Wargaming in films

[Bernie]

The New Tricks episode with the wargame involved South London warlords in the back shots.

Speaking to some of them they said they have never been so embarrased because of all the boom boom sound effects made by the actors during the playing of the game

Callan was perhaps the series and movies that portrayed gaming in a more professional and serious light

[Maenoferren]

I've sat and daydreamed a few times about something along the lines of Jumanji, with wargaming instead, and the game comes alive, etc.  You could use a full variety of periods, from Ancient Rome, through Naps, to WWII, and could quite easily create a good film out of that premise I think.

I read a short story years ago (cant rmember the title or who it was by ) but it had a guy who was sent a pile of figures in the post and they basically came alive and attacked him, the choppers went for his eyes etc. he retreated to the bathroom and somehow made a molotov cocktail and threw it into the lounge, where it landed in the box of remaining figures. pople outside saw a flash as if a thousand flash bulbs had gone off at once and from what I rmember the windows blew out. A singed bit of paper floated down . on it was written...special offer thermo nuclear device

[capthugeca]

There was Disney's "Babes in Toyland" (as in http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054649/, not as in http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,1714.0.html).

That finishes with both sides toy soldiers being used to fire at one another. 

[goat major]

A singed bit of paper floated down . on it was written...special offer...

That will have been from Foundry then

[nikharwood]

Not a film...
But do I remember an episode of Midsomer Murders that featured a plot revolving around a pair of gamers ?
If it wasn't MM, it was something very similar.

Cheers - Phil.

This is forthcoming: http://www.warlordgames.com/15064/midsomer-madness/

[Leveller Mutineer]

The Callan film was a remake of an 'Arm Chair Theatre' production called 'A Magnum for Scheider'.  The same story line but two wargames were fought. 

The first was a Napoleonic battle whose name I've forgotten




The next was Gettysburg





Unless they're midgets I don't think the figures were 10mm.

[NTM]

I read a short story years ago (cant rmember the title or who it was by ) but it had a guy who was sent a pile of figures in the post and they basically came alive and attacked him, the choppers went for his eyes etc. he retreated to the bathroom and somehow made a molotov cocktail and threw it into the lounge, where it landed in the box of remaining figures. pople outside saw a flash as if a thousand flash bulbs had gone off at once and from what I rmember the windows blew out. A singed bit of paper floated down . on it was written...special offer thermo nuclear device

Sounds a bit like this from Stephen King

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1251206/

[O Dinas Powys]

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - I kid you not!

Near the end, Truly Scrumpscious' father (a retired gerenal) is playing toy solders with Professor Pott's grandfather (the general's former batman). Admittedly, the game involves lobbing assroted missiles at a load of figures, but it's toy soldiers in a movie!

That's the one that sprung to mind for me too 

I recall an episode of Citizen Smith where his girlfriend's dad wass planning a reenactment of some major battle in the attic.  All I can remember that it involved several tons of sand and his general's head was bitten off by  dog!

[nikharwood]

Watched a repeated episode of Lewis last night [Expiation] and there's a bit where he goes to talk to an awkward teenager in his bedroom [the teenager's, not Lewis's] - there's a round table with some 40k Orks on it & Lewis says, "my nephew's got some of those"...and is met with utter silence from the teenager.  

Awkward moment at 2:45 here:

[Orcs]

The episode of New Tricks that has wargaming in it reveals that Brian Lane (played by Alun Armstrong) used to be a wargamer and has a collection of Figures in his loft.  He apparently gave up wargaming as the habit of going to the pub after a game did not help his alcoholism.

[Techno]

Hmmmm...

Not sure now regarding Mid/S/M or New Tricks from what you've all been describing.
I wasn't paying much attention to the idiot box as usual....BUT, if I DO remember correctly (Very unlikely  )....Two early(ish) middle aged chaps gaming...The one who was getting his side's bum kicked.... getting into a real old strop....Think it was Napoleonics on the table.....One of the two gamers got stiffed ??

Cheers - Phil.

[Aart Brouwer]

[...] Brian Lane [...] apparently gave up wargaming as the habit of going to the pub after a game did not help his alcoholism.

Why do "role models" always have to be stupid dorks?

Cheers,
Aart

[Hertsblue]

As I recall, wargaming featured in the TV series of Callan as well. Figures, terrain etc. were supplied by the late Peter Gilder of Hinchliffe.

[Techno]

Why do "role models" always have to be stupid dorks?

Cheers,
Aart

Because the .00001% of anything that gives a hobby/whatever, a completely nerdy/dorkish/criminal name is something that the gutter press will jump on to make themselves seem really on the ball, and help sell the 'poop' they print.
Sorry....I'm in a fekking bad mood, 'cos I've just been caught between two of the better half's bigger gee-gees and a metal gate....They were having an arse kicking competition....I ACHE big time !...Shouldn't complain..I didn't get my ribs or worse broken.....SODS !!

Phil.

[Luddite]

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - I kid you not!

Near the end, Truly Scrumpscious' father (a retired gerenal) is playing toy solders with Professor Pott's grandfather (the general's former batman). Admittedly, the game involves lobbing assroted missiles at a load of figures, but it's toy soldiers in a movie!

Aye, but thats how you play the HG Wells 'Little Wars' rules eh?  


Now then, not actually a wargame but there's an extended bout of miniatures painting and diorama making in Ronin.  

Michael Lonsdale plays a character called Jean-Pierre who is mostly seen painting little soldiers. 

(Sorry i couldn't find and English version).

[Aart Brouwer]

(Sorry i couldn't find and English version).

Fear my Google Fu. 

Teh English version

Cheers,
Aart

[MooseDontBounce]

I remember a movie from the late 70's / early 80's.  Firemen were playing micro armor upstairs in a fire house.  The one character says that his 'Stalin Orgins are firing.'. Then one of the wives came upstairs to fight with her husband.
I thought one of the actors was Kevin Dobson (from Kojak) but he didn't seem to play a fireman in any of his movies.  That's all I remember from the movie.

[O Dinas Powys]

Ok, so it's an RPG rather than wargame, but it does involve painted miniatures in a scenic dungeon.

ET:



Apologies for the crap image, but it seems the IP holders are tad restrictive and so this was the only one I could find.

Meirion

[Aart Brouwer]

I remember a movie from the late 70's / early 80's.  Firemen were playing micro armor upstairs in a fire house.  The one character says that his 'Stalin Orgins are firing.'. Then one of the wives came upstairs to fight with her husband.
I thought one of the actors was Kevin Dobson (from Kojak) but he didn't seem to play a fireman in any of his movies.  That's all I remember from the movie.

I never had any complaints from the wife whenever my Stalin's Organ fired.  

Cheers,
Aart

[goat major]

Well if we're moving on to role playing. There are some figures on this table too