Homophobic moment
When a policeman leaves the apartment with Grace Kelly's pocketbook on his arm, the Inspector reminds him that he can't go out like that or " he will get arrested". Ah, the 1950's.
share[deleted]
MovieChat Forums > Dial M for Murder (1954) Discussion > Homophobic moment
As pointed out, taken in context, for one or both of two reasons, the statement is completely innocuous.
What we have here is a case of homophobia-phobia.
Originality needs a reboot.
RIGHT. There are a lot of homophiles on here with homophobia-phobia who whine about these things every chance they get.
shareI don't think it had anything to do with homophobia.
I think that the Inspector figured that the cop would look like he had stolen the purse.
~~~~~
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen 🎇
[deleted]
Those of us old enough to remember (I was born three years after this movie came out) should cast our minds back. There were many, many jokes like this (and I also accept the theory that he may have looked like he had stolen it) in variety throughout the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies. And guess what? Many of the people telling them were gay. Possibly some people on screen when that line is uttered were gay. There were in-jokes and asides in all kinds of movies and shows - people couldn't come out so they made sly (and hilarious, in hindsight) references to homosexuality. Morecambe and Wise did it all the time - all those "No, it's just the way I walk" jokes. Every comedian, straight and (closeted) gay did it. Remember Frankie Howerd leering at the camera and saying "Definitely!" after some camp character had jus been glimpsed? Howerd himself, of course, was gay but not, at that time, out.
The OP is trying to say that the writer was saying "I HATE QUEERS AND I'M GOING TO MOCK THEM!" - far from it. It was mild pi$$ taking, probably a nod to gay friends and colleagues.
And by the way, don't you think the officer NEEDED to be told "for God's sake don't carry it that way!"? I know all our politically correct friends will scream "A MAN SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CARRY A HANDBAG HOWEVER HE CHOOSES!" I agree 100%, but that would make it no less funny to see a grim faced detective at a murder scene carrying a handbag that way!
Homosexuality was outlawed in England at that time. Lighten up and inform yourself.
----------------------
http://viverdecinema.blogspot.com.br/
Knowing Hitchcock, it was likely intended to be ambiguous. On the surface, the statement meant people would think he had stolen the purse, but it could also be implied that people would think he was gay.
Hitchcock was apparently fascinated by homosexuality, in fact I heard in a documentary that it was the main reason he wanted to direct Rope ... because the two main characters were murderers that were strongly implied to be homosexual.
That's not homophobic; it's transphobic.
share