012, 03:56 AM	#20
calebprime Somewhat Elitist Parasite Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,754	Not hearing it that way in OTT's clip. Listening on good cans, best effort. Actually, a little bit of wider context around the clip would help. Tightly trimmed or cropped like that, and it's harder to understand. Give the ear a little time to acclimate. Maybe the "Scot", or "Scod" or something, but not the "Beam me up". The first part sounds as much like "It ain't" or something as anything else. What it's not is a clear sentence intended to be heard that way. Could be "He ain't up, Scot."
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27th November 2012, 06:18 AM	#21
calebprime Somewhat Elitist Parasite Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,754	Originally Posted by Nick227 https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rzpplgur965vawi/z0L-UDgLqU Hopefully works! Nick Originally Posted by calebprime Not hearing it that way in OTT's clip. Listening on good cans, best effort. Actually, a little bit of wider context around the clip would help. Tightly trimmed or cropped like that, and it's harder to understand. Give the ear a little time to acclimate. Maybe the "Scot", or "Scod" or something, but not the "Beam me up". The first part sounds as much like "It ain't" or something as anything else. What it's not is a clear sentence intended to be heard that way. Could be "He ain't up, Scot." Now that I have the good computer, I can hear/see the scene. I'm impressed that anyone could hear what's going on at all in that babble. It's been dubbed -- it's not recorded live. Especially "You want to kill all those guys?" stands out -- it's got more presence, more high end. OTT did a good job isolating that line, which doesn't appear to match what Caan's mouth is actually doing in that scene. So looking at it doesn't help much. Nor does hearing more of the context around it. When Caan raises his hands and does his upward gaze, we're not hearing whatever he originally said -- it's dubbed afterward. The only lines we're really intended to hear are "You want to kill all those guys?" and "Stay out of it." and a few other things. "...everything else falls into line" etc.
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27th November 2012, 06:23 AM	#22
Worm Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Coldstream, Scotland Posts: 1,086	The transcript I found has: "Sollozzo's the key. You get rid of him, every falls into line. Now what about Luca? Sollozzo didn't seem to be worried about Luca." "Aw --I don't know -- if Luca sold out we're in a lot of trouble, believe me. A lot of trouble."
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27th November 2012, 06:32 AM	#23
Brown Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 12,149	Originally Posted by calebprime It's been dubbed -- it's not recorded live. Especially "You want to kill all those guys?" stands out -- it's got more presence, more high end. This is what I heard, too. It's Michael speaking, and Sonny tells him to stay out of it.
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27th November 2012, 07:12 AM	#24
zooterkin Nitpicking dilettante Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Berkshire, mostly Posts: 24,581	I don't know what he is saying. It could possibly be, "Beam me up, Scotty", but I doubt it. I can sort of hear him saying that, but it's as convincing as the examples of pareidolia I've heard, such as hearing "It's fun to smoke marijuana" when playing Another One Bites the Dust backwards. Once you're told what you're listening for, you tend to hear it.
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27th November 2012, 07:26 AM	#25
Checkmite Skepticifimisticalationist Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Third in line Posts: 14,879	It wouldn't make much sense. Isn't The Godfather supposed to be set in the 30's or sommat?
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27th November 2012, 08:24 AM	#26
bjornart Master Poster Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,395	Originally Posted by Checkmite It wouldn't make much sense. Isn't The Godfather supposed to be set in the 30's or sommat? The Enterprise did travel in time a few times, and the films and books span "the years 1945 to 1955" according to wikipedia, but yeah, it wouldn't make sense.
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27th November 2012, 10:08 AM	#27
Nick227 Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 3,353	Originally Posted by Checkmite It wouldn't make much sense. Isn't The Godfather supposed to be set in the 30's or sommat? The Godfather is set in '46, so it doesn't make any sense and for sure it's unlikely the line was in the original script! I think Star Trek came out in the late 60s. But what I recall was that Kirk never actually uttered the famous line in the original TV series. It's one of those lines, like "Play it again, Sam", or "Alas poor Yorick, I knew him well" that passed into popular culture even though they were never actually said in the original production. So I guess there will be a time when people started saying "Beam me up, Scottie" and the phrase passed into popular culture. Godfather was made in 71 and 72, I think, so maybe the phrase was around then or maybe it didn't emerge until later. I guess, in reality, Sonny should be saying qualcosa in Italiano, though despite having spent some time there and speaking a bit of da lingo I don't recognise it. Any Italians out there care to have a go? The scene is clearly dubbed also, which doesn't make things easier. Nick
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28th November 2012, 01:01 PM	#28
OnlyTellsTruths Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,787	It just seems like an ad-lib that wasn't thought through. It wouldn't be the first consistency problem that survived editing in a period piece. I doubt it would even be the first one in the Godfather movies. Again, I say he either says "beam me up scotty" or something in Italian that sounds about as much like that as you can get. I say that again, just to be clear that I am not "convinced". I am just making a case here. It just seems like too much of a coincidence that he would look up at the sky and we hear a phrase like beam me up scotty.... Out of all the phrases in the English language that we could be hearing as pareidolia, it just happens to be one that matches his actions? Please note that I do realize that pareidolia often does "match", but this seems to be pushing it. On top of that, at that point Sonny is "fed up" with something. People say "beam me up scotty" when they are fed up. So not only does it match his actions, it matches what we know he's thinking... Again, I say an ad-lib that wasn't throught through.
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28th November 2012, 01:03 PM	#29
OnlyTellsTruths Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,787	Originally Posted by calebprime When Caan raises his hands and does his upward gaze, we're not hearing whatever he originally said -- it's dubbed afterward. That could just be the audio out of sync. Unless you are a professional lip-reader...
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28th November 2012, 01:21 PM	#30
Monketey Ghost Body of Work Join Date: May 2003 Location: I'm on your screen! Posts: 14,808	How interesting. Even knowing it's supposed to sound like "Beam me up Scotty", I don't hear "beam" as a complete word. On the clip, he raises his hands... I think maybe it's Italian?
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28th November 2012, 01:26 PM	#31
calebprime Somewhat Elitist Parasite Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,754	Originally Posted by OnlyTellsTruths That could just be the audio out of sync. Unless you are a professional lip-reader... No, just look/listen. It's not even anywhere near close. It's dubbed. I mean the whole scene. That sentence you quoted sounded like I meant just that line, but it's the whole scene. It's not out of synch. If it were out of synch, you'd see lip movements in the other actors with a consistent relation to the sound, a consistent delay one way or the other. There's one recording of most of the audio, and then there's a line or two that were recorded on another track -- they have a different sound. Not to mention that it would be gross professional incompetence on the film-maker's part to be out of synch. I'm not a professional lip-reader, but I did video post-production work for over ten years as a pro in the 90's. You do develop an eye/ear that way, or you don't keep working in that world. My perceptions were consistently accurate down to the frame. That was one thing I was good at. And no, he's not saying "beam me up, scotty." It doesn't even sound like that. As a side note, I'm acutely aware when sound and picture are out of synch -- it makes me physically nauseous when I see it on the news, for example, or YouTube. That's training, and because I have fast reflexes.
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28th November 2012, 01:32 PM	#32
truethat Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 8,625	Originally Posted by Puppycow Could 'believe me' have sounded like "Beam me"? (and our brains often fill in the rest involuntarily.) I imagine just an auditory hallucination or simple mishearing. Some neuron misfiring or something like that. Happens to me from time to time. good catch. Believe me a lot, could sound like Beam me up Scot
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28th November 2012, 01:42 PM	#33
StankApe Banned Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 4,643	Plus, anyone who knows anything about Coppola's meticulous attention to detail (he flew in french actors who had no lines and ensured that the wine was served at the correct temperatures for the ,later cut, French Plantation scene in Apocalypse Now for example, and was very very hard assed about the Italian being "right" in The Godfather films)would know he'd never let something like that get through. He would have shot another take, or dubbed it out later.
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28th November 2012, 02:00 PM	#34
OnlyTellsTruths Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,787	Originally Posted by calebprime It's dubbed. I mean the whole scene. I agree that there is dubbing in the scene, don't get me wrong. That does not mean that all or some of the original scene audio is not used as well. They could do nifty stuff with audio, even in the 70s. I agree without in actuality, I just was saying there is no way to be 100 percent convinced, and it came out wrong. I'm 99 percent in agreement with you that line is not what his lips say. It's possible, a slight chance, that we are wrong though. Originally Posted by calebprime And no, he's not saying "beam me up, scotty." It doesn't even sound like that. Well, we're just going to have to agree to disagree here, because I am just as sure that it does sound exactly like "beam me up, scotty" as you are that it doesn't. Also, you didn't address the two coincidences that I pointed out in my post.
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28th November 2012, 02:02 PM	#35
OnlyTellsTruths Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,787	Originally Posted by StankApe Plus, anyone who knows anything about Coppola's meticulous attention to detail (he flew in french actors who had no lines and ensured that the wine was served at the correct temperatures for the ,later cut, French Plantation scene in Apocalypse Now for example, and was very very hard assed about the Italian being "right" in The Godfather films)would know he'd never let something like that get through. He would have shot another take, or dubbed it out later. Oh please. If only you weren't serious. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/trivia?tab=gf 109 Goofs, just from Godfather 1. Dozens of them are much bigger goofs than this.
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