Stand By Me

Question: In the train dodging scene, why didn't the loco crew brake at all? They definitely saw the boys in front. I know that trains have very long stopping distances compared to road vehicles, but still. And why didn't the boys try to signal the driver to stop? I get it that they panicked, but still wouldn't that be the first thing coming to one's mind in such a situation?

Answer: No, it wasn't that big of a train. He didn't even attempt to get off the throttle. That's all it would have taken for the boys to make it fairly easy. It was a straight-away track, no chance of it derailing by hitting the brakes. Like the man said above, if trains derailed that easily, we wouldn't be using them.

Answer: Throwing on brakes that heavily gives the train a chance of derailing and the train still wouldn't stop in time.

LorgSkyegon

Answer: To add to the other fine answers, and as mentioned, any attempt to make a sudden stop could have resulted in derailment. The conductor knew the train was about to go over an elevated track, and if it derailed, it would have plunged into the deep ravine, killing the boys anyway, as well as those on aboard. The best he could do was blow the whistle, gradually slow the train, and hope the boys survived.

raywest

Can't agree with the arguments about derailment. If trains derailed so easily, they would derail all the time. The train had only 4 or 5 cars. It would not have needed miles to stop. Simply reducing the throttle would have resulted in significant slowing. Plus, they did not stop to determine if anyone was hurt. That is criminal behavior.

Answer: A train that size would have needed miles to stop, and rapid braking could have caused derailment. The engineer was blowing his whistle so he saw the boys; there was no need for them to signal. The engineer and the boys knew their only chance was to get off the bridge.

Brian Katcher

Question: What are the sound effects to produce the "strange in scary sound" in Lardass' stomach before he pukes for the first time?

Answer: A cello.

Question: What does Teddy mean when he says to Vern "did your mother have any kids who lived?"

Answer: Teddy's making a joking but also insulting remark to Vern. He has a rather low opinion of his capabilities and intelligence.

raywest

Answer: I always assumed he meant "lived" as in had fun, so his remark was just to call Vern a lame scaredy cat who does things the boring or easy way.

Question: During Gordie's story, what was Boss Man saying? He was talking so fast I couldn't catch it all.

Answer: "Hey! From the racks and stacks, it's the best on wax! How 'bout another golden-oldie twin spin sound sandwich from klam in Portland?!"

BaconIsMyBFF

Chosen answer: Its a game called three-penny-scat. I'm not 100% on the rules, but I think you get three cards, take the value of them (Royalty =10) and whoever gets closest to thirty wins. According to the book, it's one of the most boring games invented but "it was too hot to think about anything more complicated".

SexyIrishLeprechaun

Answer: The goal is to get two point cards and an ace, all of the same suit to make 31.That's when you can call "Scat" and win the hand. The player with the lowest value loses the hand.

MovieFan612

Chosen answer: No, according to later books, Ace never really left Castle Rock and Chris was killed while away at college.

Grumpy Scot

Question: Was Ray Brower from the same town as the boys? If so, how did he end up so far away to where he got killed? It takes the boys a long time to get to him and its only mentioned that he was berry picking. Finally, how would he have got hit by the train? I doubt he didn't hear or see it coming.

Jen Hen

Answer: I think he was from a neighboring town because when Vern tells the group about what he heard Geordie says "could he have gotten all the way from Chamberlain to Harlow, that's really far" and we know the boys are from a town called Castle Rock, so I think Ray Browers was from a neighboring town called Chamberlain.

Answer: In Stephen King's novella, Ray was a boy from a neighboring town. It's unclear in the movie whether Ray is from the same town as the boys, but as it takes them a long time to get to where the body is, it seems that Ray is probably from somewhere else. It's also never explained exactly how Ray was hit by the train.

raywest

Question: It's established that the vast majority of the movie takes place in 1959. But what year do the present day scenes take place in, when Gordie is an adult?

Answer: It isn't verbally stated, though there is a shot of a newspaper with a 1985 date on it. Since Gordie was "12 going on 13" in 1959 (therefore born 1946/47) this makes Gordie about 40, which roughly looks about right physically.

Neil Jones

Question: Why would they use real leeches? Isn't that a danger to the actors?

Answer: Leeches are not dangerous, just disgusting. While fairly easy to remove, leeches will fall off by themselves when they are full. They are not known to transmit any diseases though the wound can get infected just as any other scratch might.

Myridon

Other mistake: Teddy's hair changes in every shot after being dunked in the swamp. The strap to his bag disappears and reappears as well.

More mistakes in Stand By Me

Mr. LaChance: Why can't you have friends like Denny's?
Gordie: Dad, they're okay.
Mr. LaChance: Sure they are. A thief and two feebs?
Gordie: Chris isn't a thief.
Mr. LaChance: He stole the milk money at school. He's a thief in my book.

More quotes from Stand By Me

Trivia: The scene with the leeches on Gordie was based on a real life experience that Stephen King had. Mr King has stated that he even has the scar to prove it.

Karoo

More trivia for Stand By Me

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