I have watched this film several times and I always enjoy it but there's one shot that always has puzzled me. When the guru jumps into the snake pit one of the thugs shoots Cary Grant in the leg and he faints. Outside the thugs take the man who shot Grant and strangle him! What is with that shot? Why was the thug strangled by the others for shooting a man they were anyway going to kill?
Any opinions?
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That's a good question, Sub. I think Toad Face is just letting the rest of the thugs know who's the boss after his father offed himself.
Sgt. Ballantine does say something about "he's sacred so they won't shoot us," but the Thug army was shooting at the sergeants pretty regularly on the rooftop despite that. Plus with Daddy down in the snake pit when the rifle guy shoots (with another Thug trying to pull him away from the door when he does), its not like he's going to be hit by a stray bullet or would mind particularly if he was.
All we get for explanation from Toad Face is something that sounds like "You were warned in English. You must die." And the rifleman does. I think TF just wants everyone to know who's wearing the pants now that Daddy is playing with the pythons, and killing a subordinate is a way of exerting authority if anything is.
Also, the trap had not yet been sprung, the English were on the way, but Toad Face didn't want to let them know that the Thugs were there.
Just this - can you sleep on your stomach with such big buttons on your pajamas?
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As Mikesh says in another comment, I think what Toad Face says is "You will warn the English", rather than "You were warned in English". He didn't want the English to find out the Thugs were there before they were ready to spring the trap. But the explanation that he was partially doing it to show his authority is also valid, IMO.
sharetmf scipio is right. Before he is strangled the man in front of the door says, "You will warn the English, you must die." Then he is strangled from behind. It is because he threatened their trap. No more shots are fired by the cultists after until Gunga sounds his trumpet. It is just another shot to establish the fanaticism of the cultists will.
shareIf you listen closely after the Thug shoots Cary in the leg. You'll hear Toadface say "You made War on the English, you must Die!" I don't think Toadface was really ready to fight until the Guru gave his life for his Beloved India. Hope that answers your question.
Doug
So how many versions of the line from Toad Face have come up so far?
You'll warn the English...
You made war on the English...
You were warned in English...
Which is it anyway? To my ears it sounded like "You're one of the English, and must die" but that doesn't make any sense at all. As I think the line "You'll warn the English..." makes the most sense I'll stick to that. Thanks, You Guys.
Here is what the subtitle says on the dvd for that line:
"You have warned the English. You must die."
As the original question is stated I too have always wondered why the man is ordered shot and have considered this a very strange scene. Even after a very intelligent discussion here, this still seems screwy to me. Even if Chota, young Toad Face, feels betrayed, how in the world could one shot warn the British, as far away as they were and making as much noise as they were, even including playing music. The only thing I can think is that as special prisoners, perhaps these three men had to strangled in the Thug way , rather than be shot.
The only thing I can think is that as special prisoners, perhaps these three men had to strangled in the Thug way , rather than be shot.
That makes the most sense.
http://memegenerator.net/instance/18375385
my tv closed caption says "He has warned the English, he must die"
shareHaving just watched the film again, I don't think it's actually Toadface who says the line; it looked to me like it was said by another guy in the crowd. (However, I agree with the interpretation of the line as "You have warned the English).
On an unrelated note, does anyone else find the scene where Gunga Din, with a broad smile on his face, begins pouring water onto the face of a dead Thugee during the battle at the abandoned outpost, to be strange?
What was strange was the fact that Grant and the other friend disliked so much the their friend kissing Joan Fontaine. They were acting as if they were 10 year old kids. Even the girlfriend said something like you love them more then you do to me. And no i don't wanna add another "gay" discussion here but considering that Fairbanks Jr. was homo and Cary at least bi(or so is written everywhere). So or the characters were written as if they were three ten year old kids or they were fags. Grant is behaving always like a rascal. I guess that was the "innocent" mentality for characters in those days.
shareThat is an interesting point of view, guely55.
shareI've seen the movie many times over the past fifty years. Toad Face says the line, and it's "warned" the English, just as the subtitle on the DVD says.
shareIt's because the guy fired a rifle at Grant. The noise of firearms could possibly be heard by the approaching troops and give them warning.
shareThe dead man was not a Thugee but was one of the other British-Indian Porters. Din was trying to give him a drink and revive him(as in the poem) but is not aware the man is already dead.
One of several acts of heroism Din goes through in the picture that nobody notices.
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