MovieChat Forums > The Hustler (1961) Discussion > What did Bert Gordon whisper to Sarah?

What did Bert Gordon whisper to Sarah?


During the party Bert (George C. Scott) whispers something to Sarah and she responds by tossing her drink in her face and running away in tears. This after Bert insisted she come to the party (at the track) even though she was a bit tired. Knowing Bert, whatever he said was cruel and calculated.

What do you think he told her?

reply

[deleted]

[deleted]

Actually, Piper Laurie talked about that scene in her autobiography. She said she ran into George C. Scott at a party thirty years later and "I finally asked him what he had whispered into my ear in the big party scene in The Hustler that elicits a violent response from me. We shot it perhaps three or four times, and I could never figure out what he was saying; it sounded something like 'isha-pa-pishpo.' He told me he chose to use just gibberish, knowing he could never invent words or phrases as powerful as what my imagination could summon up. Probably true."

So now you know.

reply

This is probably true, especially if she did not recall what he had said herself. Best left to the imagination of the viewer.

reply

Whatever the actor told her, the character obviously propositioned her.

reply

If in fact Bert did whisper gibberish into Sarah's ear, that goes to show the talent of Piper Laurie, the way she reacted was priceless.

reply

well neither scott nor laurie would know what the character said if it wasn't in the screenplay (and I'd imagine the screenplay would just say "gordon whispers something in her ear"). if you want to know the answer to this question, you'd have to ask the people who wrote it, not the actors who go where they're told and say what is on the page.

reply

[deleted]

I honestly thought he said "ok now throw your drink in my face and ill see you up stairs".

Maybe i was watching the wrong film but i thought it was they who were hustling Eddie!

reply

When a lady throws a drink into a man's face after he whispers in her ear, you only have to use common sense to know that he propositioned her.

reply

Propsitioned her?

Or both propositioned her as well as told her that Eddie disliked her, was gonna leave her, invited Burt to sleep with her, or whatever?

reply

Did't seem like he said all that since it was only a few seconds of whispering. I think he just suggested they have a roll in the hay.

reply

I always figured he said something like, "After tonight, Eddie won't be ours anymore. He'll be mine. Then if you're lucky, I'll keep you around as my little tramp."

People with guns don't understand. That's why they get guns. Too many misunderstandings.

reply

I think when she wrote "perverted,twisted,crippled" in the mirror, the word "perverted" explains what he whispered to her ear,but i can be wrong as well.

reply

Those were my thoughts as well. Only I assumed he told her that she is 'perverted, twisted and crippled', not just 'perverted'. When you think about the way she walks down the stairs limping shortly before the conversation this may be a clue.
Of course the 'perverted, twisted, crippled' may apply to the three main characters as well.

reply

I think she was referring to Eddie's character.

reply

James Woods was born to play that role

reply

It was something inappropriate, that's for sure.



Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!

reply

[deleted]

I think Findley, the rich man, wants to f@#k her (though he's seems homosexual...perhaps he's bi) and Bert is acting as her pimp. Maybe he whispers something like "want to make twenty dollars?" Keep in mind, when Bert goes back to the hotel and makes out like Eddie is paying her off, she tells him to put the money on the bed and says, "that's how it's done, isn't it?"

Sarah never wants to admit to herself that she uses men to exist both physically and emotionally, and Bert sees through her.

reply

Two options:

'In case you didn't know, Paul Newman is Jewish'

'Great party, innit? Now, let's go upstairs, I'd like to rim your arse'

reply

He whispered the same thing Bill Murray whispered to Scarlett Johannssen in "Lost in Translation."

reply