Flashlights in TV shows and movies (Part 4)

Z

z_SecretStash

Guest
Part 3



I've always wanted a flashlight that performs the way Hollywood's flashlights work. They go investigate a dark basement and whip out a tiny key-chain light that has a beam as strong as the Bat-Signal. Obviously, this is in part due to movie-magic but as flashlight tech improves these High-output small profile lights are beginning to match Hollywood.



There have been several shows/films that have used lights in them that intrigued me. I'll just list a few here and let others comment on ones that they remember. It would also be nice if some more senior flashaholics could throw in on what they think the modern day equivalent to that light would be. (Also, this thread is not about if the movie/show itself is any good. :p)



Tron Legacy: Sam investigates the old arcade with a smaller-than-palm sized flashlight. When he sets it down on the computer at the end of the scene it is all black and about 1 in diameter and 2 in length. (The simplicity of the design makes me thing of some of the HDS pictures Ive seen on here.)



X-Files: Their flashlights were decades ahead of their time. I remember scenes where their handhelds rivaled helicopter searchlights.



Pandorum: Sci-Fi film wherein main character has an extremely small handheld light capable of a strong beam. When he holds the light it is so small that it is encapsulated by his hand as if the beam were merely coming out of his fist.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

4sevens

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 29, 2004
Messages
2,876
Location
Atlanta, GA
Tron Legacy: Sam investigates the old arcade with a smaller-than-palm sized flashlight. When he sets it down on the computer at the end of the scene it is all black and about 1 in diameter and 2 in length.
It's a 4Sevens Quark 123 regular without clip :D
 

powerup93

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Messages
87
No way 4Sevens....are you serious or are you joking?

I miss Hotlanta. I used to live there and feel that it would be a good city to live in again.
 

DarthBurger

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Mar 10, 2011
Messages
7
The movie Sanctum was basically a feature-length advertisement for Petzl headlamps and climbing gear. Petzl pretty much made the same claim in their Tweet. :laughing:
 

Monocrom

Flashaholic
Joined
Aug 27, 2006
Messages
19,835
Location
NYC
"Southern Fried Stings" - TV Show:

In a very recent episode, Jay uses a 3D Maglite to investigate possible prowlers in a development home belonging to a client. Turns out a couple of satanists were getting ready to conduct a ceremony. The girl whom they planned to use in the ceremony was a willing partcipant. The two guys tried to run. But Jay and his team caught them. Case closed.
 

utlgoa

Enlightened
Joined
Aug 12, 2008
Messages
320
Location
Ohio
One Flashlight you'll never see on Ghost Hunters is the Fenix TK35.......

Because it's to Dang Brite !!!! :crackup:
 

onetrickpony

Enlightened
Joined
Mar 10, 2011
Messages
262
It's awesome that you brought up the x-files, it's the first show I thought of when I saw the title of this thread. While I agree with you for the most part, some of their lights were total dogs. I remember saying something like, "Aren't you glad that flashlights have improved so much since the 90's?" I expected a blank stare from my wife, but she said something to the effect of "No kidding, honey. Your flashlights are awesome and so bright and it really turns me on!"

Ok, maybe not that good, but she is definitely starting to come around.

In the first few seasons of the show, I think I remember them using a few incandescent mags, with the dim yellow/orange beam. Then they got the ones with the lens that kind of threads over the head of the light, causing the whole head to light up. I'd like to get one of those just for the cool factor. They had what I'm assuming must have been HID searchlights in the episode when they found that the underground cable run by the military had caused damage to the inner ear of several locals and animals. If they didn't head west at increasing rates of speed their ear would explode like a mini bomb and blow the side of their head out.

What an awesome show. Anyone know what the lights with the illuminating heads were?
 

Nyctophiliac

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
2,427
Location
Buckinghamshire, UK
I recently re-acquainted myself with a film I used to love when I was a boy (Looooong time ago!). It is William Wyler's "How to Steal a Million" starring Peter O'Toole and Audrey Hepburn. I'm sure most of you reading over a certain age - maybe about forty? - will remember it for pretty much the same reasons. Basically Peter O'Toole plays a burglar enlisted by Art Forger's daughter, Hepburn (never lovelier IMHO), to steal back her Father's forged statue from the museum before the insurers get a chance to examine it and find out the forgery.

Lots of ingenuity ensues and has furnished me with a lifelong love of Flashlights and magnets (You have to see it ).

Here are some screen grabs.

5554819402_e8689a08ed_z.jpg


The scene has them both locked in a cupboard at the museum. Very cramped, but this small black torch he produces from a pocket, stays on bright and white for a long time - drama time of hours. Certainly to my child mind, I had never seen something so small and bright like that. My dim orange bulbed torches that I had were very inferior in comparison.

5554235525_4f5504da67_z.jpg


You really shouldn't shine a bright light like that into a beautiful ladies face, Peter!

5554819856_6d0aa80068_z.jpg


Sadly my adult eyes now see what my childish ones couldn't, and my logic also confirms my suspicions. I had never seen such a light because they didn't exist in those days. The light is clearly a metal tube with a bright bulb - probably a car headlamp bulb - made to look like an ordinary torch. you can even see the flex going down his arm.

5554820202_f875530e9d.jpg


Here's a better shot of the flex.

I'll bet the thing got very hot!!

Just like my Surefire 6P round body with Malkoff M61 - which it seriously resembles!

The film is wonderful in every literal sense of the word. Seek it out.
 

mvyrmnd

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 4, 2009
Messages
3,391
Location
Australia
Last edited by a moderator:

Monocrom

Flashaholic
Joined
Aug 27, 2006
Messages
19,835
Location
NYC
Room 33 (2009)

Numerous flashlights used by the young folks as they inspect the decaying hospital that they're stuck in. Recognizable among them are a black 3D Maglite, 4AAA Energizer double barrel flashlight with blue body and a larger version (C or D-cell) with silver body.
 

Toohotruk

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
2,717
Location
The Highway to Hell
I just saw the movie Insidious, and at one point the guy goes downstairs to investigate some knocking, and he opens a drawer and pulls out an SF M6 Guardian. What I don't get, is why later on, he goes around turning on all the lights in the house looking for an intruder, instead of grabbing the M6. Then even later in the movie, he uses a kid's fluorescent lantern to see in the creepy darkness, when he knows he has SF awesomeness just sitting in a drawer by the front door. :shrug:
 

LEDninja

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 15, 2005
Messages
4,896
Location
Hamilton Canada
paul_5642_D009_00394R.jpg

Movie 'Paul'.
2 Limey geeks saw an accident in front of them and decided to investigate.
The 'Men In Black' under the command of the not so mysterious lady boss used hand held flashlights when they got to the scene.
 

Monocrom

Flashaholic
Joined
Aug 27, 2006
Messages
19,835
Location
NYC
Series ~ "Burn Notice"

Episode ~ "Last Stand."

In the season finale, Fiona uses an old lantern (the kind designed to float) to navigate through the kitichen of the abandonded building with an injured Jesse.
 
Top