MovieChat Forums > Private Benjamin (1980) Discussion > This movie contains ALOT of smoking...

This movie contains ALOT of smoking...

posted 16 years ago by Jack_Rabbit_Slims91
26 replies | jump to latest

Every scene they light up a smoke, while they are in bed, they light up a smoke, when they are eating, they light up a smoke, when they are watching TV they light up a smoke...

I know it was a different time then now it is today, but it must of been really hard trying to quit smoking when everyone surrounding you smoked as well!!

Plus I hate the smell of it, lets say eating a nice steak, chips and salad at a fancy restaurant with a nice smell of cigarettes on the side, from an old man to your left puffing away!

"Trust Me Carrie, You Can Trust Me!"

[–] jayhn1111 16 years ago

sounds good to me. Bring on the smoke!

[–] LucaBrasi72 16 years ago

let me guess..you work for some " gum " company? grow up!

" Were paratroopers Lt.,were supposed to
be surrounded." Cpt. Winters

[–] jayhn1111 16 years ago

I hate gum. Cigarettes taste so much better

[–] Promontorium 16 years ago

"I know it was a different time then now it is today, but it must of been really hard trying to quit smoking when everyone surrounding you smoked as well!!"

It is "must have been" not "must of been" I am so annoyed by all these people with their "of" abuse. Just to help you along, it isn't "could of" either, it is "could have". What you illiterately transfer from spoken English is the common use of the contraction, "must've".

Similarly "I know it was a different time then now it is today..." is grammatically incoherent. Possible suggestions are "I know it was a different time then, as opposed to now," or perhaps "I know times were different," All I want, is to be able to come to one public forum, and not have to read such flagrant abuse of the English language. Could you please show a little courtesy and take your English abuse outside? I find it hard not to abuse English myself because everyone around me is doing it as well!

Appreciation isn't a test of intelligence.

[–] ShizaMinelli 16 years ago

Many people post on here have English as their second language. We're here for leisure, not aiming for a Pulitzer, and as long as the intentions of the post are more than clear (which they were), there's no reason to be a grammar bitch about it.

I'd rather live with a lesbian than a cat...unless the lesbian sheds

[–] Promontorium 16 years ago

I appreciate people who learn English as a second language, and I wouldn't want to discourage them. I don't usually go off on a grammar Nazi rant, but I find it ridiculous that people cna right werds houver thay wnat and noone says anything to correct them, but if someone points out grammatical errors, people leap at the opportunity to insult them. I think that is only encouraging further miscommunication.

[–] ShizaMinelli 16 years ago

Regardless of whether it's a grammar or spelling error, making a big enough deal to point it out in a reply just strikes me as pointless and stupid.

Estelle Getty will be missed
Thank You for BEing a Friend

[–] Promontorium 16 years ago

I really don't think a reply is a big deal. Being non communicative seems to be a global war-causing issue.

[–] christopherbkk 15 years ago

Promontorium, I am on your side. I read letters everyday written by native English speakers and their abuse of this language, usually attributed to laziness, is incredible. I applaude you for speaking up as this annoys me also. (And I have a life thank you!). Maybe a little criticism will embarrass a few clowns into using their language correctly.

[–] SnapCrackledThePop 11 years ago

It just makes you look like an ass. No one dies from bad grammar. Move on.

[–] kurt7825 8 years ago

if a doctor wrote out a prescription or a dosage wrong due to bad grammar someone could die

[–] groovybaby62365 14 years ago

Promontorium, AMEN and God BLESS YOU, I second your statement 100% ... I'm so sick of those abuses as well! Glad someone said something!

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] steffi_nor 16 years ago

I agree that there should be less smoking in this movie. It's so harmful to our health.

[–] Jack_Rabbit_Slims91 16 years ago

Promontorium, you must incredibly bored or have no life to correct me on a message I wrote, would you mind correcting this message as well since I'm going to be handing it up for marking and I need a spell check...Loser.

P.S. Smoking sucks.

Last Movies Seen:
Step Up 2 7/10
Red Dawn 7/10
Fear 7/10

[–] Connie_n_Raymond_Marble 16 years ago

To the original poster--yes, it was a different time. People didn't think twice about smoking or being around those who did. And since you can't SMELL cigarettes or INHALE second-hand smoke from seeing someone do it in a film...what's the problem? You need to grow up and chill out. And to the Grammer Nazi--you are just a plain old dildo. This is an imdb message board, not an English class. Nobody likes to feel like they are sitting in front of a prissy, old-maid, Grammer teacher so lay off with the condescending, holier-than-thou attitude, k?

We'll see whose the filthiest person alive! We'll just see!

[–] groovybaby62365 14 years ago

Looks like someone's dropped a marble ... or two ... as well as a naughty bite or two. Who would dare debate holiness with thou? Ye speaketh as though ye art holding the patent of ownership ;)

[–] agent2009 15 years ago

This movie contains a lot of communists as well..

...
I'm rich and divorced

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] erikriveros 14 years ago

these days people would bitch unless movies contained no swearing, no smoking, no sex, no offending of any races - regardless of if it is a comedy or a war movie - - mild action, so as to not overexcite the elderly and infirmed, did i miss anything? i hope i didn't offend anyone

it is better to have a gun and not need it, than to need a gun and not have it

[–] Blondfashionisto 14 years ago

I know people of different time periods did smoke - I LOVE classic movies so I've just come to overlook it (because it was just the way it was). However, I am quite grossed out in today's movies and television that portray smoking constantly and even 'glamourise' it. Not a good message.

Julianne Moore did an interview on 'The View' about her movie 'The Single Man' and she brought up the smoking issue (as they smoke constantly in it - It's supposed to be set in the 1960's). Evidently, too, her daughter asked why they were doing it. And, Joy Behar asked the same question. To which no answer was given so I guess we can assume it's to keep the cigarette companies in business.

There are certainly ways to infer something (such as smoking or even sex) without constantly actually 'doing' it - Even in some of the classic movies, the film makers didn't want to have TOO much smoking and commented as such.

As to using proper grammar and spelling, I think it's a good lesson for everyone if errors are corrected. We ALL make mistakes but, perphaps, it's the method of the way it's been done. I note some posters actually have a blurb on their signature stating English isn't their first language so they appreciate any input.

Christopher

'There’s a name for you ladies, but it’s not used…Outside a kennel! (Crystal Allen)'

[–] alcockell 12 years ago

Culture of the time. Sex and the City was first shot around 1991, correct? It was only in California in the very late 80s that smoking started being banned everywhere. In the 70s (film was released in 1980, but We Are Family was released in about 1979 - so the film was contemporaneous to that time.

Here in the UK, the only concession given to nonsmokers were non-smoking areas in cinemas and restaurants, pretty much. Hamlet ("Happiness is a cigar called Hamlet. The mild cigar" over Air on a G String) and other brands were advertised VERY openly - the CDP-produced ad campaigns were some classics of British advertising of the time, airing on ITV and in the cinemas. Pubs were primarily geared around the pint-and-a-fag customer.

20 years changes a lot.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] westal_sage 11 years ago

It was at the tail end of civility.

[–] corinnacarpenter 11 years ago

I'm glad people can't smoke in restaurants anymore. The smell is disgusting and nauseating.

I love Bob