MovieChat Forums > East of Eden (1955) Discussion > Dirty Joke?

Dirty Joke?

posted 14 years ago by rduke72
16 replies | jump to latest

I just want to make sure I'm not imagining things, but about 70 minutes in, when Cal and Abra are talking at the carnival, Abra is laughing, then brushes up against Cal. ON A DIME, she stops laughing, and backs away. Then they both look down at Cal's pants, appear embarrassed, and the conversation is awkward for about ten seconds. So basically, in a 1955 film, we have a joke about bumping into an erection? Right? I mean, I guess you could make an argument that just the brushing against each other caused it, but that doesn't seem very realistic. Anyway, I thought it was funny.

[–] Waigon 14 years ago

I hope that is the case. If so it's cleverly done, and with this movie that seems to be the word to describe it. I love that it's hidden so well. I reckon you're right. It may be too subtle though!

CDEGFEDCC. (Shhh!)

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] LadyVirgoxoxo 14 years ago

Wait a second he gets a freaking erection?? lol that's funny. I gotta watch it now to see it!!!

EDIT: I watched it and noticed it lol. Dang though I realized all over how much of a great movie it is and James Dean's performance is so moving! I just love it!

There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.

[–] Tchoutoye 14 years ago

I just checked the scene. Cal is turned away from Abra at a 45 degree angle. So technically, unless he is hung like a donkey and swings extremely to the right, the only way for her to feel his erection would be if her hand had reached out for it. Then they both look at her dress rather than at his pants. Perhaps she was checking to see if her dress had some of his DNA on it. At the carnival Cal often has his hands in his pockets, maybe he likes to play pocket pool. A bit later on Abra says, perhaps referring to the stain on her dress: "You're terrible. That's the first time that ever happened to me, too". Cal then sniffs his fingers and examines his hand as if there is some kind of residue on it.

[–] Blondfashionisto 14 years ago

I may be mistaken but wasn't that the part where he swiped the candy corn and tried to put it in her hand?

Though I'd much rather it be one of the sexy suggestions here, of course!

‘Six inches is perfectly adequate; more is vulgar!' (Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Re: an open window).

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] littletownblues 13 years ago

I've never actually noticed this, but the parental guidance warning on the DVD says "mild sex references" and I can't think of any other moment which that might apply to.

[–] ellie246 13 years ago

OMG, I've always wondered about that part of the scene from when I saw the film for the second or third time onwards, I didn't think anyone else even noticed it though!!! I've certainly never thought it was anything sexual until I read this though, hehe.

It looks to me like they'd got their watches caught up or something. I don't think it's anything more than that but you never know with Jimmy. It did look like he'd pointed out something that embarrassed her. I thought it was a great improvised part of the scene and really cute actually.

[–] GamaRex 13 years ago

Not too complicated: In the scene, Cal asks Abra what time she's supposed to meet Aron. After a sentence or two, Abra looks down at her watch, which is attached to her dress or a belt at her waist, though out of camera view here. You see the watch as they walk away. Cal looks at her watch a minute or so later after finishing the baseball toss at bottles (carnival game).

[–] kenn_honeyman 13 years ago

Speaking of the bottle toss,, did ya catch how well BOTH threw STRIKES! Ms. Harris had a 'Good arm'!!!!!!!!!!!!!! didn't throw "like a Girl"....And,the last scene was ALL hers! IMHO!

[–] GamaRex 13 years ago

Good one! While watching the toss, I was wondering how many takes were needed. But you may have it, they were both good at the toss, or else they might have chosen another game for the scene.

I also thought later about the scene that started this thread: When Abra looked down at her watch, there was no way for the viewer to know that was what she was doing. Could it be that the film originally showed enough more top and bottom that the watch was visible in the shot? Could it have been cropped for television? I seem to remember reading that some widescreen films have more visible top to bottom when shown in the 4:3 aspect ratio versions made from the original films. It would be interesting to compare the scene with an old VHS release.

[–] janezmd-245-816367 12 years ago

I'm so glad someone else made the same observation! I'm positive that's what was going on, and it's pretty racy, considering this was the 1950s. Frankly, I'm a little surprised it got past the review boards!

[–] GamaRex 12 years ago

janezmd: It's not easy to tell which observation you're referencing, but if it's the first one, you need to read the entire thread to learn the explanation. There was nothing in the scene to get past the review boards.

[–] janezmd-245-816367 12 years ago

What I meant with that comment is that often, even the mildest implication of sexuality was considered indecent. That this scene could have had sexual connotations (whether it actually did or not) is what made me think that the movie got away with a lot.

[–] dannieboy20906 10 years ago

Cal filches (steals) a bag of peanuts (or something like that) from a counter and hands them to Abra. She turns around as she pulls her hand out in front of her to look at what Cal has stuck in it. When she realizes what he has done, she puts the bag back on the counter and runs away. Cal grabs another bag of whatever the treats were, follows her, and hands them to her again. She laughs, hands them back, and then stifles her laughter and says, "It's the first time that ever happened to me, too." I am sure that she is referring to the theft. This is her first experience at "shoplifting," as well as the first time she has been "in love," referring to her previous conversation with Cal about Aron.

[–] Beau_Buffet 8 years ago

Here it is, for all to see : https://streamable.com/1hru