MovieChat Forums > Scent of a Woman (1993) Discussion > Can you translate this Frank dialogue?

Can you translate this Frank dialogue?

posted 8 years ago by Drooch
2 replies | jump to latest

Trying to work out exactly what Frank means when he says:

Too much football without a helmet? Ha. Lyndon's line on Gerry Ford, deputy debriefer, Paris, peacetalks, '68, snagged a silver star and a silver bar. Threw me in the G2.

President Lyndon Johnson used the 'football' insult on future president Gerald Ford, who was the 'deputy debriefer, Paris, peacetalks, '68' in which the USA and Vietnam agreed a ceasefire? Ford earned 'a silver star and a silver bar' and... demoted Frank to the military Intelligence department? Frank dislikes Ford for this and thinks he doesn't deserve those medals?

Any help appreciated.

[–] dksmith1977 8 years ago

Add " I was the" before "deputy debriefer" . Slade was the deputy debriefer (for LBJ I assume) debriefing him on the Paris Peace talks (where the US agreed to a bombing halt in 1968, not a ceasefire). Ford was a GOP congressman at the time and would not have been working for the executive branch. Ford didn't earn a silver star for his World War II service so I assume again Slade is talking about himself. The rest I think describes the remainder of his service after his moment of glory, the implied "they" before "Threw" might just be a reference to the Pentagon brass.

[–] Bernnard_Black 8 years ago

Exactly.

Gerry Ford played college ball for the University of Michigan; hence the "too much football without a helmet" line. Ford was a famous football fan, even when President.

The "snagged a silver star and a silver bar" is Frank talking about himself. That in that year, he was awarded as silver star, and was promoted from 2nd Lieutenant (gold bar) to 1st Lieutenant (silver bar).

Whores will have their trinkets.