Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Movie title puzzle
59 views
Skip to first unread message
Mark Brader
Feb 10, 2017, 4:48:04 AM2/10/17
to
According to the AMPAS database, there are 232 movies so far that
have won the Oscar for Best Actor, Best Actress, and/or Best Director.
That is, movies that each won at least one of those Oscars.
Consider an alphabetical list of those 232 movies. (As usual, any
article at the start of a title is to be ignored in alphabetizing.
For example, "A Touch of Class" is between "Tom Jones" and "Traffic".)
You are asked to, *without computer assistance*, identify three
of the movies on that list. I'll call them X, Y, and Z.
* X and Y appear consecutively on that alphabetical list,
then there are 4 other movies, and then Z.
* All three movies X, Y, and Z were released within the span of 3 years.
* Z was set in the (then) present, but both X and Y took place in the
(then) past.
* None of the three titles were intended to relate to each other.
* Nevertheless, if the two titles X and Y are considered *together*,
they collectively describe an economic disaster that was taking
place during the period when the movies were released -- and whose
consequences are depicted in Z.
Have fun. And remember, no computer assistance.
--
Mark Brader | "Mine are the correct [theories], but other observers...
Toronto | offer differing hypotheses which they stubbornly
m...@vex.net | refuse to abandon." --Algis Budrys
My text in this article is in the public domain.
have won the Oscar for Best Actor, Best Actress, and/or Best Director.
That is, movies that each won at least one of those Oscars.
Consider an alphabetical list of those 232 movies. (As usual, any
article at the start of a title is to be ignored in alphabetizing.
For example, "A Touch of Class" is between "Tom Jones" and "Traffic".)
You are asked to, *without computer assistance*, identify three
of the movies on that list. I'll call them X, Y, and Z.
* X and Y appear consecutively on that alphabetical list,
then there are 4 other movies, and then Z.
* All three movies X, Y, and Z were released within the span of 3 years.
* Z was set in the (then) present, but both X and Y took place in the
(then) past.
* None of the three titles were intended to relate to each other.
* Nevertheless, if the two titles X and Y are considered *together*,
they collectively describe an economic disaster that was taking
place during the period when the movies were released -- and whose
consequences are depicted in Z.
Have fun. And remember, no computer assistance.
--
Mark Brader | "Mine are the correct [theories], but other observers...
Toronto | offer differing hypotheses which they stubbornly
m...@vex.net | refuse to abandon." --Algis Budrys
My text in this article is in the public domain.
Mark Brader
Feb 10, 2017, 12:53:54 PM2/10/17
to
Mark Brader:
subtract years, i.e. if N is the year when first of the three movie was
released, then N+3 is the year of the third one's release. From another
point of view that might be called a span of 4 years.
But in fact, according to the IMDB, the premiere date of the first movie
was later in year N than that of the third movie was in year N+3; and
the same holds if you look at national release dates rather than premiers.
So my statement about the "span of 3 years" was in fact literally correct.
My apologies for the ambiguity.
--
Mark Brader "I am Sam. Sam I am.
Toronto I do not like trolls, flames, or spam."
m...@vex.net --Forrest Cameranesi (after Dr. Seuss)
> * All three movies X, Y, and Z were released within the span of 3 years.
For greater clarity: When I wrote that sentence I only had it in mind to
subtract years, i.e. if N is the year when first of the three movie was
released, then N+3 is the year of the third one's release. From another
point of view that might be called a span of 4 years.
But in fact, according to the IMDB, the premiere date of the first movie
was later in year N than that of the third movie was in year N+3; and
the same holds if you look at national release dates rather than premiers.
So my statement about the "span of 3 years" was in fact literally correct.
My apologies for the ambiguity.
--
Mark Brader "I am Sam. Sam I am.
Toronto I do not like trolls, flames, or spam."
m...@vex.net --Forrest Cameranesi (after Dr. Seuss)
Marc Dashevsky
Feb 10, 2017, 4:46:41 PM2/10/17
to
In article <hrWdnVz2NNPTEQDF...@giganews.com>, m...@vex.net says...
offer that one of them might be Crash (2004).
--
Replace "usenet" with "marc" in the e-mail address.
>
> According to the AMPAS database, there are 232 movies so far that
> have won the Oscar for Best Actor, Best Actress, and/or Best Director.
> That is, movies that each won at least one of those Oscars.
>
> Consider an alphabetical list of those 232 movies. (As usual, any
> article at the start of a title is to be ignored in alphabetizing.
> For example, "A Touch of Class" is between "Tom Jones" and "Traffic".)
>
> You are asked to, *without computer assistance*, identify three
> of the movies on that list. I'll call them X, Y, and Z.
>
> * X and Y appear consecutively on that alphabetical list,
> then there are 4 other movies, and then Z.
>
> * All three movies X, Y, and Z were released within the span of 3 years.
>
> * Z was set in the (then) present, but both X and Y took place in the
> (then) past.
>
> * None of the three titles were intended to relate to each other.
>
> * Nevertheless, if the two titles X and Y are considered *together*,
> they collectively describe an economic disaster that was taking
> place during the period when the movies were released -- and whose
> consequences are depicted in Z.
>
> Have fun. And remember, no computer assistance.
No way I can do this without looking at the list of films but I'll
> According to the AMPAS database, there are 232 movies so far that
> have won the Oscar for Best Actor, Best Actress, and/or Best Director.
> That is, movies that each won at least one of those Oscars.
>
> Consider an alphabetical list of those 232 movies. (As usual, any
> article at the start of a title is to be ignored in alphabetizing.
> For example, "A Touch of Class" is between "Tom Jones" and "Traffic".)
>
> You are asked to, *without computer assistance*, identify three
> of the movies on that list. I'll call them X, Y, and Z.
>
> * X and Y appear consecutively on that alphabetical list,
> then there are 4 other movies, and then Z.
>
> * All three movies X, Y, and Z were released within the span of 3 years.
>
> * Z was set in the (then) present, but both X and Y took place in the
> (then) past.
>
> * None of the three titles were intended to relate to each other.
>
> * Nevertheless, if the two titles X and Y are considered *together*,
> they collectively describe an economic disaster that was taking
> place during the period when the movies were released -- and whose
> consequences are depicted in Z.
>
> Have fun. And remember, no computer assistance.
offer that one of them might be Crash (2004).
--
Replace "usenet" with "marc" in the e-mail address.
swp
Feb 10, 2017, 5:39:22 PM2/10/17
to
I will make some assumptions, many of which may be incorrect. Mark did this alone. ok, I got nothing else.
it can't be "wall street"->"the accused"->"reversal of fortune" because that violates the alphabetical constraint.
so .. old movies. pre world war ii maybe??
hmmm .. (this is making me think, and I will have to make Mark pay for that someday)
I will guess:
skippy -> the sin of madelon claudet (helen hayes!) -> it happened one night (frank capra)
swp
Mark Brader
Feb 10, 2017, 8:43:48 PM2/10/17
to
Mark Brader:
> > * X and Y appear consecutively on that alphabetical list,
> > then there are 4 other movies, and then Z.
Stephen Perry:
for the puzzle to work.
> so .. old movies. pre world war ii maybe??
Maybe.
> I will guess:
> skippy -> the sin of madelon claudet (helen hayes!) -> it happened one
> night (frank capra)
Interesting guess. I don't think I'd even heard of "Skippy", which
is indeed a Best Director winner. But that third title fails the
alphabetical constraint.
In fact all three of titles X, Y, and Z begin with the same letter,
and by the way, all are multiple words.
--
Mark Brader | "Don't be silly. A pedant is something you hang
Toronto | round your neck, or else you hang them by the neck."
m...@vex.net | --Rob Bannister
> > According to the AMPAS database, there are 232 movies so far that
> > have won the Oscar for Best Actor, Best Actress, and/or Best Director.
> > That is, movies that each won at least one of those Oscars.
> >
> > Consider an alphabetical list of those 232 movies...
> > have won the Oscar for Best Actor, Best Actress, and/or Best Director.
> > That is, movies that each won at least one of those Oscars.
> >
> > * X and Y appear consecutively on that alphabetical list,
> > then there are 4 other movies, and then Z.
> this is ... difficult.
>
> I will make some assumptions, many of which may be incorrect. Mark did
> this alone.
Well, I used computer assistance to construct the correct first sentence
>
> I will make some assumptions, many of which may be incorrect. Mark did
> this alone.
for the puzzle to work.
> so .. old movies. pre world war ii maybe??
> I will guess:
> skippy -> the sin of madelon claudet (helen hayes!) -> it happened one
> night (frank capra)
is indeed a Best Director winner. But that third title fails the
alphabetical constraint.
In fact all three of titles X, Y, and Z begin with the same letter,
and by the way, all are multiple words.
--
Mark Brader | "Don't be silly. A pedant is something you hang
Toronto | round your neck, or else you hang them by the neck."
m...@vex.net | --Rob Bannister
Ted S.
Feb 11, 2017, 5:54:35 AM2/11/17
to
On 02/10/2017 08:43 PM, Mark Brader wrote:
> In fact all three of titles X, Y, and Z begin with the same letter,
> and by the way, all are multiple words.
There goes my guess. I was going to pick The Godfather, The Godfather
> In fact all three of titles X, Y, and Z begin with the same letter,
> and by the way, all are multiple words.
Part II, and then Harry and Tonto since New York's decline that resulted
in Ford telling the city to drop dead was the ultimate result of the
Depression. :-)
--
Ted S.
Catskill Mtns, NY, USA
Mark Brader
Feb 11, 2017, 12:20:23 PM2/11/17
to
Mark Brader:
Hint: the disaster was broadly in the realm of agriculture.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "Close your tag and give it a rest, Jason"
m...@vex.net | --FoxTrot (Bill Amend)
> > In fact all three of titles X, Y, and Z begin with the same letter,
> > and by the way, all are multiple words.
Ted Schuerzinger:
> > and by the way, all are multiple words.
> There goes my guess. I was going to pick The Godfather, The Godfather
> Part II, and then Harry and Tonto since New York's decline that resulted
> in Ford telling the city to drop dead was the ultimate result of the
> Depression. :-)
(Giggle!)
> Part II, and then Harry and Tonto since New York's decline that resulted
> in Ford telling the city to drop dead was the ultimate result of the
> Depression. :-)
Hint: the disaster was broadly in the realm of agriculture.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "Close your tag and give it a rest, Jason"
m...@vex.net | --FoxTrot (Bill Amend)
Ted S.
Feb 11, 2017, 1:27:55 PM2/11/17
to
On 02/11/2017 12:20 PM, Mark Brader wrote:
> Hint: the disaster was broadly in the realm of agriculture.
The Good Earth
> Hint: the disaster was broadly in the realm of agriculture.
Gone With the Wind
The Grapes of Wrath?
The movies in between would be Good Will Hunting, The Graduate, and
Grand Hotel?
Mark Brader
Feb 11, 2017, 2:30:18 PM2/11/17
to
Mark Brader:
1940 respectively.
> The movies in between would be Good Will Hunting, The Graduate, and
> Grand Hotel?
"The Graduate" (1967) is correct: Mike Nichols won Best Director.
Robin Williams won Best Supporting Actor for "Good Will Hunting"
(1997), but Matt Damon was beaten for Best Actor by Jack Nicholson
in "As Good as It Gets" (although Damon and Ben Affleck did win a
screenplay Oscar), and Gus Van Sant was beaten for Best Director by
James Cameron for "Titanic".
"Grand Hotel" (1931) won Outstanding Production -- now called Best
Picture -- but was not nominated for *any* other Oscars. However,
in those days there were only two acting categories and each category
had only 3 nominees (except Outstanding Production, which had 8).
The other two in between were actually "The Goodbye Girl" (1977)
and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1939), both for Best Actor -- Richard
Dreyfuss and Robert Donat.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "You are becoming far too reasonable.
m...@vex.net | I worry about you." --Tony Cooper
> > Hint: the disaster was broadly in the realm of agriculture.
Ted Schuerzinger:
> The Good Earth
> Gone With the Wind
> The Grapes of Wrath?
Correct! Isn't that amazing? The release dates were 1937, 1939, and
> Gone With the Wind
> The Grapes of Wrath?
1940 respectively.
> The movies in between would be Good Will Hunting, The Graduate, and
> Grand Hotel?
Robin Williams won Best Supporting Actor for "Good Will Hunting"
(1997), but Matt Damon was beaten for Best Actor by Jack Nicholson
in "As Good as It Gets" (although Damon and Ben Affleck did win a
screenplay Oscar), and Gus Van Sant was beaten for Best Director by
James Cameron for "Titanic".
"Grand Hotel" (1931) won Outstanding Production -- now called Best
Picture -- but was not nominated for *any* other Oscars. However,
in those days there were only two acting categories and each category
had only 3 nominees (except Outstanding Production, which had 8).
The other two in between were actually "The Goodbye Girl" (1977)
and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1939), both for Best Actor -- Richard
Dreyfuss and Robert Donat.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "You are becoming far too reasonable.
m...@vex.net | I worry about you." --Tony Cooper
Earle Jones27
Feb 13, 2017, 1:33:50 AM2/13/17
to
On 2017-02-10 09:47:58 +0000, Mark Brader said:
> According to the AMPAS database, there are 232 movies so far that
> have won the Oscar for Best Actor, Best Actress, and/or Best Director.
> That is, movies that each won at least one of those Oscars.
>
> Consider an alphabetical list of those 232 movies. (As usual, any
> article at the start of a title is to be ignored in alphabetizing.
> For example, "A Touch of Class" is between "Tom Jones" and "Traffic".)
>
> You are asked to, *without computer assistance*, identify three
> of the movies on that list. I'll call them X, Y, and Z.
>
> * X and Y appear consecutively on that alphabetical list,
> then there are 4 other movies, and then Z.
>
> * All three movies X, Y, and Z were released within the span of 3 years.
>
> * Z was set in the (then) present, but both X and Y took place in the
> (then) past.
>
> * None of the three titles were intended to relate to each other.
>
> * Nevertheless, if the two titles X and Y are considered *together*,
> they collectively describe an economic disaster that was taking
> place during the period when the movies were released -- and whose
> consequences are depicted in Z.
>
> Have fun. And remember, no computer assistance.
*
> According to the AMPAS database, there are 232 movies so far that
> have won the Oscar for Best Actor, Best Actress, and/or Best Director.
> That is, movies that each won at least one of those Oscars.
>
> Consider an alphabetical list of those 232 movies. (As usual, any
> article at the start of a title is to be ignored in alphabetizing.
> For example, "A Touch of Class" is between "Tom Jones" and "Traffic".)
>
> You are asked to, *without computer assistance*, identify three
> of the movies on that list. I'll call them X, Y, and Z.
>
> * X and Y appear consecutively on that alphabetical list,
> then there are 4 other movies, and then Z.
>
> * All three movies X, Y, and Z were released within the span of 3 years.
>
> * Z was set in the (then) present, but both X and Y took place in the
> (then) past.
>
> * None of the three titles were intended to relate to each other.
>
> * Nevertheless, if the two titles X and Y are considered *together*,
> they collectively describe an economic disaster that was taking
> place during the period when the movies were released -- and whose
> consequences are depicted in Z.
>
> Have fun. And remember, no computer assistance.
Mark: This is completely off-topic.
Were you the Mark Brader that gave a lecture on switches, hubs and
routers at the Interop Conference in Tokyo in about 1993 or '04?
I was there! I worked for Ziff-Davis and managed their Asian office
for a couple of years.
Thanks,
earle
*
Mark Brader
Feb 13, 2017, 3:40:23 AM2/13/17
to
Earle Jones:
--
Mark Brader, Toronto "Big programs are a bug."
m...@vex.net -- Geoff Collyer
> Were you the Mark Brader that gave a lecture on switches, hubs and
> routers at the Interop Conference in Tokyo in about 1993 or '04?
No, I have never been to Japan.
> routers at the Interop Conference in Tokyo in about 1993 or '04?
--
Mark Brader, Toronto "Big programs are a bug."
m...@vex.net -- Geoff Collyer
0 new messages