I could use your help
EDIT: Wow, thanks for so many responses! Looks like I have my work cut out for me!
I'm looking for movies that were either filmed during or take place during 1950-1990ish in which a telephone is heard ringing. How's that for specificity? I'm trying to find obvious examples where a recording of a phone ringing was added in post rather than the phone actually being heard on set. I'd actually prefer movies made post-1990, but anything is welcome!
I've already combed through Ghostbusters, Argo, Fargo, American Made, The Producers, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Back to the Future, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. None of these have the obvious characteristic I'm looking for.
Preferably these films will be accessible through Netflix or Amazon Prime video, that way I can easily do a screen grab. If you can think of anything where telephones are prominently featured and are answered a lot, please do tell!
Thanks!
Comments (33)
When Harry Met Sally
Here's a scene with 4 phones, 2 of which ring: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4Eo2_YMZtE" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4Eo2_YMZtE</a>
Agree with the earlier comments about vintage TV sitcoms: Many examples of phones ringing and one end of the conversation are available. You may whack into the YouTube copyright wall using these, though ....
I've been looking through TV shows, too. YouTube's copyright filter seems to have been altered to allow 15 second or so clips. I think it was decided that this would count as Fair Use, especially since so many movie channels exist. I've found one clip in Trading Places that has what I'm looking for, but I'll be looking through other suggestions, too!
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT_u9Rurrqg" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT_u9Rurrqg</a> Terminator2
As I replied to Benjamin, this is perfect! I found one other ring that I needed from Trading Places. You'll see what I'm going on about soon enough!
The Rockford Files Opening. DONE!
DIal M for Murder, 1954.
What about tv shows like bewitched my three sons the patty duke show . Green acres , the beverly hillbilly the movie mommy dearest ?
The Ring - 2003
Pillow talk - 1959
Dial M for Murder - 1954
A Nightmare on Elm Street - 1984
Try one of these: Bells Are Ringing, 1960 - Dean Martin and Judy Holiday. It's about a woman who works for an answering service. ($2.99 to rent on Amazon) or His Girl Friday, 1940 - Carey Grant and Rosalind Russell. Much of it takes place in a newsroom where they're constantly answering phones (N/C to Prime members).
When a Stranger calls - 1979
I was going to say "It's a Wonderful Life", but that was 1945/46 I think. Not sure if that's too early.
Nero Wolfe, from A&E uses the phone a fair bit.
Terminator 2 (1991), John Connor calls his parents. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT_u9Rurrqg" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT_u9Rurrqg</a>
THAT IS PERFECT! Thank you! And the clip is notable for two things which you'll find out about shortly!
Scream (1996); there is a phone ringing in the trailer! <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117571/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117571/</a> I bet a lot of horror/suspense movies would be a good source of phones ringing. ("Why won't they pick up!? Why won't they pick up!?")
Oh, and Annie Hall and Dog Day Afternoon. Probably All the President's Men too.
The Matrix has plenty of phones ringing. Another movie that prominently features the telephone is Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. While I don't think the time travel phone booth ever rings, there are several rings from office phones in the scenes in the sheriff's office, when the historical dudes are being booked (and later freed) after ransacking the San Dimas mall. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKdsir0dRYc" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKdsir0dRYc</a>
<a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/MINT-CHARLIE-CHAN-LASER-DISC-COLLECTION-FROM-ORIGINAL-OWNER-LOOOK/142256782065?hash=item211f2a3af1:g:4Y8AAOSw241Yh58d" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.ebay.com/itm/MINT-CHARLIE-CHAN-LASER-DISC-COLLECTION-FROM-ORIGINAL-OWNER-LOOOK/142256782065?hash=item211f2a3af1:g:4Y8AAOSw241Yh58d</a>
What about series, like homicide: life on the street. IIRC there were ringing phones endlessly.
Not quite what you're looking for, but one of the movies featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000 had a phone ring that was obviously meant to be dubbed in but the filmmakers forgot so we got the on-set audio which was just a guy making a phone ring noise: <a href="https://youtu.be/5dKiaRUKgmA" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/5dKiaRUKgmA</a>
The Matrix? Or is that too recent?
Our Man Flint/ In like Flint - although it’s not your traditional ring - Or the start of The Rockford Files.
If we're talking spy phones, the shoe phone Get Smart?
Anything with a telethon scene, like UHF
Phone Booth <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p07lBCfC2q8" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p07lBCfC2q8</a>
Dial M for Murder? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWP_hrNHSN4" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWP_hrNHSN4</a>
That's what popped into my mind when I saw this. Note that the phone rings in that trailer are modern dubs, you can hear the original sound effect in this pirated copy of the film (with an obnoxious video filter to bypass the Youtube copyright bots) here: <a href="https://youtu.be/wNaZ5Up66MA?t=35m" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/wNaZ5Up66MA?t=35m</a>
How about "When A Stranger Calls"?