MovieChat Forums > The 'Burbs (1989) Discussion > Things I or you have noticed in the back...

Things I or you have noticed in the background??


This is one of my all time fav movies ever since I was a kid and watched this in 1990 at aged 8. I have watched this countless times since and have just bought and watched this on dvd so I can watch this on the big screen. I still have it on videotape and I have just heard that it will be out on blu-ray in July so I may have to buy a blu-ray player just for that film.

But anyway I have watched this so many times over 50, sad I know but has anyone only just or has recently noticed things in the background. I only just noticed the other day when watching....

1. the scene early on when Art is eating breakfast at the petersons and he grabs some food out of a bowl from Carol without her noticing and he clearly doesnt like what he tastes ... seconds later in the background we see carol with the bowl lay it on the floor for vince the dog.

Also I heard that apparantly Mark Rumsfield was packing a knife when he went to the Klopeks house ... lol ... I never even noticed or saw that.

I'm sure I will notice other stuff later but what have you noticed??? I'm curious.

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The raucous alarm protecting the Klopek's rickety fence, and also that access is quite easily gained via the front - 'the soldier's way'.


Mr Frampton, vis-a-vis your rump

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Ps. Great post


Mr Frampton, vis-a-vis your rump

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They must have decided to keep you on your toes because there is always stuff going on in the background throughout this movie, whether it's Carol feeding the dog or Ricky painting the house. It's all subtle but it's there in every scene.

Ones I noticed that haven't been mentioned (I think):

Walter has a lawn fertilizer service truck taking care of his yard.

Ricky's buddies keep trying to sneak past the police tape.

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The fact that the Klopek's garden is in such a terrible state when they've only lived there a month and it's mentioned that the Knapp's kept up to their garden.

When in doubt.... ADD MORE WINE!!!!!!!

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I just noticed something, but it's already in the goofs section. I'll still mention it though: "During and after the scene with the bees, Walter walks towards his door three times."

Also, near the end of the movie when Carol comes back home and she's trying to find Ray, she bumps into a man from the gas company or something. He's in his work clothes, but underneath he's wearing a fancy shirt and a bow tie. Oh and i just noticed, the same guy bumps into Ray when Ray is talking to the policeman and says "what about the wig".

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When Ray is getting out his new tools to show them to Art, you can see Art very obviously checking out Bonnie Rumsfield who is planting flowers in her garden :D

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The reference to Jonestown made by Carol, which went right over my head as a kid (for obvious reasons!) Or when Rick Ducommun can be seen snickering in the background of a scene which I had read was a blooper that they had left into the film. It happens when Tom Hanks is lying on the sofa with the ice pack on his head. Makes me laugh every time I see it now. :)

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Before Tom Hanks and Winegarten(?) knock on the Klopecs' front door, the vibration from the heavy knocker causes the last address number to change from 669, to swing downward to now show 666.

E pluribus unum

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Dont know if this counts but it's something I noticed when I saw this recently. There's a Carol(Carrie Fisher) says they should just go over to their neighbor's house and introduce themselves before someone falls off the roof or catches on fire. Both those things eventually happen. Rumsfield falls off the roof and Ray catches on fire(blows himself up).

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I rewatch this movie constantly and recently noticed something really small that for some reason cracked me up. When The Doctor asks if anyone wants some sugar substitute Ray sits there like a zombie and slowly places his hand over his mug without saying a word. So many great details in this movie, making it my all time favorite.

Also in the same scene there's like 40 candles burning in the middle of the table.

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THE BURBS IS A STONE CLD CLASSIC...LOVE THAT MOVIE...ALSO...YOUR NAME IS COOL.👍🏾


DON'T BE A STRANGER ON THE GENERAL DISCUSSION PAGE...A LOT OF COOL PEOPLE AND CONVOS OVER THERE.

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