the horse


In the sunset scene where Charles proposes to "Eve", the horse keeps putting its chin on Fonda's head. I've always wondered if they meant the horse to do this or if the horse was just acting up. Anyhow it was the best part of the scene.

Opinions?

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i doubt it. if you pay close attention you can see that both actors were trying hard not to laugh. Clearly just a coincidence or what not..

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The horse was trained to do that. I don't have any proof, but just watch how he or she manages to hit all the right lines, playing with Fonda's hair right after his line is done so as not to break up the interaction between the two humans in the shot. And then, getting in the last word at the end...

"Eve"

"Charles"

[Snort]

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perhaps your right..didnt pay too close attention. Nice pickup!

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The timing of the horse's interruptions seem way too perfect to be accidental. If Fonda and Stanwyck were trying not to laugh during that scene, its probably just because it was a funny scene (and it had to be awkward to play a scene straight while a horse is breathing down your neck). I could be reading too far into it, but I always assumed that the horse's interuptions were meant to a) encourange Charles to shut up for his own good b) as a visual pun for the audience since Jean/ Eve pretty much had him whipped like a well trained animal.

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I just finished watching this film for the first time on TCM and could NOT stop laughing at this scene!! It was so perfect! The horse did come in at exactly the right times. There really are a lot of great laughs in this film. I can't understand how someone could sit through it and not even laugh once. Good stuff!

"Don't dream it, be it."

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OF COURSE that was a trained horse! Didn't you see the way he sidled up to Fonda, then moved over, then intentionally placed his nose in Fonda's hair?! If that were not supposed to have happened, they would have reshot the scene. Plus it happened OVER AND OVER again, and you guys think that was just serendipitous?!

The actors cracking up does NOT mean it wasn't supposed to be in there; the two aren't mutually exclusive.

People's ignorance is astounding sometimes.

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That horse stole the scene.

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