MovieChat Forums > You Can't Take It with You (1938) Discussion > Lern the big apple

Lern the big apple

posted 20 years ago by stevenvh
8 replies | jump to latest

I can't help but feel uncomfortable with the restaurant scene where Alice has the "lern the big apple" sign on her mantle. And it's not an empathy/sympathy thing.
Why doesn't Tony remove it when he spots it? It's just pinned on, isn't it?
He wants to make a good impression, otherwise he wouldn't care why people stare at them. And even if he doesn't care much about what other people think, I don't think he would embarrass the girl he loves.
Wadya think?

Steven

(YCTIWY still got a 10 from me)

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] raert 20 years ago

But he wants her to be real and the way she really is, he doesn't want them to play up to the Kirby's. We also have to remember this was a different time period when things were different: socially, economically, sexually, etc.

"Life is divided into the horrible and the miserable." -Woody Allen

[–] imdbmovie 17 years ago

I think it's Capra's Humor.

[–] angelfromhell926 16 years ago

Yeah that kinda puzzled me...why didn't he unpin it or something...

[–] first_sentence 16 years ago

I was just wondering that. he was the one who put it on her, so i guess he wanted it to stay on her back. It might have been a rebellion thing against his parents and social class. he is dating an odd girl, and is letting everyone know that he doesn't care if she's different.

[–] stevenvh 16 years ago

I watched it again the other day. I always thought one of the kids put the card on Alice, but you're absolutely right: Tony does it himself! He even glances at it approvingly when they enter the restaurant. I don't get it...

--
I never make mistakes. Once I thought I did, but I was wrong.

[–] markbromberg 16 years ago

I think Capra wanted to make a point. After the Big Apple dance scene, Stewart realizes at the restaurant that he's really not a stuffed shirt like his parents. He's had so much fun with Alice that the high-society crowd wouldn't understand, so he just plays along. It is at Alice's expense, but given the antics of the Vanderhof household that she's used to, Alice doesn't seem too upset. I think that's why Tony takes his parents to the Vanderhofs on the wrong day, as well -- to let them see the house in full swing (you notice he doesn't object very much until Alice finally confronts him.) Stewart does something embarassing to Donna Reed in "Wonderful Life," too: George Bailey is walking Mary Hatch home and he hesitates giving her robe back to her, even though she's hiding in the hydrangea bushes, presumably undressed!

[–] Piperson 8 years ago

I think the sign is still on Penney's back for the whole scene because it's funny. And you never cut funny.