Movie/Cartoon/Series Parodies & References : An Illustrated Guide

[Heub]

During the past few weeks, I’ve been making a guide of movie parodies and references in the Simpsons.
I’m sorry it’s in French but that shouldn’t be a problem as the pictures are self-explanatory…

For the movies that I’ve already dealt with I tried to be as exhaustive as possible, with side by side pictures for immediate comparison for visual references and animated gif images when I thought it was relevant. I spend quite a lot of time trying to capture the most accurate frame of the scene that the episode is refering to but I guess it's worth it because showing the pictures from both the movie and the episode really is the main purpose of this guide as I'm aware that a (pretty darn complete) list already exists on SNPP although it lacks the recent episodes unfortunately...
Other references (non visual) such as dialogues or music have also been reported at the bottom of the pages (I might have left out some references that are in the original version but that were lost in the French adaptation though).

I know there are still tons of movies that need to be done but I try to add at least 2 new ones every week so it will be growing pretty fast.
So, what I expect from you is not that you tell me what movies I haven’t done yet (I have quite a bunch of them in progress) but what references I may have forgotten or missed in the movies I already covered.


So here’s the link with the list of the movies available for now :

http://www.simpsonspark.com/references.php

2001 : a space odyssey (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_2001.php)
Goodfellas (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_affranchis.php)
Logan's run (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_agedecristal.php)
Animal House (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_americancollege.php)
American Graffiti (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_americangraffiti.php)
Gone with the wind (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_autantenemportelevent.php)
Basic Instinct (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_basicinstinct.php)
Batman (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_batman.php)
Body Double (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_bodydouble.php)
Saboteur (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_cinquiemecolonne.php)
Citizen Kane (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_citizenkane.php)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_grinch.php)
Dr Strangelove (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_docteurfolamour.php)
The Shawshank Redemption (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_evades.php)
Rear Window (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_fenetresurcour.php)
Forrest Gump (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_forrestgump.php)
The Fugitive (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_fugitif.php)
Full Metal Jacket (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_fullmetaljacket.php)
The Untouchables (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_incorruptibles.php)
The Karate Kid (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_karatekid.php)
The Graduate (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_laureat.php)
The Green Mile (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_ligneverte.php)
The Wizard of Oz (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_magicienoz.php)
Home Alone (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_mamanjairatelavion.php)
North by Northwest (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_mortauxtrousses.php)
Cape Fear (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_nerfsavif.php)
The Birds (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_oiseaux.php)
A Clockwork Orange (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_orangemecanique.php)
The Godfather (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_parrain.php)
The Blair Witch Project (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_blairwitch.php)
Psycho (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_psychose.php)
Pulp Fiction (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_pulpfiction.php)
Raging Bull (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_ragingbull.php)
Rain Man (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_rainman.php)
Reservoir Dogs (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_reservoirdogs.php)
Scarface (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_scarface.php)
The Shining (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_shining.php)
The Silence of the Lambs (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_silenceagneaux.php)
Spider Man (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_spiderman.php)
Vertigo (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_sueursfroides.php)
Taxi Driver (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_taxidriver.php)
Terminator (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_terminator.php)
Trainspotting (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_trainspotting.php)
What a Wonderful Life (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_vieestbelle.php)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_vadndc.php)
The longest day (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_jourlepluslong.php)
Patton (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_patton.php)
Apocalypse now (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_apocalypsenow.php)
Las Vegas Parano (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_lasvegasparano.php)
Requiem for a dream (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_requimforadream.php)
Pride of the Yankees (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_vainqueurdudestin.php)
The Natural (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_meilleur.php)


More movies coming soon...



Any feedback appreciated.
Excuse my French ... ;)
Thanks.

[Good Moleman To Robert]

Its good, I really like the side by side. Just a question, In the 'Trainspotting' parodies, what episode is that? I didn't recognize it.

[That Jerk]

You must include the Clockwork Orange parody from Duffless.

[Heub]

Its good, I really like the side by side. Just a question, In the 'Trainspotting' parodies, what episode is that? I didn't recognize it.

It's The Regina Monologues, when the Simpsons go to England.


You must include the Clockwork Orange parody from Duffless.
More movies coming soon...

;)

[Good Moleman To Robert]

It's The Regina Monologues, when the Simpsons go to England.

Ok thanks, I have only seen that once, and I didn't recognize it.

Also, you could include El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Homer, his lighthouse silhouette is just like the Batman sign, and Bart mentions that.

[Heub]

Ok thanks, I have only seen that once, and I didn't recognize it.

Also, you could include El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Homer, his lighthouse silhouette is just like the Batman sign, and Bart mentions that.

Great call,thanks.

For Batman I wrote on the page that I voluntarily didn't include the references about the 60's series or general references about Batman (when they just mention the name for example) but the lighthouse silhouette is definitely taken from the movie so I'll add it.

[ScottNak]

Very nice page! Even though I can't understand jack, very awesome idea doing a side-by-side of references. Pretty cool :P

[Jolly Bengali]

This is really not the first site to do this - see http://www.duffzone.co.uk or http://www.duffgardens.net. Just to make that clear. The Simpson Gallery's is legendary. Admittedly, however, this is good work - nice job man.

[grissom]

That's pretty cool. Nice work

[barfly]

citizen kane images are pretty spot on, nice collection

[Jamie]

Awesomeness

[Simpsons Forever!]

That's a brilliant compilation!

[Adamm R)))]

Finally, I understand all the Citizen Kane refrences. Great list.

[lindsay]

That's a really neat website. Great job with the pictures.

[Miss Springfield]

Thats so cool. Thanks.

[Izzy Stradlin]

Very nice! You've done a great job.

[Handsome Peter]

Isn't the scene in She of Little Faith where Lisa comes down to get a drink of water also a reference to How the Grinch Stole Christmas?

Plus, Homer stealing Funzos in Grift of the Magi bears some similarity.

Not to mention Skinner's description of a movie about "a grinchy little character who tries to steal Christmas" in Skinner's Sense of Snow, and the kids proclaiming that "Skinner's the real grinch" afterwards.

[coltonwiggum]

nice work! very well done.

[Heub]

Thanks for the kind words everyone and thanks for the info Handsome Peter, I deliberately didn't mention the reference from Skinner's sense of snow because he doesn't use the word "Grinch" in the French version (he says "elfe de Noel" IIRC) but I'll have to check for the other 2 episodes.

Anyway, a big update today on TSP, I've added Stanley Kubrick's movies to the list, they probably deserved to be put on there earlier but it took me quite a lot of time time as there are so many references to those great movies in the Simpsons and I wanted to put them online all at the same time.
Here are the links to the new movies :

Orange Mecanique (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_orangemecanique.php) (A Clockwork Orange (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_orangemecanique.php))
The Shining (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_shining.php)
2001 : L'Odyssée de l'espace (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_2001.php) (come on you can guess this one)
Full Metal Jacket (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_fullmetaljacket.php)
Docteur Folamour (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_docteurfolamour.php) (Dr Strangelove (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_docteurfolamour.php) )


Note that some images in the pages for 2001 : a space odyssey, for The Shining and for A Clockwork Orange might take more time to load as there are animated gif.

I also included the references from the cut scene of The Shinning (the skateboard/tricycle scene and the twins)

[Desperado]

Great job. Most of the shots really represent what the show was going for. That's a great compilation.

[Lardlad!]

you've done a good job but i think most episodes have a movie parody in them somewhere

which episode does it have paordies of the graduate?

[Rich Uncle Skeleton]

Lisa's Substitute is one of them.

[Heub]

I've added a bunch of movies since my last post, at least twice as many and added several references to movies I had already listed.
I updated the list in the first post of the thread.

I also wanted to have your opinion on something, do you think that the 2 following scenes could be references to Mel Brooks' Silent Movie :
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/8379/bscap00001ek.th.jpg (http://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bscap00001ek.jpg)http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/2362/bscap00089bc.th.jpg (http://img373.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bscap00089bc.jpg)
Marge coming out of a giant banana peel during a stage show (from CABF03) just like Vilma Kapland (Bernadette Peters).

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/9519/bscap00031ms.th.jpg (http://img373.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bscap00031ms.jpg)http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/2452/bscap00107hh.th.jpg (http://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bscap00107hh.jpg)
Homer walking in search of his soulmate in front of a black background with (neon) signs crossing the screen (from 3F24) like Mel's friends looking for him.


And in $pringfield (1F08), could the "News on parade" screen be a reference to Citizen Kane's "News on the march" or is it just a common phrase in English ? The black and white montage and the similar voice over during this sequence made me think it could be a parody.
http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/7025/fg0042yq.th.jpg (http://img73.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fg0042yq.jpg)http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/1131/kanemarch0lz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Thanks.

[box elder]

And in $pringfield (1F08), could the "News on parade" screen be a reference to Citizen Kane's "News on the march" or is it just a common phrase in English ? The black and white montage and the similar voice over during this sequence made me think it could be a parody.
http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/7025/fg0042yq.th.jpg (http://img73.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fg0042yq.jpg)http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/1131/kanemarch0lz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Thanks.


it could be, but newsreels were often shown in theaters before films in the 40s. citizen kane used this device in the actual film, so the simpsons might have been parodying CK, or just newsreels in general.

[Homer Jay]

I'm pretty sure that the name is a parody of News on the March from Kane, although News on the March itself is a parody of March of Time.

[Rich Uncle Skeleton]

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/9519/bscap00031ms.th.jpg (http://img373.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bscap00031ms.jpg)http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/2452/bscap00107hh.th.jpg (http://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bscap00107hh.jpg)
Homer walking in search of his soulmate in front of a black background with (neon) signs crossing the screen (from 3F24) like Mel's friends looking for him.

That's sort of scene has been in more than one Simpsons episode. I think it was in HOMR. Can't think of any others right now.

[Robert Benchley]

That scene of Homer walking at night and all the neon signs is from The Lost Weekend (1945), which is what Silent Movie was also parodying.

[Mira]

Villiage/ Children of the Damned is an obvious one.

[Heub]

Thanks for the info everyone.

Villiage/ Children of the Damned is an obvious one.
An obvious what ? Did I miss something ?
Are you saying it's the obvious source of inspiration for The Bloodening in Wild Barts ?

[Jukka]

good stuff!

[Homer Jay]

That scene of Homer walking at night and all the neon signs is from The Lost Weekend (1945), which is what Silent Movie was also parodying.Yes, and the parody was also done in She of Little Faith, Lisa passes all the signs with religions. In the movie, I believe the main character is passing signs of drinking establishments.

[Heub]

Here's another question I wanted to ask, do you think that Homer running after Marge's train in Homer alone and after Lisa's bus in The dad who knew too little might be a reference to The Graduate.
Dustin Hoffman guest-starring in Lisa's substitute made it obvious but I'm doubtful about those two, I don't think it's a reference to anything but still wanted to ask your opinion about that.

http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/7133/homeraufoyer0io.th.jpg (http://img472.imageshack.us/my.php?image=homeraufoyer0io.jpg) Homer alone
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/2805/amourdelisa4nh.th.jpg (http://img70.imageshack.us/my.php?image=amourdelisa4nh.jpg) The dad who knew too little
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/3940/lelaureat2ae.th.jpg (http://img54.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lelaureat2ae.jpg)

And by the way we've added a few movies to the list since my last post including Apocalypse now (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_apocalypsenow.php), Requiem for a dream (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_requimforadream.php) and The Natural (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_meilleur.php) (list updated in 1st post)

[Heub]

For all the James Bond fans out there, I've compiled the references made to the 007 saga on this page (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_jamesbond.php).
I know that some of them might seem far-fetched but I wanted the list to be exhaustive...
I might have missed a few though. Tell me if you can think of anything.

[Larson Something]

Don't know if you have this one, but I recently saw The French Connection, and the scene where Fernando Rey waves to Gene Hackman out of the train window as it pulls out of the station reminded me of Lisa waving out the bus window to Bart as it pulls away in Bart The Murderer. I'm 99% sure this is an intentional reference.

[Heub]

No, I haven't made a page for this movie yet but I noted the reference down. Thanks for mentionning it.

[Fidelio1980]

The commentary for Kamp Krusty confirmed that Lisa handing the letter and a flask of alcohol to the man on the horse was a reference to The French Lieutenant's Woman.

Interesting that you're not including movies with the word "French" in the title, huh? :)

[Heub]

The commentary for Kamp Krusty confirmed that Lisa handing the letter and a flask of alcohol to the man on the horse was a reference to The French Lieutenant's Woman.

Interesting that you're not including movies with the word "French" in the title, huh? :)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/8970/simpsonsseason4d10pj5.th.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/my.php?image=simpsonsseason4d10pj5.jpg)
I've just watched The French lieutenant's woman but I was surprised not to find this scene. I don't even remember seing someone riding a horse.
I don't remember falling asleep and missing a part of the movie although it was pretty boring from start to finish so that gets me wondering if they could have confused 2 movie titles in the commentary...
Has anyone seen this movie and this scene in particular ?

They took 2 hours of my life and I want them back !
Oh, I'd only waste them anyway.

[Ryan]

i particuarly enjoyed the spiderman one.. kirsten dunst in a low cut top in the rain is a winner everytime.

[Jim Jones]

Really good job on the site!

[Dude90]

Here's a useful translater:
babelfish.altavista.com

[box elder]

on your Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas page, the first image is actually a reference to a drawing in the book, more than anything in the movie. which is why Dr. Gonzo appears strange, that's how it looks in the novel:

http://members.aol.com/morgands3/fear/gonzo2.gif

[Heub]

on your Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas page, the first image is actually a reference to a drawing in the book, more than anything in the movie. which is why Dr. Gonzo appears strange, that's how it looks in the novel:
Thank you for that one, I had always wondered why Gonzo was drawn like that but I was assuming it was a way of representing their hallucinations.
So does that mean that in the novel, Gonzo is not human or is it just how Duke sees him when he's strung out ?

I've modified the page.

[djnat]

Really great job, although some were a stretch. On the whole it looks like you've put in some serious time and effort. Well done.

[Heub]

Here's an interesting question, what's the most referenced movie in the Simpsons ?

Citizen Kane (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_citizenkane.php) ? Far from it.
The Godfather (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_parrain.php) ? Nope.
James Bond (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_jamesbond.php) ? Almost...
Star Wars (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_starwars.php) ? Hell Yeah !!! We counted 57 episodes that contain at least one reference in them (actually a bit less in the original version as some references, as weird as it sounds, sometimes only appear in the dialogues of the French version...)

Anyway here's an illustrated list of all these references (including season 18) we've put online today : http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_film_starwars.php
Hope you enjoy (any additional references welcome !)


Oh, and I haven't updated the list in the 1st post of the thread in awhile but, in case you're interested, we've added a shit load of references since the last time and also updated many of them. Actually the Star Wars page marks a milestone, it's the 100th...
You can check them out here (http://www.simpsonspark.com/references).

[Heub]

Many new references since my last post.
Today we put online the references concerning South Park and Beavis & Butt-Head (http://www.simpsonspark.com/refs_cartoon_beavisetbutthead.php) and I'm bumping this because I have a question about the episode Das Bus.
In the DVD commentary, when we see the kids at the Model U.N. Club, one of the commentators mentions Beavis & Butt-Head but I don't see where's the reference.
Does anyone have an idea ?

[coltonwiggum]

Again, great work work Heub (I never realized the site was seven years old, congradulations on that)! And at the moment, I don't recall a B&B reference in that scene.