MovieChat Forums > Kiss Me Goodbye (1982) Discussion > Wasn't Jolly a vegetarian?

Wasn't Jolly a vegetarian?

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

In the scene where they are at the dinner table discussing Jolly, her mother mentions that Jolly had a maxim that he 'didn't eat anything with a face.' However, as a ghost, Jolly orders a cheeseburger with some very specific instructions (medium rare, hold the onions)... I know he doesn't actually eat the burger, but it seems a little odd that a vegetarian would have such specific preferences for a meal he didn't eat in real life... especially refusing vegetables on it!

My only explanation is that Jolly wasn't REALLY a vegetarian, it was just something he 'put on' for his life with his wife; this could be an indication, early on, that he wasn't really the man she thought he was (with the cheating, etc.) However, his wife doesn't seem at all surprised at his order, so if this were the 'movie' explanation, I feel like she would have brought it up.

[–] PillowRock 13 years ago

I think that you're misinterpreting the "didn't eat anything with a face" line.

I never thought that it was meant to imply that Jolly had been a vegetarian, that he didn't eat anything that had ever had a face.

I always took it to mean that he was squeamish about eating anything that *still* had a face when it was served to him. That would include a fair number of whole fish entrees and the occasional whole roast lamb / pig / duck /whatever. Basically, he didn't like his food to be looking back at him.

[–] Mickyfinn 13 years ago

How about Jolly knowing that he can't eat it, but that she just might end up having to?

or

Jolly says earlier that he is a mental image, not a physical one. Kaye may be subconsciously ordering a burger the way she would like it.

or

A script screw up.

You just have to be resigned-
You're crashing by design

[–] abs_is_back 12 years ago

In the scene where Kay's mother is talking about Jolly being a vegetarian, the script is very definite that Jolly was a vegetarian.

But at the diner, Jolly doesn't actually order the cheeseburger. Kay does, probably in desperation to get the waitress to go away because Rupert is insisting that they order something for Jolly and Kay has already said she just wanted coffee.

Jolly giving the instructions of "medium rare" and "hold the onions" is likely just his sense of humor stretching out Kay's exasperation and embarrassment. And of course, Kay is the only one who ends up taking a bite out of the burger.