MovieChat Forums > I'm All Right Jack (1960) Discussion > Calling all Brits --- Meaning of the Tit...

Calling all Brits --- Meaning of the Title ?

posted 13 years ago by viaggio1
13 replies | jump to latest

Was the term "I'm all right, Jack" used in response to an insult in 1950s England ?
Or did it have another meaning ?
Thanks in advance.

"A bride without a head !"
"A wolf without a foot !"

[–] Harlesden_P_Ruffkins 13 years ago

Smug, nasty kind of way of declaring that you're doing okay and don't care about anyone else. The point that you don't give a damn how others are doing or even if you exploit them in the process is central to its meaning.

[–] ahall-3 13 years ago

Correctly uttered, the phrase is: *beep* you, I'm all right, Jack!..."

A retort that was modified in the movie to "Blow you, I'm all right, etc., etc." Even that in today's parlance would be considered an obscenity.

"Jack" is a generic epithet for a British tar asea or ashore.

[–] viaggio1 13 years ago

Ruffkins and ahall-3 ---

Thanks very much --- You've put the pieces together for me !

"A bride without a head !"
"A wolf without a foot !"

[–] thunderwing13 12 years ago

Correctly uttered, the phrase is: *beep* you, I'm all right, Jack!..."

"Jack" is a generic epithet for a British tar at sea or ashore.

In other words, you've climbed the ladder to safety onboard ship, then you pull the ladder up leaving others to flounder in the water and say, "I'm all right Jack".

I was walking down the skyway my way...

[–] karpizan 11 years ago

I understood the original phrase to be 'pull up the ladder, Jack, I'm all right' which gives credence to the suggestion that it is of nautical origin.

[–] HillstreetBunz 10 years ago

The full quote is 'I'm all right Jack, pull up the ladder". The inference being that once an individual has helped themselves, then they needn't help the next person; selfishness. Looking after number 1. It may have Naval origins, 'Jack' being an old term for a sailor / matelow, and the ladder reference being relevant to rescue etc.

[–] viaggio1 10 years ago

The inference being that once an individual has helped themselves, then they needn't help the next person; selfishness.

So, was it purely an expression of arrogance, or was it usually said in response to someone else who had just insulted you ? Thanks !

J'ai l'oeil AMÃ‰RICAIN !

[–] backofthevan 10 years ago

An expression of arrogance, not necessarily in response to someone else. You could also describe someone (with a sarcastic tone of voice) as "He's all right, Jack", meaning he takes care of himself and to hell with everyone else. It's a trait of self-absorbed narcissists especially.

[–] Dial_M 10 years ago

Its basically a big up you to the idea of supporting the "common good".
Pink Floyd sum it up in "Money" with "get your hands off of my stack", which could be applied to the rich refusing to pay any extra into public expenditure.

Barbados was a British colony, thus part of The British Isles marco26 (Age 60)

[–] steveamor2000 10 years ago

In the days of apartheid in South Africa, one sometimes heard the variation "I'm all white, Jack".

[–] Ranger-style_Sloane80 9 years ago

Yes that's right ... specifically, one memorable episode involved the British Lions Rugby touring team in 1960 (whilst the film was still playing in theatres) who were met at Heathrow on their departure to play against the Springboks in South Africa by anti-apartheid protesters waving placards saying that very thing - "I'm all white, Jack!"

[–] alaninho 8 years ago

It more denotes selfishness than arrogance

[–] wilvram 8 years ago

Another variation, this time relating to buses was: 'Ring the bell Jack. I'm on!'