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Mathematics Goes to the Movies

by Burkard Polster and Marty Ross

The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

Circle as a good idea that no one believes in. Implemented as hola hoop, straw with bendy bit, frisbee.

6:00 Circle first shows up as circular coffee stain left by the coffee cup on the page of a newspaper. This triggers the hula hoop idea in the hero.

8:40
Hero looks at the circle on the way into the corporate building.

14:30
In mailroom:
Shows piece of paper with a circle to co-worker.

15:00
Announcement to the employees:
We regretfully announce that at thirty seconds after the hour of noon, Hudsucker Time, Waring Hudsucker, founder, president and chairman of the board of Hudsucker industries, merged with the infinite.

21:00 shows circle to the evil guy.

27:00
EDITOR: The Einstein of enterprise, the Eddison of industry…

41:00
Shows circle to heroine

57:00
Demonstrates hoop to members of the board.

1:00:00
One of the possible names for the hoop.
Wacky circumference

1:07:00
German scientist explaining the science of the hoop.

1:15:00
Elevator boy explains straw.

1:22:00
Spirals for madness.