Did anyone else find strange that people just went in there asking for a pack of cigarettes and not naming what kind? I mean when I go to buy cigarettes I name the brand like ''can I get a pack of Lucky Strike?''. But these people just go in there asking for cigarettes and the cashier throws them a pack.
Now, I don't live in the U.S. but is that really how it works?
Kevin Smith said in one of his podcasts that Leonardo was a small town. Because of this, he and Bryan Johnson( also known as Steve-Dave in the other Smith films) knew pretty much everyone that came in the shop. Thus, after a few run-ins with each customer, they came to know what brand each person smoked. As a clerk, I can say that this is totally true. I have customers that I'll see in the parking lot and I'll immediately grab their preferred brand, whether it be Parliament Lights or Newports, and I'm right 95%of the time. Also, when making a movie, you don't want to use a specific brand, because if you do they have the right to sue. For example, Clerks 2 has an "I love NJ" shirt in the dance montage, and the company that makes those shirts sued because of trademark laws to the tune of a couple hundred thousand dollars. And considering Clerks was made for $27,575, I doubt a lawsuit from Marlboro was in their budget.
shareThe reason behind this is so obvious if you know a thing or two about how convenient stores, gas stations, corner stores etc operate. 90% of the time the people who come into a store to buy a pack of cigarettes are REGULARS.. They say 'cigarettes' because the CLERK knows exactly what brand they smoke . It's highly unlikely that someone comes in and buys a different brand of cigarette and if they do, the CLERK knows.
Another reason is because of licensing agreements. If you mention a brand, you have to pay them money... so they won't use real company names.
If you watch Rolling Thunder, Major Rane orders a "beer, tap" and they bring him one, no brand named at all. On the flip side, Harvey Keitel orders a beer in Falling In Love and the poor server has to go through the entire roster of what they had. He hastily says "Anything, really" and the girl goes "Give me a break." (as to show they need a brand).
He went with Miller Lite, for those keeping score.
Another reason is because of licensing agreements. If you mention a brand, you have to pay them money... so they won't use real company names.
Only one brand of cigarettes in the Askewniverse: Nails brand Cigarettes. Just like in Tarrantino movies, the only brand of cigarettes is: Red Apple Cigarettes.
shareSigh another idiot. It's because they don't want to use specific product placement. You don't have to be from the best country in the Universe AKA the United States of America to know this.
shareLol...no, that's definitely not how it really works. The director just couldn't add a particular brand of cigarettes into the dialogue for copyright purposes. The same thing has happened in a lot of films.
shareMaybe every one asking for smokes was a regular and Dante knew what they usually preferred. Happens all the time.
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