Classic movie references

[Lt. Cook]

Magnum often makes references to classic (I assume) movies and actors. Its one of those fetails that really fleshes out his personality. Rick does this too. Anybody remember any of these references?

[IslandHopper]

Magnum often makes references to classic (I assume) movies and actors. Its one of those fetails that really fleshes out his personality. Rick does this too. Anybody remember any of these references?

In "Did You See The Sunrise" Magnum is seen watching Stalag 17, his favorite movie. This movie helps him figure out that Nuzzo was a Soviet agent posing as an American POW. In this episode he also mentions William Holden, one of the movie's stars. In "I Do" Mangum is watching Gunga Din. Rick references Casablanca in "A Little Bit of Luck, A Little Bit of Grief." In "Don't Eat The Snow In Hawaii" Rick's character is based on Humphrey Bogart's character in Casablanca. He takes the same name as Bogart (Rick) and his night club also has the same name (Rick's Cafe Americana). In "All Thieves on Deck" Magnum is watching a Bette Davis movie on board the ship, and mentions her and what a great career she will have in movies. In "The Case of the Red Faced Thespian" Magnum also watches an Agatha Christie marathon. In the same episode we see various characters dressed a famous people from the '20s for the Great Gatsby weekend. Rick comes dressed as Charlie Chaplin. We also see the two guys dressed as Douglas Fairbanks and John Barrymore. Magnum is dressed as Dashiell Hammett.

[J.J. Walters]

Yeah, love all the classic movie references in the show.

The Magnificent Seven (1960) was mentioned in "Infinity and Jelly Doughnuts".

In attempting to figure out Peter Ridley-Smythe's plan in "The Legend of the Lost Art", several classic movies are mentioned - The Maltese Falcon (1941), The Treasure of the Sierre Madre (1948), North by Northwest (1959), Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), King Soloman's Mines (1950, the Stewart Granger version), Raiders of Ghost City (1944), The Perils of Pauline (1947), and Perils of Nyoka, aka "Nyoka and the Lost Secrets of Hippocrates" (1942). A brief clip from Perils of Nyoka is seen on Magnum's TV at the end.

In "Murder by Night", the scene with Rev. Bentley at Magnum's office is a clever recreation (almost verbatim) of Sam Spade's first meeting with Joel Cairo in The Maltese Falcon.

There are others, too.

[rubber chicken]

There's also The Hunters from Solo Flight (7.16). And characters and plot from Innocence... A Broad (8.3) have strong similarities to Born Yesterday.

That's all I remember right now in addition to what's already been posted. I wish I had made a list as I went through the DVDs. I've seen some movies because I saw or heard of them from Magnum P.I., including The Hunters. Since I'm a big fan of movies from all ages and genres I've always enjoyed Magnum P.I.'s use of them. Definitely another great aspect of the show. Someone should put on a film festival with only movies from Magnum P.I.

[Jodykmg365]

It wasn't Magnum, but the hired killer in Summer School mentioned "The Bridge over the River Kwi." I don't know if I spelled it right.

[KENJI]

For a more subtle reference: How about when Robin (Orson Welles) leaves a message for Thomas on his machine and Robin tells him that his password is ROSEBUD which is from Citizen Kane (starring Orson Welles)-very clever!!

[Donuts ensucrats]

And "The Legend of lost art" becomes Indiana Jones

[Italian Ice]

I like how this show did these references. I also liked it when they did that in Remmington Steele, pretty much on every episode, which also helped him solve a case...

[Styles Bitchley]

I also liked it when they did that in Remmington Steele, pretty much on every episode, which also helped him solve a case...

I'm with you on that one... Loved this element of the show, even though there was no way he would have all those years and directors so ready for recall. Still, it was a nice device.

[Donuts ensucrats]

I like Magnum for this references too.

[JJ Quincannon]

Hello All, Please bare with me this is my first time here or on any forum.What do you guys think of the team ring as a movie reference. Again Casablanca were a man named Berger aproaches Victor Laszlo and says he has a ring for sale. Lifting the lid on the ring reveals the cross of Lorraine signifying that He (Berger) is with the french resistance.

[Styles Bitchley]

Hello All, Please bare with me this is my first time here or on any forum.What do you guys think of the team ring as a movie reference. Again Casablanca were a man named Berger aproaches Victor Laszlo and says he has a ring for sale. Lifting the lid on the ring reveals the cross of Lorraine signifying that He (Berger) is with the french resistance.

Interesting. I would think that it's possible MPI writers got more than one idea while watching Casablanca (in addition to Rick's Café Américain). However, I believe this cross of Lorraine was a symbol of the free French in the real world as well as in Casablanca.

[JJ Quincannon]

Yes , the Lorraine Cross had many important roles throughout history . Most recently as the symbol of the free French during the WW2 period and after. Also it was used as the insignia of the 79th division of the American Expeditionary Forces at the end of WW1 and afterwards. Certainly these real life historical references are more impotant and maybe were all considered by the wrighters.

[Marco]

Casablanca had a huge influence on the series - if it wouldn't be Magnum somewone would clearly call great parts of "Memories Are Forever" a rip-off from that movie's storyline. That does not make it a bad episode of course - but the connection is clear. Many other movies clearly influenced the stories - on purpose. Such as the great film noir titles like "The Maltese Falcon" and many others.