Ancient servant carrying a tray of drinks in a movie

October 4, 2009 9:35 AM

Can you think of a movie in which a doddering old servant makes his way, at painful and ridiculous low speed, across a room carrying a tray of drinks?
posted by markcmyers to Media & Arts (20 answers total)

The Remains of the Day.
posted by peacheater at 9:38 AM on October 4, 2009

There was a commercial in the '80s or 90's based on the scene you describe. Racking my brain trying to recall the product. Coca-cola? Beer?
posted by ericb at 9:50 AM on October 4, 2009

Dinner for One?
posted by zamboni at 9:52 AM on October 4, 2009

Twin Peaks?
posted by Kirklander at 9:54 AM on October 4, 2009 [1 favorite]

Dinner for One - Parts One, Two
posted by Decimask at 9:57 AM on October 4, 2009 [2 favorites]

There was a commercial in the '80s or 90's...

Now that I think of it it was a mid/late 80's ad for Henry Weinhard's beer set in a 'gentlemen's club.' The servant shuffled across an oriental carpet with the bottles clanging against each other. It was directed by Joe Pytka. I'm Googling to see if I can find it online.
posted by ericb at 9:59 AM on October 4, 2009

Thirding Dinner for One, cult viewing every New Years here in Sweden.
posted by Iteki at 10:05 AM on October 4, 2009

there's a similar scene in the Michael J. Fox vehicle FOR LOVE OR MONEY, but it's a bellhop with bags.
posted by LittlePumpkin at 10:07 AM on October 4, 2009

Ridiculous, but reminds me of an old parody of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya... the parody was uniquely Hungarian, though, so likely not what you're thinking of. Still.
posted by tigrrrlily at 10:26 AM on October 4, 2009

If you're looking for the example rather than a specific movie, Tim Conway did a very funny painfully slow butler sketch on the Carol Burnett show.
posted by mcbeth at 10:39 AM on October 4, 2009 [2 favorites]

Wasn't there a scene like this in one of the early Pink Panther movies?
posted by Hardcore Poser at 10:48 AM on October 4, 2009

It's obscure, but---Man of the Century?
posted by Bromius at 10:57 AM on October 4, 2009

Not a movie, but done wonderfully by Eric Sykes in Gormenghast.
posted by Coobeastie at 1:07 PM on October 4, 2009

Are you certain it's a movie? Because there was a character just like this in the Tomb Raider series of video games, Winston the butler. Every game had a practice stage set at Lara Croft's mansion. As you'd run the obstacle course or poke around the bedrooms for secrets, you'd be followed around by an ancient, mumbling, flatulent manservant with a silver tray of tea clattering around in his trembling hands. He moved at a snail's pace, but he'd follow you with zombie-like determination. It was pretty creepy, actually, as there was no one else around... I'd usually trap him in the meat locker to get rid of him.
posted by Rhaomi at 1:08 PM on October 4, 2009

In the TV series Dave Allen At Large, the star often played a butler so old he looked like an oversight in the Grim Reaper's bookkeeping. The butler tottered about at a glacial pace and many were the gags the sprang from this. It looks as if he was in at least a couple of movies (which I have not seen). Perhaps one of these?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:13 PM on October 4, 2009

James: By the way, the same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?

Miss Sophie (delightedly): The same procedure as every year, James!

James: Well, I'll do my very best!
posted by nostrada at 1:34 PM on October 4, 2009

All I can think of is the gigantic and hilarious spoof of it in Finnian's Rainbow.
posted by medea42 at 2:23 PM on October 4, 2009

Spike Milligan as Crumble in The Last Remake of Beau Geste.
posted by Sallyfur at 4:24 PM on October 4, 2009

I am fairly certain that the 1967 version of Casino Royale had a scene like this near the beginning, during the part of the movie where M is trying to convince Bond to come back into the secret service.
posted by arha at 2:03 AM on October 5, 2009

10 - about 30 seconds into this clip.
posted by spasm at 8:02 AM on October 5, 2009