What Did Rocco Whisper?
Someone, Anyone, please tell me what you think Rocco whispered in Bacall's
ear to set her off like that? If it revealed; I missed it. If not, help
me out, (Please keep it CLEAN)!
Thanks so much.
"OOO...I'M GON' TELL MAMA!"
I haven't read the play but have seen the film a number of times, and I always thought that Rocco was talking dirty to Nora and that due to the Production Code, Huston could not reveal what was being said. Rocco clearly enjoys controlling and humiliating people, and Nora is a person of great dignity, so he not only indulges his sleazier desires but gets a chance to try to unsettle her.
Another thread deals with this same topic, and on that one the posters speculate about what Rocco actually said. It doesn't matter; the scene is still very disturbing. I actually don't care to know what Johnny Rocco said. I already know he's a sadist and a sociopath.
First rule of movie-going: never confuse the actor with his role.
The beauty of it was that since it avoided the sensors, it also made it more sinister, since your imagination will make it as menacing as you like.
Saying that, my best friend is deaf, and can lip-read, and I'm always tempted when I watch Key Largo, to get him to see what's being said! ;-)
Yes, some of the most disturbing moments in film are often those that don't show or tell everything. But that technique of implication applies to other material, too, not just language and violence. Less is often more when it comes to getting a memorable point across.
First rule of movie-going: never confuse the actor with his role.
Another explanation to the dirty talk one is that he was actually trying his brand of "sweet talk", offering to take her with him as his moll, trading up from the lush who he's obviously tired of and disappointed with. Rocco was impressed with Nora, liking the way she stood up to him - bar the spitting, of course, likening her to an old flame of his youth.
I think is borne out as well in that just before they all leave he whispers again, as if giving her a final chance and shrugs when she doesn't respond, as if to say, "well, your loss."
If it was the conventional 'dirty talk to unsettle her' explanation then that second whisper makes no sense.
I always feel that Rocco is just saying a lot of vile, suggestive stuff, knowing that a saintly widow like her would be repulsed. He is the type who likes to make people squirm. Because of the Breen Office still being so controlling of scripts in 1948, however, they had to go with just the dirty whispers. It really makes him seem all the more creepy and nasty, not knowing what he says to her.
shareI agree. I thought the same thing.
Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Criedshare
"Saying that, my best friend is deaf, and can lip-read, and I'm always tempted when I watch Key Largo, to get him to see what's being said! ;-)"
I had a friend lip-read and she said it didn't make any sense. Something about "getting on your bees" and "ducking a stick."
QUOTE:
I had a friend lip-read and she said it didn't make any sense. Something about "getting on your bees" and "ducking a stick."
Very funny.
You forgot: "Do you wallow?"
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Ye Olde Sig Line:
Liberals kill with ABORTION.
Conservatives kill with the DEATH PENALTY.
I kill with THOSE and WORDS, sometimes. share
Clever!
shareIt always amazes me that people even have to ask what's going on in that scene. I understood it when I was 12. Geez, people today really do have to have everything spelled out for them.
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I am formerly known as HillieBoliday......Member since May 2006:
I'm the original poster for this thread.....and what really amazes me....is that you really thought an explanation was needed about what Rocco whispered in her ear! I started this thread the way I did to create some dialogue and have some fun at the same time! GOOD......GRIEF....seems like YOU are the one who needs everything spelled out for them?
Common sense should have suggested that you just join in the fun!!!
"OOhhhooo....I'M GON' TELL MAMA!"
I just read your original post again and I still don't get your intention. It seemed like a sincere need to know what he could have possibly said to her. So yeah, if the post was joke, I didn't get it. Sorry.
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I am formerly known as HillieBoliday......Member since May 2006:
I purposely worded it that way to get some really good responses.
Knowing people would respond if I posed it as a real query; and just in case someone, somewhere actually had some inside info as to what he actually whispered is also why I asked to keep it clean....LOL!
Sorry if I mislead you.
"OOhhhooo....I'M GON' TELL MAMA!"
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