MovieChat Forums > Elmer Gantry (1960) Discussion > Most intense bitch-slap scene ever?

Most intense bitch-slap scene ever?

posted 18 years ago by movielover35
10 replies | jump to latest

I wonder if the pimps of the world worship this movie like drug-dealers do Scarface? For I think it contains the most intense bitch-slap scene in cinematic history. I imagine for 1960, the scene was near the edge, and I think still stands-up today.

Shirley Jones takes one that certainly looks real and then 7 to 9 reverse-angle slaps which, while not real, certainly convey intensity in their repetitiousness. I mean I just re-watched Goodfellas two nights ago and this scene made me sit-up and think, wow she is taking a beating.

I haven't seen all the other nominated films, watching this was part of my "work your way through all the nominated films" project, but it would seem Hollywood was as biased then as they are today. To not even nominate Gene Simmons and give the win to Jones, and Lancaster would appear biased.

Couple this with Caviezel's denial of even a nomination for The Passion of the Christ, and it would appear Hollywood just can't bring itself to reward the portrayal of "good". They must always reward the evil and the flawed. Granted those character's are usually more interesting, but throw "good" a bone once in a while.

Lesson from Hollywood: $5 hookers who get bitch-slapped and hucksters who use faith for personal profit win Oscars*...Women who truly believe, do not. Come on Hollywood, she had premarital sex with the huckster under a bridge, isn't that scummy enough for ya?

*Oscar is a registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, all rights reserved.

[–] toshguy 15 years ago

I actually thought it was pretty funny because you could see how far in front of her face the pimp's hand was. As a matter of fact, isn't it considered a pimp slap since he was a pimp who slapped his bitch? Anyway, my favorite bitch-slapping in classic film is from Imitation of Life from 1959 in which Troy Donahue has a really sweet cameo for the sole purpose of slapping a bitch at the backdrop of raging Frank Skinner jazz.

I'm here, Mr. Man, I can not tell no lie and I'll be right here 'till the day I die

[–] MaynardGKrebs 15 years ago

I was more impressed by the "bastard slapping" that Elmer gave to the pimp.

[–] MedioSiglo 15 years ago

I saw it again last night and was surprised again that she didn't have more damage done. It sounded more like he was slapping a cardboard box instead of her face.

Why ain't you at the garden party you heathen?

[–] rogueforte 14 years ago

Yep, preceded by my fave line: "Don't you know that hurts?".

You're expecting Lancaster to immediately start in on giving the pimp a beat-down, but that line is so perfect. It almost sounds like he's expecting an answer. I've sat through the rest of the movie just to hear it. No one could have delivered that line like Lancaster does it.

[–] netshopper-2 14 years ago

It would have been better portrayed if she had swelling across her entire face. Just a little fake blood at the corner of her mouth on a perfectly made up and pristine face is what is gives. The slapping scene was horrific.

[–] rongan 13 years ago

I certainly believe Lancaster deserved the Oscar. No doubt in my mind about that. Also I thought Simmons clearly deserved an Oscar nomination. I liked Jones but I would have voted for Janet Lee (Psycho) that year.

I think you can find out why the star of The Passion of the Christ was overlooked. It won’t take too much effort. We’re not allowed to discuss that, the attack on the USS Liberty and a number of other things. It’s some mindless reason similar to if you didn’t vote for Obama you must be a racist.

You might be surprised on how many stupid people there are in this world. Just observe the attacks I’ll get for my innocent remarks.

[–] snsurone 13 years ago

IMHO, Lulu felt she deserved the beating for what she did to Elmer.
Don't forget, she was at the revival, and it was obvious that she took no smug pleasure at his humiliation.

And Elmer beat up that pimp because he knew that he (Elmer) was responsible for Lulu's descent into prostitution and was sorry for it.

She left town the very next day, after telling the paper that she had framed him.

And to the OP:
I'm very glad the lead singer for Kiss was not Oscar-nominated!
LOL

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jimmye184 12 years ago

Thanks for the line about Kiss, I was trying to resist that low hanging fruit.

let's go and say a prayer for a boy who couldn't run as fast as I could

[–] jmillerdp 11 years ago

I liked the sound effects, or should I say, sound effect! It sounded like the same one over and over for each slap.

"I. Drink. Your. Milkshake! [slurp!] I DRINK IT UP!" - Daniel Plainview - "There Will Be Blood"