Aquariums in movies and tv shows

[sharkweek178]

Is anyone else like me and when you're watching a movie or tv show and someone's aquarium is shown, you hone in on it?

I was just watching Aquaman 2 (don't judge me) and there's a scene with a goldfish tank. Awful. Like 5 goldfish in a 10 gallon with no substrate or decor. You'd think a guy who can literally communicate with fish would do better. On The Sopranos, Christopher's apartment had a similar bare bones goldfish tank.
At least Moon Knight gave his goldfish a nice big tank.
And the Dahmer series on Netflix. Jeffrey Dahmer had an aquarium in real life. He kept African cichlids and tiger barbs. His aquarium on the show is gravel and plastic plants. It looks pretty green too.

What have the rest of you noticed?

 

[GaryE]

Years ago I planted a tank for a movie, for a murder scene shot through the tank. When I checked in, I was lined up with dog, cat and bird trainers, so I told them I was a plant trainer and they dutifully made me a badge. I wandered about eating excellent hamburgers and seeing how things were set up. Alas, when I went to pick them up, my plants, and the fish from the fish trainer had all been killed by the heat of the movie lights.
Plus I wasn't allowed to take my badge off set. Dang.

 

[Seisage]

and the fish from the fish trainer had all been killed by the heat of the movie lights.

Man, that’s disappointing. Aren’t there animal welfare laws and guidelines for using animals in film in Canada? Seems like there are from a quick Google search. Although, this film could’ve been made before some of the more rigorous guidelines were put in place. Sadly, I think even today you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who cares about fish dying on-set, except maybe the ARAs, but they want to shut down all entertainment using live animals.

 

[GaryE]

It was in the 1990s, and the disaster was caused by human error, not the run of the mill use of the lights. Still, finding that out was the not fun side of the experience.

 

[gwand]

There was that early James Bond movie where the villain had a 1000 gallon tank. And in many shoot em up movies the villain fires a bullet into a large tank Spilling the contents across the room.

 

[Naughts]

Killing Eve: Staring down Villanelle through the fish tank/ emotional prison. Lots of other symbolism with the tank too, like feeding and poisoning the fish, and dropping the key in for safe keeping.

 

[Back in the fold]

“A Fish Called Wanda” . There’s a movie with an aquarium that figures centrally to the movies plot . And don’t ever forget “The Incredible Mr. Limpett “ with Don Knotts .

 

[Ichthys]

There used to be a tv series called Coronation Street, set and filmed in Manchester (England). Whenever they needed a fish tank they came to us to set it up on the set and dismantle it after filming. They were not interested in it at all and just requested “a fish tank, to go here”. They didn’t need one often, so continuity wasn’t an issue.

 

[Fishmanic]

The movie FRANKENSTEIN 1970 shows an aquarium in the background as two men are talking. This movie was actually made in 1958 and features Boris Karloff. You would have to watch the actual movie to get a better view of the aquarium but here is movie trailer that gives a glimpse of the aquarium. Click on video below and at the one minute mark you can spot the aquarium in the background.

 

[gwand]

1962 James Bond

 

[Back in the fold]

The movie FRANKENSTEIN 1970 shows an aquarium in the background as two men are talking. This move was actaully made in 1958 and features Boris Karloff. You would have to watch the actual movie to get a better view of the aquarium but here is movie trailer that gives a glimpse of the aquarium. Click on video below and at the one minute mark you can spot the aquarium in the background.

That’s a great movie but then it has Boris Karloff so what else would it be but great ? The aquarium in question is featured prominently in this movie and is a predecessor to the stainless steel aquariums in that it is an iron frame . It’s big for its time looking about four feet long and maybe 40 gallons . More interesting than the aquarium are the fish in it . They look like some barb but unknown to me . A laurel . . . and hearty handshake to whoever can identify them .

 

[Back in the fold]

1962 James Bond

I want a suit like that villains . Pretty classy .

 

[sharkweek178]

There was Lethal Weapon 2 where Riggs threatens to shoot the bad guys and then shoots their aquarium instead. He then strolls away while they try to pick up the fish. I feel bad for the fish now.

 

[Ichthys]

The movie FRANKENSTEIN 1970 shows an aquarium in the background as two men are talking. This move was actaully made in 1958 and features Boris Karloff.

The movie was made in 1931 and released in 1932.

 

[Archerfish]

Mr. Briggs (Steven Hill) in the TV series, 'Mission Impossible' (1966-1967 seasons) had a spectacular aquarium. As a kid, I just couldn't believe the luck of anyone having such a large tank.