MovieChat Forums > Under Capricorn (1949) Discussion > The Title

The Title

posted 16 years ago by morris-payne-1
16 replies | jump to latest

Why "Under Capricorn?" I don't remembering anyone uttering that phrase in the film or referring to the constellation.

[–] rexshard93 16 years ago

Australia is under the Tropic of Capricorn. That is why its called "Under Capricorn."

[–] c7c7c7r 15 years ago

you forgot to add...."you nimrod". Sorry, but the original poster should be more familiar with the atlas of the world.

[–] emncaity 15 years ago

Sure. The incivility would've been so...unusual on these boards. Shouldn't have passed up on that opportunity.

[–] jackboot 14 years ago

Sure. The incivility would've been so...unusual on these boards.

haaha! Put me down in the nimrod category as I didn't get the title's significance either! I just didn't make the connection.

[–] alangalpert 14 years ago

Touche! Rudeness serves no good purpose. The great thing about these boards is that people can ask any question, and someone will have the answer. If the insults were dispensed with, inquirers would be spared any fear of humiliation they might have.

[–] emncaity 14 years ago

I couldn't agree more. In case the sarcasm obscured the point, that's exactly what I was saying. It amazes me how people get instantly hostile with people they don't even know, over some point of film interpretation or song lyrics or the golf swing or who made the hardest hit ever in the NFL. You wonder whether this kind of reactionary ugliness was always there before the Internet, or whether the anonymity and potential mob mentality of the Net have somehow generated it or at least made it worse.

[–] feodoric 13 years ago

You touched a very important phenomenon that plagues human relationships since the advent of e-mails and the www. I think that the whole mess created by the "human factor" on forums such as IMDb results from the vivid sensation of power over the others that this medium gives, this sudden access to the WWW (whole wide world) and the absolutely infinite possibilities for preaching, insulting, deprecating or plainly killing one another that mere typing and pressing a key give us...

As I keep saying, e-mails or texting are the best and the worst medium ever invented by humans to communicate among themselves. It can do really great things, but can also almost destroy whole lives and personal universes in one microsecond.

That being said, the one who asked about the meaning of the title: I'd bet it was Dan Quayle. Hey Danny boy, stop helping Americans live forever to that reputation of being total geography nincompoops and buy yourself a fncking globe. Po-ta-toes !!!

[–] mark-1589 10 years ago

No need to be such a jerk, c7c7c7r. Not everyone is as smart and informed as you so clearly are. Also, this his how people learn such matters, by asking about things they don't know. By calling them "nimrod", you encourage them to stay in ignorance.

[–] mdonln 8 years ago

c7c7c7r says > you forgot to add...."you nimrod". Sorry, but the original poster should be more familiar with the atlas of the world.

I'm sure a lot of people will say this was not very nice and is a form of bullying but I think it's important to point something out. That smart-alecky comment may cause some people to realize they don't know something they probably should and do a little research to find out more on the topic. Different things motivate different people.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

[–] c7c7c7r 14 years ago

I'm sorry about that 'nimrod' comment. I must've been in a horrible mood. I'm glad you watched the movie. It's an interesting Hitchcock experiment.

[–] emncaity 13 years ago

For the record, I've been guilty of that sort of thing before--I'd say somewhat justified in most cases, but undoubtedly not in at least a few.

[–] MystMoonstruck 11 years ago

This is long after, but I want to commend you for your response. To apologize means so much. I've seen people fire back when reprimanded, so it's wonderful to see someone respond with an apology. Good for you!

When I first entered the Net about seven years ago, I was "flamed" several times and nearly did away with my connection. But, I stayed on to find that there ARE kind, honorable, caring human beings out here.

How wonderful to come across this civil thread!

BTW: I'm watching the film now on TCM. Amazingly, it's one I've never seen before in my close to 60 years of being a movie fan.

*** The trouble with reality is there is no background music. ***

[–] nastypuppy 11 years ago

hi, i'm watching right now on TCM also. my 1st time seeing this movie. such a great movie so far, still another hour left to go. i came to this board cause i was curious about title. people act so superior cause they know a bit more. i love old movies, but these boards are intimidating.

[–] MystMoonstruck 11 years ago

I'm delighted with it so far! I think the problem is that it's difficult to separate Hitchcock from usual expectations. I don't have troubles because I've seen a number of his films from before he made a name for himself. If it's watched as a period film with no "Hitch" expectations, perhaps they would see the pleasant film it is. I had no set notions on my part, and I've been very pleased with it. It's definitely one I'll look forward to seeing again.

The slow pace suits this historical film, and I have no problems with the leisurely storytelling. There are some lovely scenes, with the sets and the costumes. I liked the scene in the kitchen, when she's attempting to put everyone in their place and learn about her staff. I love the colors and the cinematography.

The title is a bit tricky because most people aren't going to remember that particular bit of geography. I'm sure many of us are guilty of having hazy knowledge of some parts of the world. I can understand people asking about it. I don't think it shows ignorance, especially because I've known teachers in my own schooling who breezed over things, including geography teachers. In English, I had a teacher skip major parts of language structure because, she said, she found them boring! Later in college, I found myself doing extra amounts of studying to learn that "boring" material, which I found quite interesting.

I apologize for my babbling. I just want to say that I don't find it a strange question at all, to wonder about "Under Capricorn". I'll bet most people would think of the constellation first.

*** The trouble with reality is there is no background music. ***

[–] rave195 11 years ago

Coming into this a long time after as well, need to add how nice it is indeed to see the civility on this board regarding asking the obvious i.e. "under the capricorn definition".
Most Flaming on boards is soo totally unnecessary.

It occurred to me too, about the title, since it is currently playing on TCM. My second time watching it and am fascinated by the storyline, Ingrid Bergman herself of course and of the Hitchcock direction. Then it struck me that I didn't know the meaning of the title.
I'm thinking it had to do with the Constellation Capricorn...we all have brain fades don't we?!

So I came to the IMDB boards as I always do to find out! DOH!!!
Under the (latitude of)Tropic of Capricorn! Like I said, I should've known since I consider myself geographically NOT challenged! Hahaha.

Thanks again for the civilized help.
:>
Happy Watching.
LadyDi

[–] valis1984 10 years ago

If only the insults on this site or anywhere else on the internet were as innocuous as "Nimrod".