MovieChat Forums > Sahara (1943) Discussion > First Use Of Racial Slur In A Movie?

First Use Of Racial Slur In A Movie?

posted 11 years ago by evilbastard9
7 replies | jump to latest

The German pilot the group captures calls the Sudanese soldier a N'r.

[–] courtthomas2000 11 years ago

I just got finished watching it. One of my favorites for years... I always point out that it is the earliest use of the "N" word that I have seen in a movie.

[–] mikekrit62 11 years ago

The pilot calls him neger, which is German for negro.

[–] doccarbon 10 years ago

You missed the line a bit ealier, when Bogey says, "I'm not taking on a pile of spaghetti", in reference to the Italian soldier they find in the desert.

[–] nimstic 10 years ago

Yes, I noticed that too!!! That was brutal. Just because it's toward an Italian doesn't necessarily make it less important as racial slur.

[–] foster1234 10 years ago

You folks need to get a grip

You don't have to stand tall, but you have to stand up!

[–] bradford-1 10 years ago

Actually, in both JESSE JAMES (1939) and THE RETURN OF FRANK JAMES (1940), the word "darky" is used to refer to a character who appears in both films.

May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?

[–] Toshi51 9 years ago

While "Neger" is the correct German noun, it was meant to inflame the audience.