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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsWhy doesn't Tom Hanks sing or make an instrument in Castaway?
I've seen the Tom Hanks movie "Castaway" several times. Good movie. But every time, one thing has struck me as unusual and unrealistic, which is that Hanks is so quiet on the island. Every time I watch the movie, I wonder why he isn't talking to himself aloud, or singing. I'm sure his head is busy thinking, as mine is, when I'm home.
But music....music is such an integral part of being human. One thing I most definitely would do, if I were stranded by myself on an island is try to replace the loss of music. I'd sing a lot, try to remember all the songs I liked. And I think I'd try to make some sort of crude instrument. After all, I'd have a lot of time on my hands. And it would be fun, and it would be pleasant to hear music, even if it's only my voice.
You could do some sort of instrument with those coconuts, for example, if only banging them together. Tree branches could be used to hit on a rock for percussion. He used the skates for a knife-like tool, so maybe he could've poked a hole in a coconut and after drinking the liquid, blown over the hole for a flute-like instrument. I don't know if that would work, but I think I'd try it.
Instead, he spends his days in utter silence, except for talking occasionally to Wilson.
Wilson....I got so wrapped up in Wilson that I actually got as upset as Hanks did, when Wilson got blown off the raft.
Don't you think you'd make music, if you were stranded alone? Who could live w/o music?
edbermac
(15,953 posts)Light My Fire by the Doors when he first made fire.
rug
(82,333 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)And he's not really singing. He's more saying the words because he's excited.
But seriously, would you sing, like, a lot? Every day? Make an instrument or two?
pitohui
(20,564 posts)the only good thing about being cast away on an island w. only a fucking volleyball to talk to is that you don't have to perform
no of course i wouldn't make music, why is it necessary to always make noise and draw attention to yourself?
what's wrong w. letting the birds sing for a change?
music just doesn't work as a solo activity, when i go on solo hikes solo trips in the field no of course i don't look for ways to clutter my head with "music"
admittedly i had a stage mother who couldn't understand why i wasn't interested in music, aren't all nerds/geeks/asperger's/autism whatevers interested in music? guess what, NO, there is actually a place in the world for people who don't need to fill in empty spaces w. music and if a deserted island isn't one of those places just shoot me now
cliffordu
(30,994 posts)that THEY were to be the only singers and threatened to strike over the Doors tune.
Flaxbee
(13,661 posts)they flew back home, each insisted on buying a Wilson volleyball.
charlie and algernon
(13,447 posts)Which of course then made the scene where he loses Wilson that much more powerful.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)If only for that scene alone.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)so I'd have to make do and try to replicate it. Music is part of the reason for living and a major pleasure, if not part of what it means to be human.
I'd first have to replicate Johnny Cash: I keep a close watch on this heart o'mine....I keep my eyes wide open all the time....
Then go into a Bobby McGee: I crooned my harpoon, and in my dreary bandana, I was humming soft while Bobby sang the blues, oh yeah.....
Then: Wild Thang....You make my heart sang.....you make everythang, groovy....wild thang.....
Then a little classical...Blue Danube, I think: Da da da da da..da da...da da....da da da da da...da da...da da....
Then some Tom Petty, to the extent I could remember it: And I won't, back, down...no, I'll stand, my ground....
Then I'd of COURSE have to try to remember all the words to Gilligan's Island theme song.
I'd cap it all off with dancing, which is another reason for living. Life just wouldn't be worth living without a little dancin'. Wilson would be my partner for the dances where you need a partner.
BrendaBrick
(1,296 posts)Actually, during the filming Hanks lost so much weight (40 pounds I think) that it bordered on being dangerous for him:
(You can see this in the scene which opens as he is spearing a fish after being on the island for so long.)
As far as *music* is concerned, to me, there is always the natural unending rhythm of the ocean...
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)It is one of the things that separates humans from other mammals...the making of instruments, creating music (not just singing the same song all your life, as birds do).
One of the things I would definitely do, if I found myself alone for the rest of my life, is really get into music. Instruments, singing, dancing. And I'd expect Wilson to join in.
Sky Masterson
(5,240 posts)Orrex
(63,297 posts)I might sing to myself now and then, but actually exerting the effort to construct a musical instrument--especially when I have no idea how to do so--would simply frustrate me further.