MovieChat Forums > Horse Feathers (1932) Discussion > Something the censors missed

Something the censors missed

posted 16 years ago by sockhop600
14 replies | jump to latest

During the scene in Connie Bailey's home, Chico and Thelma Todd pretend to be involved in "singing lessons". While playing "Collegiate" on the piano, Thelma is seated next to Chico on the bench as he plays. Watch Thelma carefully......she plays a quick, fleeting moment of grab-ass with Chico, thinking her move was blocked by Chico's body and not visible to the camera. I didn't catch this all these years until I watched it again and wondered why Chico turned to her during his performance, looked her in the eye and smiled. After a replay of the scene, I wondered no more. It's a no-big-deal moment, but considering the extent of the editing of that entire scene for supposedly offensive material, I found it funny that this bit was missed.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Studman_Productions 15 years ago

oh that saucy little minx!!

[–] scipio23 15 years ago

After reading this post I went back and watched that scene and caught it. She definitely gets a little handsy with Chico behind his back (ahem) and he gives her one his sly smiles after she does it.

Thanks for posting this!

[–] Studman_Productions 15 years ago

what a cheeky fellow!

[–] JackOLantern372 15 years ago

Chico was supposably a ladies man

WHERE!? I DON'T LIKE LIZARDS!- Charlie Kelly.

[–] Studman_Productions 15 years ago

that's the rumor...

[–] darksorcerer 15 years ago

Just watched the scene.
WIth her left hand she does seem to be groping around there.... though with her right hand she is sort of keeping the timing/beat of the music.

Though the look on chico's face sells it to me.

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx

[–] Cliqett 14 years ago

I don't blame her.

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[–] Diann08 12 years ago

I don't blame her either....

I smell death on you...

[–] sean_pak215 12 years ago

But then how much censorship was there in 1932? This was technically a Pre-Code film.

[–] thesnowleopard 9 years ago

But then how much censorship was there in 1932? This was technically a Pre-Code film.

I was wondering that during the whole bit with the "college widow." Definitely Pre-Code territory.

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[–] lubin-freddy 12 years ago

In 1932 the production code was less rigorously enforced.

And the word "censor" really isn't the correct one. The studios had an internal agreement to self-censor, which, as I mentioned, was largely ignored, until 1934, when they began to fear government imposition of federal censorship. The five Paramount Marx Brothers films were made before then, so they all have an edge that was, in the opinion of many, absent in their later MGM work.

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Hear lunatics and liars

[–] Yoda-can-boogie 11 years ago

Absolutely their first 5 films were much funnier being pre movie code. So many jokes in their earlier movies that they could not have gotten away with in their later films.
" When The Legend Becomes Fact, Print The Legend "

[–] Beau_Buffet (327) 2 years ago

Great catch!

This is the smile that Chico sends to Thelma, just after he felt something on his backside, classic! :

https://i.imgur.com/vPtBChG.jpg