Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Lost in Translation

This is my favorite depiction of something being lost in translation. From the movie Johnny Dangerously.

Lil: Get this to Johnny on the grapevine. Vermin is going to kill Johnny's brother at the savoy theater tomorrow night. Got it?

Polly the Parrot: Got it.

Polly the Parrot: [arrives at prison mess hall and lands on the shoulder of a prisoner] Vermin is going to kill Johnny's brother at the Savoy theater. Pass it on.
 
Prisoner: [to the next prisoner sitting next to him] Vermin is going to kill Johnny's brother at the Savoy theater tonight. Pass it on.
 
Prisoner: [to the next prisoner, "telephone" style] Vermin is going to kill Johnny's mother at the Savoy theater tonight. Pass it on.
 
Prisoner: [to the next prisoner] Vermin's mother is going to kill Johnny tonight at the Savoy theater. Pass it on.
 
Prisoner: [to the next prisoner]
[unintelligible]
 
Prisoner: ... at the Savoy. Pass it on.
 
Prisoner: There's a message through the grapevine, Johnny.
 
Johnny Dangerously: Yeah? What is it?
 
Prisoner: Johnny and the Mothers are playing "Stompin' at the Savoy" in Vermont tonight.
 
Johnny Dangerously: Vermin's going to kill my brother at the Savoy theater tonight.
 
Prisoner: I didn't say that.
 
Johnny Dangerously: No, but I know this grapevine. Quote from Johnny Dangerously movie. Something abuot his mother and the savoy theatre.

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