MovieChat Forums > Out of the Past Discussion > what's a "mutual machine"?

what's a "mutual machine"?

posted 9 years ago by clarklkzy
2 replies | jump to latest

In the movie, Kirk Douglas says he didn't want his horse to get his foot caught in a "mutual machine". What the heck is a "mutual machine"?

[–] Noir-It-All 9 years ago

I thought it was slang for a glue factory. Looking it up it is a machine used to calculate odds in betting on horse races. I think Whit used the term as a spin in its usual meaning. Jeff though he would kill a horse that came in last.

In a way, it means Whit's treatment of Kathy if she returned. Jeff though he would harm Kathy. Instead, Whit said, he just wanted her back.

[–] Beau_Buffet 7 years ago

The subtitles say "mutuel machine".

This is the meaning of "pari-mutuel" (the word comes from French):

noun
1.
a form of betting and of handling the betting on horse races at racetracks, in which those holding winning tickets divide the total amount bet in proportion to their wagers, less a percentage for the management, taxes, etc.
2.
Also called parimutuel machine. an electronic machine that registers bets in parimutuel betting as they are made and calculates and posts the changing odds and final payoffs.

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/pari-mutuel