MovieChat Forums > Mr. Lucky (1943) Discussion > rhyming slang

rhyming slang

posted 8 years ago by tabari
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I thought it was interesting that Joe said he picked up the rhyming slang while in Australia. I am sure that would be possible because many Cockneys wound up in Australia. This is Cockney rhyming slang. It is referenced off and on in many British novels, but this was the first time I ever saw it used in an American film. And I think, if my memory is correct, that Cary Grant (or Archie Leach) was a Cockney by birth. So, that was probably like a trip down memory lane for him and perhaps gave him a chuckle or so. He did some things I had never seen before in his acting in this movie. He did no physical comedy, no little usual reactions in the comedy scenes. He played it straight for his comedy and let the script work. And his scenes where he literally bared his teeth were unexpected! When you have seen someone is so many movies, it is interesting to see a whole new facet.

[–] jbit 8 years ago

Cary Grant was born and grew up in Bristol, he was not a Londoner, let alone a Cockney. As a Londoner myself some of the rhyming slang used in the film was familiar to me and some was not. That may be because it was Australian in origin,or more likely that rhyming slang is ever changing and a lot of 1940s rhyming slang is no longer used.P.S. Cary Grant does not have a cockney accent.