MovieChat Forums > Wait Till Your Father Gets Home (1972) Discussion > Ralph was worse than Archie Bunker

Ralph was worse than Archie Bunker

posted 17 years ago by gregalanrob5870
20 replies | jump to latest

I didn't think any other character more so than Archie Bunker could be so bigoted through and through. Ralph was like a more frenetic version of Archie. Because Ralph had the vigilante group made it clear that he was capable of violent bigotry, unlike Archie. He also has these outlandish ideas about how Russia will take over the country that he manufactures purely out of his twisted mind. He also says things like "I don't listen to radio where you can't see the guy singing. I only watch performers on TV so if he's a minority you don't admire anybody you're not supposed to." Archie was capable of admiring black performers like Sammy Davis Jr. Ralph also wouldn't eat foreign food (except pizza) while Archie was shown eating Chinese Food. I wonder if people like Ralph exist in real life. He belonged in a straitjacket.

[–] oodus347 17 years ago

I remember Ralph said, "Know how you can tell if someone is Puerto Rican? When you put on Puerto Rican music and they start dancing."

I was like, "Huh. Kind of...bigoted."

[–] AKnight001918593 17 years ago

Ralph was one of those who crave and need War.

[–] pynkpanther 17 years ago

hell yeah, people like ralph exist in real life.

[–] AKnight001918593 17 years ago

]hell yeah, people like ralph exist in real life.
]

Yes too many! They are called fascists!

[–] thefatbasturd 17 years ago

He had a line last night about not giving blood to the Red Cross because they don't let you decide who gets your blood and HIS blood is all white and could go to the "wrong people."

"Si Hoc Legere Scis Nimium Eruditionis Habes"

[–] Skragg 17 years ago

In one episode, Harry was mugged, and Ralph (who wasn't a witness) insisted on helping him identify the mugger. He said, "Because I want to see justice done. Come on, Harry, let's go finger a colored guy." Just before that, he went into a store with a Jewish name, and said "Figures. Only one of you would be open this late." I think Norman Lear would've thought twice about putting those lines on All In The Family. but there they were on this show. I still think Ralph was even more like "Joe" than Archie (except that he never actually shot anyone, of course), which was pretty bold of the makers of the show.

[–] stanleyhetz 10 years ago

He had a line last night about not giving blood to the Red Cross because they don't let you decide who gets your blood and HIS blood is all white and could go to the "wrong people."

[–] pjglynndoora 16 years ago

And Kids watched this in the 70s?!

[–] gregalanrob5870 16 years ago

The show aired in prime time in 1972-74 and was aimed at adults. This was at a time when relevant sitcoms like All in the Family, Maude, and all were airing. I can't say how many kids watched but Saturday mornings considered the series too adult for kids when sold in syndication. The show was a forerunner to today's prime time adult cartoons.

[–] stanleyhetz 10 years ago

And Kids watched this in the 70s?!

Only the cool kids.

[–] pjglynndoora 16 years ago

My mistake.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] AlbinoBadBob 16 years ago

Didn't He look a bit like the incumbent president at the time?

God will forgive them, He'll forgive them and allow them into Heaven. I can't live with that.

[–] zeta1983-1 15 years ago

"Yes too many! They are called fascists!"

Or neocons as they prefer to be called today. I was pretty young when I watched this I don't think that I picked up on the bigotry as mucxh then though I see it now. I watched alot of cartoons when younger that I only truely understand watching them 10-15 years later.

[–] Sid-Blitzen 15 years ago

Ralph had an odd way of reiterating a question, even when it had been answered the first time, like:

"Didn't I tell you, Harry?"

"Yeah"

"Huh?"

"Yeah"

"Huh?"

"Yeah"

"Huh?"

"YEAAAH!!!" (by the third time, Harry is fed-up of answering).

[–] pepperdog61 9 years ago

Ralph had an odd way of reiterating a question, even when it had been answered the first time, like:

"Didn't I tell you, Harry?"

"Yeah"

"Huh?"

"Yeah"

"Huh?"

"Yeah"

"Huh?"

"YEAAAH!!!" (by the third time, Harry is fed-up of answering).

This was a nod to Jack Burns, the comedian who voiced Ralph. Burns was in a successful comedy team at the time with Avery Schreiber. Burns & Schreiber's signature routine was a conversation in a taxicab, with Schreiber playing the driver and Burns the obnoxious, pushy fare who would chew his ear off. At least two or three times during the routine they would have an exchange like that; if Burns was talking about rabbits, let's say, he'd eventually say "Know what I mean?" and the "yeah"/"HUH?" exchange would start, with Schreiber finally cutting it off by calling out, "Rabbits!" Then Burns would go on to another topic until it was time for the exchange again.

[–] Sid-Blitzen 9 years ago

Thanks, I didn't know that😃

[–] pepperdog61 9 years ago

Here you go, Burns and Schreiber: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cnW_udSeBU

[–] stanleyhetz 8 years ago

I didn't think any other character more so than Archie Bunker could be so bigoted through and through. Ralph was like a more frenetic version of Archie. Because Ralph had the vigilante group made it clear that he was capable of violent bigotry, unlike Archie. He also has these outlandish ideas about how Russia will take over the country that he manufactures purely out of his twisted mind. He also says things like "I don't listen to radio where you can't see the guy singing. I only watch performers on TV so if he's a minority you don't admire anybody you're not supposed to." Archie was capable of admiring black performers like Sammy Davis Jr. Ralph also wouldn't eat foreign food (except pizza) while Archie was shown eating Chinese Food. I wonder if people like Ralph exist in real life. He belonged in a straitjacket.

In which episode did Ralph talk about singers on radio and television? I'd like to verify if he actually said that.

[–] TwittingOnTrender 7 years ago

He was a cartoon, a caricature, exaggerated for comedic effect. Yes, there are people "like" him, but Ralph was a heightened version of them. (Cue cool people saying "Yeah but TRUMP!")

No Guru, No Method, No Teacher.