|
Nit-picker's
Bunker #2
Suncompass
is such a nit-picker that one bunker just wasn't big enough.
Here's a second bunker.
Be
warned that if you don't like nit-picking, read no further.
Consider
yourself warned.
Say
what? The terrors of translation.
The
Double Jeopardy Raid
|
Translation
is not an easy task and, particularly when time is tight, mistakes
can be made. One such instance comes to light in 'The Double
Jeopardy Raid' (for a really complete description [with spoilers] of
this raid see here).
The Rat Patrol linguistic experts, according to the credits
at the end of the episode, gave this fine young man (see him in the
picture to the right) a 'girl's name'. <gasp!> They named him 'Françoise',
the female version of the male name 'François',
which is surely the name they meant to use. There is no doubt
that he is male. The gender of that French name is tied up in that
pesky little 'e' at the end. |
"Françoise" |
|
Growing
up with a 'girl's name' no wonder this nice young man became a
fighter, says Suncompass. This reminds Suncompass of an old
Johnny Cash song (composer: Shel Silverstein)....'A Boy Named Sue'.
The
lyrics for that song are here: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/johnnycash/aboynamedsue.html |
Thanks
to Valdhery for confirming the spelling-gender confusion for this
poor lad and the misnomer for 'the Duke'(below).
For
translations of French dialogue see here.
The
Decoy Raid
|
The
episode mission briefing:
An
especially evil (not to mention crazed) SS Officer enters the
territory and disrupts a humanitarian mission to innoculate the
locals against a Typhus epidemic. Time is of the essence (of course). |
|
To
make matters worse the officer takes two aide workers captive and
sets a trap - a trap that involves Dietrich and the rats. A surprise
ending and a discussion about champagne result. |
|
This
is La Duc, the official in charge of innoculating the locals against Typhus. |
La
Duc, the name of this character, means 'The Duke' - sort of.
The spelling they've used is problematic and the problem lies in that
French nouns have genders. Nouns are either 'masculine' or 'feminine'
based on rules that Suncompass has never understood.
As
it happens 'Duke' is, in French, a masculine noun and so must be 'LE
Duc' not 'LA Duc'. The character should have been 'Le Duc'. Even
better would have been 'Leduc', an old French name that makes perfect sense. |
Credits
from the end of the episode. |
[][][][][]
Decorating
with boxes.
The
Fire and Brimstone Raid
|
The
episode mission briefing:
The
rats sneak
into a local Arab winery that Dietrich has commandeered for storing
a lot of boxes of ammunition and explosives. A problem arises
(naturally) in that once the rats have set their timed explosives,
Dietrich shows up so they can't escape to safety to watch the fireworks. |
|
This
is a serious problem and has the rats pausing to ponder a way out.
While they ponder, and eliminate a few arrow-shooting Germans, they
pile boxes of armaments in the doorway. This 'wall' of boxes
effectively prevents the Germans from taking pot shots at them
through the opening. |
This
item is definitely nit-picking but since everything on this page is
to some extent, Suncompass makes no apologies.
|
 |
On
the left, Dietrich throws away Troy's live grenade meant to blow up
the German explosives. Note the boxes (A & B) behind him.
On
the right, Dietrich, seconds later, thinks he has foiled the rats
for once (silly man). Note that box 'A' has turned around and
box 'B' has changed from 'ARTILLERIEMUNITION' to 'TELLERMINEN'. |
 |
|
The
top box (A) had a way of rotating now and then in the episode.
Beware,
watching for moving boxes may ruin your viewing pleasure. |
|
 |
On
the left, note the boxes (or lack of them at the arrow) just before
Dietrich escapes the imminent explosion caused by the Sheik.
On
the right, note the 'new' boxes (at the arrow) just a second later
but still before the imminent explosion. How did they get there? |
 |
|
Did
the Sheik do some last second redecorating before he blew himself
and the entire ammo dump to smithereens? Hardly seems likely,
does it? |
Thanks
to J.B. for spotting this boxed set of nit-picks. Well
spotted, J.B.
[][][][][]
Gridlock
in the Rat Patrol's desert?
The
Last Chance Raid
|
The
episode mission briefing:
When
deep in the desert their radio is shot up the rats must find another
way to relay an urgent message to an approaching Allied convoy.
If they fail, the convoy will drive straight into an enemy trap and
be destroyed. |
|
With
a plan to use the German's own radio propaganda machine, they climb
aboard their remaining jeep for a trip to a nearby German-held town.
But wait! What's that
right behind them? |
|
 |
In
the green box we see there's something behind them. Is it the
enemy? Look closely (see image on right). It looks more like
rush hour gridlock on their bumper (that's what you get for stopping
on the busy freeway, lads). Or did they just happen to
stop in a vehicular graveyard in the middle of the desert? How odd!
|
Close
up of area inside green square. |
Thanks
to keen-eyed Alexandra, Nicolas, Jonathan, and Alexander R. for
spotting this strange desert sight.
[][][][][]
If
nit-picking is your joy, check out
'Nuts
and Bolts - dropped from some Rat
Patrol
vehicles'
If
you think you've seen an 'oops' in the series, let Suncompass check
it out.
Email
: Suncompass@fandom.tv
Suncompass
maintains that flaws in no way diminish enjoyment of the
series. In fact, some flaws even make the series more entertaining.
Forty
years after its creation, The Rat Patrol still packs a
tank-sized wallop of entertainment - just as it was meant to do.
Above
all, enjoy watching!
[][][][][]
website
designed and authored by Suncompass (suncompass@fandom.tv)
queries,
comments, suggestions, corrections welcome
Page
last updated October 14, 2007
©2003-2007
Suncompass |