MovieChat Forums > Behold a Pale Horse (1964) Discussion > Go Bless The Rifles Of The Firing Squad,...

Go Bless The Rifles Of The Firing Squad, Priest!!

posted 13 years ago by guanche
3 replies | jump to latest

A great movie. One of my favorite parts is when Vinjolas (Anthony Quinn) sends a priest to persuade Peck's dying mother to cooperate in luring him to the hospital where she is dying. The priest, who officiated at her husband's execution, tries to sweet-talk her. The tough old lady grins, looks him in the eye and says bitterly, yet with a touch of humor: "Go bless the rifles of the firing squad, priest!"

A good comic relief line is when Quinn inquires about the young woman occupying the apartment overlooking the hospital that he intends to use as a command post. The landlord sarcastically describes her as "a girl with many uncles".

[–] IceboxMovies 13 years ago

A good comic relief line is when Quinn inquires about the young woman occupying the apartment overlooking the hospital that he intends to use as a command post. The landlord sarcastically describes her as "a girl with many uncles".

lol. One of the many pleasures in this movie is Fred Zinnemann's decision to make both Quinn and Peck's characters these kind of lecherous, sex-starved horndogs. Quinn can't resist checking out the call-girl as she's leaving her apartment, and Peck can't resist giving his housemaid a good spanking. It's pretty funny.

"What I don't understand is how we're going to stay alive this winter."

[–] craighenderson-925-318178 11 years ago

Did I miss something? How do we know the priest officiated at her husband's firing squad?

[–] guanche 11 years ago

My recollection (from many years ago) is that this fact is brought up by Quinn when the priest volunteers to speak to old "Senora Peck". Am I wrong?