1962
United Artists movie
The Road to Hong Kong |
Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and a young Joan Collins are in a hotel and there
is a sort of potted tree in the background. Released in USA May 22.
(Contributed by Uriah Heep in personal e-mail to RJB, September 1, 2000)
New 07/01/01 |
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mid 1960s
TV
"What's My Line" |
Frank Okamura, longtime bonsai caretaker and teacher of the art at the
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, was a guest on one show. (per pg.
34 of Outstanding American Bonsai by Randy Clark, Timber Press,
1989) |
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1969
United Artists movie
On Her Majesty's Secret
Service |
Right before James Bond, undercover as Sir Hillary Bray (George Lazenby),
meets Ernst Blofeld (Telly Savales) fairly early in the film, a medium-sized
juniper bonsai in a brass round deep basin is seen in the room. It
is also seen in three shots of Bond. This compact tree, with somewhat
squarish/cubic shaped foliage (as opposed to pyramidal/triangular), has
a thin curving trunk and branches. It is seen also in two shots much
later in the film as Blofeld talks with Tracy (Diana Rigg) when the three
helicopters approach. (As usual, the bonsai's location gets blown
up.) Released in USA December 18. |
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1973
Warner Bros. movie
Enter the Dragon |
There is a scene in this "first American produced martial arts spectacular"
starring Bruce Lee where a sort of Chinese elm is shown in the background
on a tall narrow flower stand inside the mansion/fortress of the villain,
Han (Kien Shih). Released in USA August 19. (Contributed by
Uriah Heep in personal e-mail to RJB, September 1, 2000) New
07/01/01 |
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1974
Sequoia movie
Golden Needles |
In this kung fu movie set in Hong Kong and starring Joe Don Baker and Elizabeth
Ashley, there is a scene where a medicated [sic]
young lady is pretending to trim a sort of windswept Podocarpus
Buddha's pine. (Contributed by Uriah Heep in personal e-mail to RJB,
September 1, 2000) New
07/01/01 |
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1977
MGM movie
The Spy Who Loved
Me |
In a hotel (?) room scene just before they go out to the American submarine,
James Bond (Roger Moore) tells Major Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) that he
killed the man she loved three weeks earlier. Behind them, the fireplace
mantle itself appears to be the marble base for a perhaps 4 foot long penjing.
A thin-trunked tree curls to the right among tannish rocks and some moss.
Released in USA August 3. |
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1981
20th Century Fox movie
The Final Conflict |
In a very brief scene, a 75 cm high informal upright Chinese juniper is
to be seen. (per caption of photo on pg. 58 of Bonsai, The
Art of Growing and Keeping Miniature Trees by Peter Chan, Wellfleet
Press, 1985) |
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1983
Century Pacific distributed
movie
Zu shu shan
(Warriors of the Magic
Mountain) |
There are dwarf potted trees throughout this Cantonese film. One
of the characters, the drunkard of the group, lives in a greenhouse.
He wakes up in one scene and knocks over some of the trees. (Boldly
Grow!) (Contributed by Dustin Martinez in personal e-mail
to RJB, June 1, 2001) New
07/01/01 |
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1986
MGM/UA movie
Nine 1/2 Weeks |
In one of the first scenes, inside the Spring Street Gallery where Kim
Basinger's character works, on top of a white panel divider to the right
of her office cubicle is a small bonsai. The black rimmed office
clock on the wall is seen just to the left of the tree. In a rectangular
brown tray perhaps an inch deep is a broom-style tree with a thin upright
trunk, probably not a juniper. The soil at its base is mounded up,
higher than the tray is deep. The overall composition is less than
a foot tall. It is also seen later in the film. Released in
USA February 21. |
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1989
New Line Pictures movie
The Punisher |
Two
bonsai are visible in scenes in New York (or Chicago?) where Frank Castle
(Dolph Lundgren) goes into a kendo dojo in a highrise building.
One tree may be visible in a final scene when a villian is playing a piano.
(Contributed by Dustin Martinez in personal e-mail to RJB, August 9, 2001)
New 10/29/01 |
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1990
TV - Fox
"Star Trek: The Next
Generation" episode
"Brothers" |
About halfway through this Oct. 6 episode, the camera pans to the left
in Dr. Noonien Soong's study and very briefly a bonsai is seen. It
is elevated, against an evenly lit back wall, and the tree has two thin
trunks holding up two bright medium green foliage pads, one above the other.
The pot is dark brown and flares slightly at the top. When Soong
sits down to talk across from Lt. Cmd. Data a moment later, the right edge
of the tree's foliage is just visible at the left edge of the screen.
Then the camera is repositioned so that Soong's white hair is barely back
lit by the green foliage. Data's brother, Lore, now makes his entrance.
(In a nice little tour de force, Brent Spiner plays all three characters.) |
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TV - Fox
"Star Trek: The Next
Generation" episode
"Reunion" |
The first scene after the opening credits of this Nov. 3 episode shows
five backlit bonsai behind Alexander (Brian Bonesall). Other similarly
displayed trees are then also seen. (See "Rascals" episode, 1992) |
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1991
movie
L'Amant (The Lover) |
A French art film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud which takes place in
Saigon in 1929. An 18-year old French girl (Jane March) from a family
whose fortunes have fallen has an affair with a rich Chinese merchant's
mid-30ish son (Tony Leung Ka-Fai). In his "bachelor room" (called
that in the film) he has two dead or dying penjing. These are a small
part of the story as the girl waters them twice -- once in the nude...
Released in USA In October 1992. (Contributed by Craig J. Hunt in
personal e-mail to RJB, March 2, 2000) |
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1992
TV - Fox
"Star Trek: The Next
Generation" episode
"Hero Worship" |
In the room where Data and Timothy (Joshua Harris) are painting, a thin-trunked
small bonsai is seen during a few shots of the boy. The tree is behind
him in a low wide rectangular tray. The foliage is nondescript, not
triangular-shaped. It, perhaps, is better described as "cotton candy
on a thin stick" style. A display of eight small bonsai is then seen
about five minutes later in one long shot when the two characters are in
the children's playroom. The trees are on three shelves, brightly
backlit in this January 25 episode. New
05/11/01 |
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TV - Fox
"The Simpsons" episode
"Bart's Friend Falls
In Love" |
Within the first five minutes of this May 7 episode, a small juniper-like
bonsai in a flat round bowl is seen on the credenza opposite Principal
Skinner's desk as he is interviewing transfer student Samantha Stankey
from Phoenix [sic]. |
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TV-
"Baywatch" episode
"River of No Return" |
The first of this two-part episode has some bonsai in a nursery or garden
setting. |
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1993
Columbia Pictures Corporation
movie
My Life |
"In a few scenes, [Michael Keaton as Bob Jones] was with, I believe, a
Chinese medical practitioner [Haing S. Ngor as Mr. Ho] who had a 'bonsai'
in one window of the office. It looked like one of those dreaded
mail-order or mall-bought junipers destined to die within a week or so."
Released in USA in November. (Contributed by Deb Kennedy, Traverse
City, MI in posting to rec.arts.bonsai, November 12, 2000) |
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movie
Point of Impact |
A couple of bonsai are quickly seen in this suspense/action film.
"The bonsai weren't very good either, though they weren't junipers :-)"
(Contributed by Nicolas Steenhout in posting to rec.arts.bonsai, January
26, 2001) |
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movie
Xin liu xing hu die
jian
(Butterfly and Sword) |
There is a scene in this Cantonese film in which Sister Ko (Michelle Yeoh)
and Butterfly (Joey Wong) are arguing about who Sing is in love with more
and if Sister Ko can show her feelings. In the direct center of the
background you will find your dwarf potted tree. (Contributed by
Dustin Martinez in personal e-mail to RJB, June 4, 2001) New
07/01/01 |
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TV - NBC
"Blossom" episode
"Six and Sonny" and
"Blossom's Dilemma" |
Mention of bonsai is made early in the first (Oct. 11) of this two-part
episode. Then about three-quarters through the first part, Sonny
(David Schwimmer) offers a small rounded juniper in a blue glazed pot to
Blossom's dad (Ted Wass). More bonsai are seen in the second part
(Oct. 18). |
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TV - Fox
"Star Trek: The Next
Generation" episode
"Phantasms" |
About forty minutes into this Oct. 23 episode, a bonsai is in three shots
in Data's quarters with the android, his cat, Spot, and Lt. Worf (Michael
Dorn). In a shallow medium-sized greenish-blue rectangular pot is what
appears to be a light green delicate-looking juniper. |
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TV - Fox
"Star Trek: The Next
Generation" episode
"Dark Page" |
Three small nondescript trees in backlit niches are very briefly seen in
the ship's arboretum almost twenty minutes into the Oct. 30 episode.
Luaxana Troi (Majel Barrett) sits in front of them. Those plants are visible
with two other dwarf trees in the same setting over a longer period of
time less than ten minutes from the end of the episode. |
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TV - Fox
"Star Trek: The Next
Generation" episode
"Force of Nature" |
Twenty minutes into this Nov. 13 episode in Lt. Commander Data's quarters,
we see a bonsai in a dark brown rectangular tray. The soil surface
is covered by shiny black stones. The tree has dark brown wood and
dark green-gray foliage. Due to a longer view than in other episodes,
it appears to be artificial (a Ming tree). |
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1994
TV - Fox
"Star Trek: Deep Space
Nine" episode
"Whispers" |
In the opening minutes, a small to medium size possibly evergreen bonsai
in a darker greenish glazed rectangular pot is seen briefly in the background
in Miles and Keiko O'Brien's quarters on board the station. Another
bonsai, a nondescript shape in a blue glazed oval pot, is seen in several
shots past the halfway point of the Feb. 5 episode. |
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TV - Fox
"Star Trek: The Next
Generation" episode
"Eye of the Beholder" |
A scene takes place in Lt. Calloway's quarters during the last five minutes
of this Feb. 26 episode. A bonsai is barely seen in three quick shots.
It sits on the table from which Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) picks
up a hand phaser. The tree appears to be a thin trunked foot tall
root over rock planting. The tree's apex is very close to the top
of the rock and their colors blend together. |
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TV - NBC
"World Figure Skating
Championships" |
This taped event from the Event Center in Makuhari near Tokyo Bay was broadcast
on March 25 and 26. A medium-sized pair of long-needle pines set
against an orange background flanked the area where the just-finished contestants
went to await the marks of the jury. The trunk of the tree on the
left had been cut off about half-way up and its left branch, just below
the cut, was now trained so that its apex was that of the tree also (somewhat
resembling a Western number "4" shape). |
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TV - Fox
"Star Trek: The Next
Generation" episode
"Genesis" |
About 40 minutes into this March 19 episode, a medium-sized root over rock
bonsai is seen very briefly in the shadows of Lt. Commander Data's quarters. |
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TV - Fox
"Star Trek: The Next
Generation" episode
"Bloodlines" |
Two very brief shots about twenty-five minutes into this April 30 episode
show a small/
medium-sized root over
rock planting in an oval tray in Jason Vigo's quarters. |
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Warner Brothers movie
On Deadly Ground |
In this Steven Seagal film, a bonsai is very briefly seen in the office
of the oil company's president (Michael Caine). What looks like a
"mallsai" style serissa is on an end table in the middle of the room.
Released in USA February 18. (Contributed by Bill Neff in posting
to rec.arts.bonsai, August 9, 1999) |
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Universal Pictures movie
Junior |
During the final half hour or so in this film, there is a brief scene where
Dr. Larry Arbogast (Danny DeVito) is hiding the very pregnant Dr. Alex
Hesse (Arnold Schwarzenegger) in a house. They enter a brightly sunlit
room and there is the [requisite] brief shot of a bonsai, inside the room
and under the window but not directly receiving the vital light.
Released in USA November 24. New 05/11/01 |
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1995
20th Century Fox movie
French Kiss |
About an hour and a half into this film, Kate (Meg Ryan), dividing up the
divorcing couples' assets, begins by telling Charlie (Timothy Hutton)
that "I get the bonn-zye,..." Released in USA May 5. |
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MCA/Universal Pictures
movie
Waterworld |
In
apparently the first shot of Mariner (Kevin Costner), we see him "peeing
into a bottle, pouring the fluid into a home-made chemistry set, cranking
a handle to process it, and then drinking it. Then he gargles, and
spits on his little [potted] lime tree." Deacon (Dennis Hopper) later
incinerates the tree. Released in USA July 28. (Contributed
by Derrick Price of Phoenix, AZ, Nina Shishkoff of Riverhead, NY, and Anne
Marie of Daytona Beach, FL -- with 07/28/1995 Roger Ebert quote -- in postings
to rec.arts.bonsai, March 5 through 7, 2000; and Craig J. Hunt in personal
e-mails to RJB, March 6 and 8, 2000) |
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TV - UPN
"Star Trek Voyager" episode
"Parturition" |
Very briefly observed in the first scene after the opening credits of this
October 9 episode, a thin trunked juniper in a small rectangular pot sets
on the coffee table in the quarters of Harry Kim (Garrett Wang). |
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January 1, 1996
TV
Tournament of Roses
Parade |
"Elephant Antics," the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) float, possibly
included the depiction of a very large flowering cherry bonsai in
an oval two foot deep pot. |
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TV - CBS
"Cybill" episode
"When You're Hot, You're
Hot" |
A small thin-trunked juniper in a rectangular glazed pot sits on the counter
of a Chinese herbal shop about ten minutes into this particular April 29
episode. Cybill Shepherd and Christine Baranski are in the scene. |
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TV - Nissan commercial
"Enjoy the Ride" campaign |
From late summer, the boy in this series goes into an old barn and lands
at the bottom of a secret passage in what is an underground garage of the
Nissan spokesman. A medium juniper bonsai in a rectangular pot is
seen on the corner of an ornate desk there. |
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movie
Everything must go
(Alles moet weg) |
A Dutch film directed by Jan Verheyen listed as a Comedy/Drama. In
one scene an enranged husband destroys his wife's bonsai collection.
Should this be reclassified as a horror movie? (Contributed by David
Nassar, Melbourne, Australia, in a posting to rec.arts.bonsai, May 10,
1999) |
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movie
The Pillow Book |
"[T]raditional Pensai [sic] are shown throughout"
this film whose storyline is derived from the diary of a 10th century Japanese
lady-in-waiting. Released in USA June 6, 1997. (Contributed
by EMO1016@aol.com in personal e-mail to RJB, March 27, 2000) |
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c.1996-1999
TV - ABC
"One Life to Live" |
The character R.J. Gannon (Timothy Stickney) has had a number of bonsai
on his apartment balcony including a few junipers and Fukien tea.
He is often seen working with his shears on a pretty nicely styled juniper.
(The trees may have come from a place in Manhattan called Living Sculptures
near the ABC studios, and the actor is probably an enthusiast off hours.)
The very first time the trees were shown, Gannon was actually working on
several of them while waiting for his lover in the next room to wake up.
The segment ran for quite a bit and zoomed in on him and the trees.
Regularly shown talking about and pruning a few bonsai when in his apartment,
the character's knowledge sounds much more real and passionate than simply
coming from a script.
At one point in the storyline (Spring 1999), Gannon burned his club down,
was broke and faced with the prospect of not being able to pay for the
place. When his brother offered to move him to the brother's place,
Gannon turned him down because his bonsai needed the terrace or they would
not survive without an outdoor area. (Contributed by Patrizia G.
Kane, NYC, in personal e-mails to RJB, August 10 and 12, 1999) |
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1997
TV - CBS
"Touched by an Angel"
episode
"Clipped Wings" |
Near the end of this Feb. 16 show, Monica (Roma Downey) is in the office
of the Angel of Angels (James Earl Jones). Looking at her from his
point of view we see a small nondescript bonsai on each side of his desk.
The one to the left seems to be a multi-trunked or multi-exposed root (neagari)
specimen, possibly deciduous. The one on the right does show some
green. Two other trees can be made out to the right against the wall,
elevated perhaps on top of an aquarium. That left one appeared
the most interesting: the tapered trunk from lower left to upper right
with distinct short branches, in silhouette. The trees are never
clearly focused upon in the several shots. New
03/02/01 |
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|
New Line Cinema movie
Austin Powers: International
Man of Mystery |
Three bonsai are to be briefly seen as Austin Powers (Mike Meyers) sneaks
into and is discovered at the Japanese-decorated penthouse of Alotta Fagina
(Fabiana Udenio). One fairly tall medium-sized juniper is in a blue
glazed pot to the left rear; a pair of smaller trees is basically seen
in silhouette to the right of the first, under the window through which
the spy has entered. Released in USA May 2. |
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1998
Warner Bros. movie
Without Limits |
A "glimpse of a bench full of bonsai" can be had in this biography of 1970s
running great Steve Prefontaine. Released in USA September 11.
(Contributed by Nicolas Steenhout in posting to rec.arts.bonsai, November
12, 2000) |
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1999
TV - Lipton Brisk Ice
Tea commercial |
Beginning in May, this delightful parody using animated clay figurines
shows Ralph "Karate Kid" Macchio fighting Bruce Lee. Against the
back walls of the subject dojo (martial arts practice room) are
set three bonsai, each on its own raised stand. |
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Columbia Pictures Corporation
movie
Runaway Bride |
Several
minutes into this film there is a brief scene in the office of the USA
Today editor (Nancy Wilson). Right before Richard Gere's character
is let go, there is a few second-long shot across the desk looking at Wilson.
In the middle of her desk is a very small, low bonsai. Premiered
in USA July 25. New
01/27/02 |
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| TV - Eagle Hardware commercial |
A great ad showing several respectable bonsai
along with an elderly
couple (presumably not for sale) with a pitch about "soil, a shovel, time,
etc." The trees, the setting and the respect it seemed to show for
bonsai growing were impressive. (Contributed by Daniel Avrin in posting
to rec.arts.bonsai, September 7, 1999) |
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| TV - Chili's restaurant
commercial |
Seen in September, two animated clay peppers are performing karate on a
white onion. Behind them, a pair of bonsai in bowls flank a set of
steps going up from the dirt sparring field to what may be the veranda
of a dojo. |
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New Line Cinema movie
Magnolia |
In this Tom Cruise release, a pine bonsai is seen in the house of the old
man by his bed. Halfway through the 2nd tape, Linda (Julianne Moore)
comes into the house from the rain. As Phil (Philip Seymour Hoffman)
talks to her, the camera pans toward and quickly by the tree sitting on
a counter/half-wall divider. The trunk moves at a 45° angle to
the upper right into a rounded foliage pad, the lower third moving to the
upper left at a similar angle. Its dark rectangular pot is more than
one-quarter the height of the tree and two-thirds the width of the foliage.
The tree is briefly seen later in a shot from the deathbed of Earl (Jason
Robards), several feet away from the counter.
What is possibly a suiseki on a large stand is seen fairly upclose but
not clearly in the entranceway to the house in one of the final shots of
the film. Premiered in USA December 8. General release one
month later. (Contributed by Keegan, Middlebury, VT, in posting to
rec.arts.bonsai, January 21, 2000. Details by RJB added 10/29/01) |
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2000
and beyond |
Celluloid Bonsai IV
|