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What's with the terrible edits off of Don Dunphy?

posted 15 years ago by jgroub
5 replies | jump to latest

Both times, when Don Dunphy introduces Howard Cosell and switches to him, the camera lingers on Dunphy for two or three seconds too long. Why did they do that? Was that typical for The Wide World of Sports back then, that it would have bad editing like that, and so Woody was imitating that?

And how did they ever get the rights to use The Wide World of Sports for the movie? It seems like ABC wouldn't want to be associated with this. I actually think they didn't get the rights, because Cosell throws it back to Jim McClain, not Jim McKay, at one point. Why wouldn't ABC have sued?

I asked the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] wev567 15 years ago

Back in the old days, live TV stand ups weren't so polished, so you had a second or two before the switch to the other reporter. They extended the camera hold for comedic effect.

ABC must have been on board - Howard was a pretty big deal to the network at the time, and he was wearing the Wide World of Sports logo on his coat during the his narration of the final sex scene. And I *think* the other newscasters may have been on local stations at the time.

[–] jgroub 15 years ago

Thanks for the answer about the edits. I thought it was something like that.

I don't think that's right about Jim McKay, though - he was the anchor at the Munich Olympics the next year, where he famously announced, "They're all gone." You don't go from local news to anchoring the Olympics in a year.

I asked the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] vincent_spano 15 years ago

Actually, your post raises a good point: I wondered if the same wierd editing occurs once more later in the movie.

Indeed, when Officials from San Marcos come to greet Fielding before the reception at El Presidente's. There are three or four guys, standing still for a good two seconds, and therafter, the leading official starts to smile as he approaches Fielding.

It looks like the scene starts too early... Or is it maybe done on purpose to emphasize that the smile on the official's face is an unsincere greeting smile ?

[–] scubadivergeek 13 years ago

<<Both times, when Don Dunphy introduces Howard Cosell and switches to him, the camera lingers on Dunphy for two or three seconds too long. Why did they do that? Was that typical for The Wide World of Sports back then, that it would have bad editing like that, and so Woody was imitating that?>>

Even today, you'll see that kind of editing on the evening news. It's pretty common for the camera to stay on a news anchor for a couple seconds before cutting to tape or whatever. I think that's the vibe they were going for.

<<And how did they ever get the rights to use The Wide World of Sports for the movie? It seems like ABC wouldn't want to be associated with this. I actually think they didn't get the rights, because Cosell throws it back to Jim McClain, not Jim McKay, at one point. Why wouldn't ABC have sued? >>

They didn't sue because they almost certainly had to give permission to begin with, not just to use the Wide World Of Sports logo, but also for Don Dunphy, Howard Cosell, and Roger Grimsby to appear in the film. Trust me, those three would have been fired and probably sued for breach of contract if ABC hadn't ok'd their appearance in the film beforehand.