Fountain Pens in Movies and TV

[carlos.q]

A definitive answer to the actor or calligrapher stand-in question for The Power of the Dog at least — the end credits include a writing double:

Attachment 68481

Since the movie was filmed in New Zealand, Peter Gilderdale may be the same freelance calligrapher and retired lecturer in design history at Auckland University of Technology interviewed in the podcast here: https://www.stillcuriouspodcast.com/...lecturer-s1e6/

Nice catch! A writing double? Double geek points for this one!!

[FredRydr]

Check out the big pretty Parker Duofold-looking fountain pen in the deceased’s pocket six minutes into the first episode (of three) of the Agatha Christie series Why Didn't They Ask Evans?, written and directed by Hugh Laurie. It’s gotta be a clue.

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There's a later dream scene with the pen being uncapped in the first or second episode.

[catbert]

Episode 2 of Why Didn't They Ask Evans? features a writing desk with a couple of pens and a Chekhovian gun.

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Later, a pen with a metal section is used to sign a hotel register.

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[catbert]

In episode 3 of Why Didn't They Ask Evans? the dead man's Duofold resurfaces, apparently still filled with the same ink, and gets a twirl in flashback for the benefit of us pen-spotters.

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[FredRydr]

And that's not ink on those fingers!

[carlos.q]

In "Valley of the Dolls" (1967) a Broadway diva is handed a contract to sign. Naturally she says what anyone of us would say in such circumstances...

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[Blue Note]

In "Valley of the Dolls" (1967) a Broadway diva is handed a contract to sign. Naturally she says what anyone of us would say in such circumstances...

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That's a line I'd love to use someday.

[catbert]

Ethan Hawke with an obviously uninked Lamy Safari in episode 4 of Moon Knight. It almost looks like he noticed something wrong about that cardboard spacer ring.

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Part of his speech:

Marc, we don’t live in a material world. We live in a psychic world. Right? We’re only able to make indirect inferences about the nature of reality. Like, take, for example, this pen, right? To me, this is a writing utensil. Right? To my dog, it’s a chew toy. Both are accurate. Right? It’s just a question of context and perspective.

[Chip]

Watched House of Gucci, which was a mix of trashy and cool. There were several scenes in which contracts, etc. were signed with posh fountain pens, none of which I could identify.

Can't do screenshots on our TV, but if you can, you might care to follow it up.

[Z man]

I saw a Betty Boop cartoon from the 1930s with a combination of live action (artist's hand) and animation. An animated pan of the artist's desktop had a Sheaffer Balance LF.

[FredRydr]

I saw a Betty Boop cartoon from the 1930s with a combination of live action (artist's hand) and animation. An animated pan of the artist's desktop had a Sheaffer Balance LF.

This? https://youtu.be/mTdPmFYiOnA

[carlos.q]

In "The Man Who Knew Too Little" (1997), Bill Murray uses a MB 149 to jot down an address:

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[FredRydr]

In "The Man Who Knew Too Little" (1997), Bill Murray uses a MB 149 to jot down an address

Well spotted!

[Z man]

I saw a Betty Boop cartoon from the 1930s with a combination of live action (artist's hand) and animation. An animated pan of the artist's desktop had a Sheaffer Balance LF.

This? https://youtu.be/mTdPmFYiOnA

Could be, but I'm not sure because the link didn't work for me in a couple of browsers.

[whych]

I saw a Betty Boop cartoon from the 1930s with a combination of live action (artist's hand) and animation. An animated pan of the artist's desktop had a Sheaffer Balance LF.

This? https://youtu.be/mTdPmFYiOnA

Could be, but I'm not sure because the link didn't work for me in a couple of browsers.

Try:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTdPmFYiOnA

[Z man]

Could be, but I'm not sure because the link didn't work for me in a couple of browsers.

Try:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTdPmFYiOnA[/QUOTE]

That did it. Thanks.

[Z man]

Try:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTdPmFYiOnA

That did it. Thanks.[/QUOTE]

Sorry for the screw up. Momentarily forgot how the code works.

[Chip]

[QUOTE=catbert;362471]Episode 2 of Why Didn't They Ask Evans? features a writing desk with a couple of pens and a Chekhovian gun.

Evans1.jpg

The blue marbled pen resembles a Conway Stewart 388. but lacks the triple gold ring at the base of the cap.

[Niner]

Old noir films (flims noirs?) are shown regularly on a couple of television networks in the U.S. Desk sets are ubiquitous in the office scenes. Other fountain pens show up fairly often.

TCM (Turner Classic Movies) presents the films on Saturdays at midnight. The "Movies!" network presents three others beginning each Saturday at 8 PM. (DVR recording devices are a help.)

Happy hunting.

[An old bloke]

I watched two episodes of Why didn't the ask Evans tonight. It's a serialised version of an Agatha Christie novel, and as such a period (c 1936) drama. There is a pen in the dying man's pocket in the opening scenes of the first episode. It looks like an Onoto Magna or a Parker Duofold. I am no expert, but i am leaning towards it being Duofold. Opinions please.