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Is it just me or are there sparks between Pete and Jefty?

posted 16 years ago by deuchler
14 replies | jump to latest

Every time I watch this wonderful but under-rated 1948 film noir I am struck by a possible bisexual back story between the Cornel Wilde character and the Richard Widmark character. Does anyone else imagine this, too? Pete (Wilde) remains pretty aloof at first, showing no interest in the new singer. But flamboyant Jefty (Widmark) goes nuts once Pete seems to fall for Ida Lupino. Celeste Holm plays the classic good-natured gal friend "fag hag" role, self-deprecating and quick with the quips. It's a very feverish, fascinating dynamic, played out in rustic Wisconsin settings. Yet the relationship between the two guys is quite subtle, too.

[–] HillieBoliday 16 years ago

No...it's just you!

"OOO...I'M GON' TELL MAMA!"

[–] mkboolie 16 years ago

I love you Hillie Bolliday, just for that name alone! But I disagree--I think deuchler is right on the mark here! I plan to buy this movie next week upon its release but I saw it years ago and definitely thought there were was something, albeit unspoken between Pate and Jefty. All four stars in this film are excellent--I like that Celeste Holm's character, Susie, isn't resentful of Lupino's Lily, even though Susie is in love with Jefty (I'm pretty sure it's Jefty and not Pete). Susie has many parallels with Holm's Oscar-winning character Ann in the previous year's GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT, where she pined for Gregory Peck, in vain. I wouldn't consider Susie a fag hag, just a girl suffering from unrequited love but trying not to let it get her down. (I've played this role in real life a few times times, so I can relate to the character, believe me.) The complex relationships in ROAD HOUSE make it fascinating to watch. A big thumbs-up from me!

[–] francisbt2003 15 years ago

why do these people always want to see homo stuff in these old movies??

[–] 3_Beekman_Place 15 years ago

Probably because it's there sometimes...

did you ever see The Celluloid Closet (1995)?

[–] WalterDenton 15 years ago

No it isn't there, Road House has nothing in it to suggest "sparks" between Wilde and Widmark's characters. If you listened to the dialogue, they were childhood friends-and still friends. Stop getting giddy over things you don't see. If however, you wish to see an old film with what you seem to want to see in an old film-try Johnny Eager with Robert Taylor, Lana Turner and Van Heflin-Heflin's role had him not only drunk, but an obvious pansy for Taylor's role.

"It's the stuff that dreams are made of."

[–] hockeyhrs 9 years ago

Has it occurred to you that The Celluloid Closet is itself a case of it's makers "seeing what they want to see"?

[–] OnceUponATimeInTheWest 14 years ago

I just watched it and did not pick up on that but I will have to view it again sometime with that in mind.

[–] marbleann 14 years ago

I just watched it too. And I believe I seen this around 3 times. I do think Ida and Richard are fighting over Conrad. It just might be a jealousy thing because Ida took the place of Richard, not a sexual thing.

[–] moosefeathers 14 years ago

1) pete and celeste holme were an item until Lily came along.
2) the tension between Jefty and Pete was over who was going to win lily, not because pete was leaving Jefty for Lily? (plus the fact that we come to find out that Jefty has a few screws loose, so to speak.)

[–] marbleann 14 years ago

I think that is what we as movie viewers were led to believe. But Lily didn't seem to REALLY care about either of the guys wanting Lily. She just made a few smart remarks about it but she remained friends with Pete and Lily. Not the way a person acts if their boyfriend leaves them for the new girl in town. So I have to think the fight was really over Pete.

Jefty felt he owned him and here comes this girl he likes and she falls for Pete. So IMO the fight was really over ownership of Pete. Nothing unusual or sexual. I have seen this happen particularly when I was younger. Best friends fighting because one of the friends have found another best friend and the old best friend feels left out. So the new best friend is fighting over that one friend with the old best best friend. In essence Jefty was acting like a child, which makes sense because he was crazy. Their relationship reminded me of Messala and Judah Ben- Hur in the movie Ben- Hur.

[–] hockeyhrs 9 years ago

Who is Conrad?

[–] J. Spurlin 13 years ago

Sometimes there's a homosexual subtext in these old movies, but not this time. No one has yet pointed out that Pete was obviously interested in Lily at the very beginning—until he found out she was one of Jefty's new "entertainers," which normally meant his latest hook-up, another cheap broad who would suck money out of the business and then make a mess that Pete would have to clean up.

...Justin

[–] moosefeathers 12 years ago

Just watched it again, yesterday. while I don't see it in this movie, i think a remake, set in the same time period should include a bisexual situation between Jefty and Pete. This would definetly make for an excellent triangle between the three. Jefty's psychotic hold on Pete would include sexual domiance as well, keeping Pete in line--until Lily shows up and then the sparks fly. Jefty Wants Lily and Pete. Lily wants Pete. Pete wants Lily.

If done right with good actors who could project this would make an excellent film

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...

[–] hockeyhrs 9 years ago

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