MovieChat Forums > Across the Pacific (1942) Discussion > Use of the word "gunsel" in another Boga...

Use of the word "gunsel" in another Bogart picture


My understanding is that they snuck in the use of the word gunsel into The Maltese Falcon because it actually means a homosexual; particularly, a young man kept as a companion, referring to the Wilmer character's relationship with Gutman.

But here, it's used completely unironically to refer to the Japanese character who's a hired gun. Amazing how the word "changed" in just one year.




I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

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It didn't change- Hammett and Huston used in in "Maltese Falcon" as a euphemism; here it is used with its actual meaning and (presumably) no subtext. All in the context, I guess.

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It means a gun-toting thug. That's all.

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