Just finished the Maigrate series on Brit Box where actor M.Gabon smokes a pipe frequently, not just a prop. Early episodes show lighting with matches later with what looks like an Old Boy. He Carrie’s on a coherent conversation with a clench. The only fault is long strong puff on lighting and placing a hot pipe in pocket. I under stand that other actors playing the part we’re actual pipe smokers.
Pipe Smoking Detective
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I haven't watched it (though I enjoy reading the novels sometimes). One thing I have noticed while watching classic Hollywood films (where pipe smoking is the norm) is this: the depictions of pipes and smoking techniques are often less about what is correct, and more about conveying the character and the emotions of the character at that moment in the story. For example, no less a pipe smoker than Edward G. Robinson gets a HUGE flame shooting out of his pipe during a char light in "The Red House." I doubt Edward G. lit his pipe like that in real life, but in the movie it foreshadows the diabolical side of his character very effectively. When I see a modern day show/movie with someone smoking a pipe, I usually see much less of this kind of character development through smokingb techniques--but it's possible they're going for this with the strong puff on lighting, etc.
I appreciate what you're saying about the use of pipes in movies. The most recent example I can think of, though not a detective, is Aragorn sitting in a dark corner of the Prancing Pony Inn awaiting the hobbits in "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring". When Butterburr points him out to Frodo, Aragorn gives his pipe an outward puff (reverse draw?) and it momentarily lights up his watching eyes under his hood. Very cool image, but how did it light up his upper face when the pipe in question was a nice long churchwarden with the bowl about 8 inches in front of it?
Something I do regularly. My pipes aren't noticeably warm to the touch and after several minutes they go out on their own.
I do that now and then. The pipe is a prop and the show you are watching is "make believe." So, "make believe" he's smoking in his own manner as we all do. And, more importantly, he's enjoying his pipe which is the or, should be the goal of every smoker.
Most of us don't have a director telling them what to do and how to smoke. So we can take time when we light a pipe since we're not actively ruining the pacing of a scene. But any activity you do will often look short or wrong in some way when it's in a movie.
H
HRPufnstuf
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I have a few shirt-pocket pinhole burns where an ember made a break for it.
Usually followed by vigorous self flagellation and profuse profanity.
Usually followed by vigorous self flagellation and profuse profanity.
There's an audio interview with Tolkien and you can audibly hear him frequently strike a match and the take about 4 or 5 very stiff draws on the pipe in rapid succession. Every time I heard it, I couldn't help but think he was drawing much harder than i would.
There's also the common story about C.S. Lewis repeatedly setting himself on fire and having patches in all his jackets from placing lit pipes in his pocket.
My point is, there's well recorded evidence of two well known avid pipe smokers doing the same things Maigret was dipicted doing. I wouldn't call them faults. They sound pretty authentic and accurate to me.
Sherlock Holmes never had anyone critique his method of starting the pipe.
Though he was regularly criticized by watson for his other vices.
I don't recall hearing any criticism from Watson here...
With a myriad of different ways of finding a satisfactory smoking experience. Some smoke one pipe only until it reeks and such before tossing it and buying another. Others smoke multiple pipes a day swapping out the tool with every bowl, resting the used pipe for some hours/days he has determined to suit his needs. Some stuff, others load by strata. Some emit billowing clouds of smoke. Others? Barely a wisp.
The only, in my opinion, correct way to smoke pipe is in a manner that provides the smoker with a satisfactory bowl. That's it!