MovieChat Forums > No Name on the Bullet (1959) Discussion > Chess goof

Chess goof

posted 18 years ago by ccbc
11 replies | jump to latest

During the chess game between Gant and Luke, the pieces are set up wrong. The bishops and knights are on the wrong squares. This doesn't stop Luke from moving a knight and, somehow, Gant manages to castle.

[–] jackoau 17 years ago

I noticed this too - was also surprised at the colours of the pieces - not your traditional black & white.

[–] coxm-1 15 years ago

noticed this too - was also surprised at the colours of the pieces - not your traditional black & white.

Red and White are just as traditional as Black and White pieces in chess; it depends on your set.

[–] wtl471629 17 years ago

I think there might have been some symbolism with Murphy having the red pieces since red is the color of blood. He was a gunfighter and shed blood.

[–] ga526 14 years ago

What I found even more unusual was that the chess pieces looked to be made of plastic.

glenn

[–] wtl471629 13 years ago

I remember when the movie first came out ga and it got me interested in chess as a hoby. There were plastic chess sets available then and it wasn't unusual for them to have different colors besides the traditional black and white because some were red and white (as shown in this movie) and some were even green and white just to name a couple.

[–] amikelhenry 12 years ago

as a chess player, I am usually disappointed when it is used in a movie//that the setup or the moves shown are incorrect..it would take little effort to ensure the pieces are on the right squares or the move would make context in the game and it always slightly detracts from the movie when it doesnt..Oh well..I still enjoyed the movie a great deal!

[–] addie65 12 years ago

And how do you even mess that up, who doesn't know how to set up a game of chess! lol
Someone knew enough to, "Castle," come to think of it, I dunno. I love this western.
Some kinds of, detail oversites, can be maddening, but I can forgive Audie anything and I just love this movie!

addie

[–] jokevv 9 years ago

What's even more interesting is that Gant castles with Rook and Queen!

--
What does Keanu think of this? : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLpP7TDlCXE

[–] zxcv-9 8 years ago

Audie Murphy can castle using a rook and queen - as can Chuck Norris.

[–] ThomasMuf 8 years ago

Film history is full of chess goofs. It semi not many people in Hollywood can play chess.

[–] kentonc2001 8 years ago

Im sure it was some type of in-joke in the movie for the audience,
because the game is part of the film and refered to before they even play it.
The "Healer' even says to Joe Gant at one point
"You play an interesting Game "