Cellar Door - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lalaith · 07-15-2004, 04:14 AM

I was watching Donnie Darko last night and spotted a subtle and rather nice Tolkien reference.
When the English teacher played by Drew Barrymore is sacked from her job at the dodgy private school, she writes "Cellar Door" on the blackboard as a farewell message for her students. Because, as she explains to Donnie, "a famous linguist once said that of all the phrases in the English language, of all the endless combinations of words, that 'Cellar Door' was the most beautiful."

That linguist was of course our Professor.

(PS Dear Mr Saucepan - I wasn't sure where to put this so please move if you think I've got the wrong forum)

Estelyn Telcontar · 07-15-2004, 06:24 AM

I'm neither Mr. nor Saucepan, but I think this can go on the Novices and Newcomers forum, since it's not a reference to the LotR movies. It should get more response there too!

Rimbaud · 07-15-2004, 08:45 AM

One of my favourite films already, and I also noticed the reference. Sadly, those with me at the time of this realisation singularly failed to grasp my enthusiasm.

mark12_30 · 07-15-2004, 08:53 AM

Thanks for bringing this up.

I'm not sure I enjoy the phrase "cellar door" as much as Tolkien did, but I'm glad he talked about it. I wonder is there a recording of him uttering these lovely words? (Once more, with feeling... Cellar Door!")

I'm particularly fond of "Coffeeroom" backwards, which is "Mooreeffoc", referring to the idea that sometimes things seen through a glass or in a mirror are momentarily more real, or at least having more of an impact on our thoughts, than the way in which we see it normally.

Feanor of the Peredhil · 07-15-2004, 09:13 AM

I feel somewhat out of place on this thread, not having actually seen Donnie Darko (yet! I promise I will.), but could somebody please explain to me the significance of the phrase "cellar door"? I mean, if you forget the meaning and concentrate on sound alone, it does have a rather nice ring to it, but I'm not entirely sure if that's the point or not... Please...

Fea

07-15-2004, 11:56 AM

Donnie Darko my favorite sci-fi/nuerosis film. The "Cellar Door" quote has been attributed to several linguists, but most often Tolkein, so that is what I go with. In reading TLOTR (obviously before before reading any of the pronounciation material in the appendix) when I got to Lothlorien and met Celeborn (also Celebrien, Celebrant, etc...) my natural english pronounciation of the soft "Ce" made a light bulb go off in my head, Celeborn sounds just like Cellar Door. I was very proud of my self for making that connection...

...Then I read the pronounciation stuff and saw the movie...and realized the general consensus is that Celeborn and similar names are pronounced with a hard C like "Keleborn" similar to the word Celtic (although some pronounce it "Seltic" i.e. The Boston Celtics).

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

-Mirabella

07-15-2004, 04:14 AM	#1
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	Cellar Door I was watching Donnie Darko last night and spotted a subtle and rather nice Tolkien reference. When the English teacher played by Drew Barrymore is sacked from her job at the dodgy private school, she writes "Cellar Door" on the blackboard as a farewell message for her students. Because, as she explains to Donnie, "a famous linguist once said that of all the phrases in the English language, of all the endless combinations of words, that 'Cellar Door' was the most beautiful." That linguist was of course our Professor. (PS Dear Mr Saucepan - I wasn't sure where to put this so please move if you think I've got the wrong forum)

07-15-2004, 06:24 AM	#2
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	I'm neither Mr. nor Saucepan, but I think this can go on the Novices and Newcomers forum, since it's not a reference to the LotR movies. It should get more response there too! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

07-15-2004, 08:45 AM	#3
Rimbaud The Perilous Poet Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Heart of the matter Posts: 1,062	Darko One of my favourite films already, and I also noticed the reference. Sadly, those with me at the time of this realisation singularly failed to grasp my enthusiasm. __________________ And all the rest is literature

07-15-2004, 08:53 AM	#4
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Thanks for bringing this up. I'm not sure I enjoy the phrase "cellar door" as much as Tolkien did, but I'm glad he talked about it. I wonder is there a recording of him uttering these lovely words? (Once more, with feeling... Cellar Door!") I'm particularly fond of "Coffeeroom" backwards, which is "Mooreeffoc", referring to the idea that sometimes things seen through a glass or in a mirror are momentarily more real, or at least having more of an impact on our thoughts, than the way in which we see it normally. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

07-15-2004, 09:13 AM	#5
Feanor of the Peredhil La Belle Dame sans Merci Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: perpetual uncertainty Posts: 5,517	I feel somewhat out of place on this thread, not having actually seen Donnie Darko (yet! I promise I will.), but could somebody please explain to me the significance of the phrase "cellar door"? I mean, if you forget the meaning and concentrate on sound alone, it does have a rather nice ring to it, but I'm not entirely sure if that's the point or not... Please... Fea __________________ peace

07-15-2004, 11:56 AM	#6
MirabellaTook Guest Posts: n/a	Donnie Darko my favorite sci-fi/nuerosis film. The "Cellar Door" quote has been attributed to several linguists, but most often Tolkein, so that is what I go with. In reading TLOTR (obviously before before reading any of the pronounciation material in the appendix) when I got to Lothlorien and met Celeborn (also Celebrien, Celebrant, etc...) my natural english pronounciation of the soft "Ce" made a light bulb go off in my head, Celeborn sounds just like Cellar Door. I was very proud of my self for making that connection... ...Then I read the pronounciation stuff and saw the movie...and realized the general consensus is that Celeborn and similar names are pronounced with a hard C like "Keleborn" similar to the word Celtic (although some pronounce it "Seltic" i.e. The Boston Celtics). Does anyone have any thoughts on this? -Mirabella