MovieChat Forums > Amore, piombo e furore (1978) Discussion > origin of title, 'China 9, Liberty 37'

origin of title, 'China 9, Liberty 37'

posted 19 years ago by jamesreel
3 replies | jump to latest

From "Fadetoblack", Tucson AZ USA

I'm curious how and why the producers or writers for this film came up with this title. Here's why...

The old highway to Houston, U.S. 90, runs through my hometown of Beaumont, in southeast Texas. As one leaves Beaumont westbound, drivers can notice a highway sign set between U.S. 90 and the adjacent Southern Pacific railroad tracks. The sign proclaims: "China 9 Liberty 37."

Never have seen the film; just curious about the title (In his annual book of film reviews, Leonard Maltin mentions the signpost, but not its geographical origin).

Anyway, happy trails, film lovers. This website is the greatest!

-30-

[–] casablanca1942 19 years ago

Apology....

The previous post was not sent by Jamesreel, but by "fadetoblack"(forgot to log him out on our shared computer and log me in). Sorry, James...

[–] billyglenn 15 years ago

On the Two-Lane Blacktop DVD commentary director Monte Hellman
mentions the signpost. He was on a train and saw the sign, decided
he had to use it.

[–] Artemis-9 14 years ago

The camera pans onto the signs, crudely handwritten on two pieces of wood nailed to a stick on the ground. The one on top, pointing to the right, says LIBERTY 37; just below, the other pointing to the left, says CHINA 9. If one reads them top to bottom, the USA title would have been reversed. But as is, the camera follows to the left, and we soon see a square «road sign» of the same sort, CHINA POP 132. The explanation of China comes when we notice several people on the street, preparing to watch the daily show: the hanging of two Chinese immigrants, and a white fellow - this one being pardoned by a Presidential amnisty, in exchange of a small service...

The story follows from there, and I'm sure that there are more political statements in these five opening minutes that you can count on the fingers of one hand.