MovieChat Forums > Foul Play (1978) Discussion > Was Mr. Hennessey Gay?

Was Mr. Hennessey Gay?

posted 9 years ago by MikeJackKearney
3 replies | jump to latest

I'm wondering if anyone else got a "gay vibe" off Mr. Hennessey, Gloria's landlord. He was unmarried, owned property in San Francisco, and mentioned—in particular—that the tribe in Kenya has "light taboos on sex."

I know what you're gonna say: "What Mr. Hennessey chooses to do in the privacy of his own—" Yeah, I know. I got it. I've just been reading a lot about characters in old movies who're "coded as homosexual," and I was wondering if Mr. Hennessey qualifies as a coded gay character, in anyone's opinion.

[–] ralph_2ndedition 9 years ago

Never really thought about it...
But yeah, I guess there's a 50/50 chance he's gay.
There's a 100% chance he's be the perfect landlord though. Got cool stories to tell, offers cookies to visitors and can kick any intruders into next week with his 1945-karate skills! :-)

[–] BobbyWaggs 8 years ago

Burgess Meredith was one of the hugest Ladies Men in Hollywood History --- as for his character being gay ...

Nah he seemed like a widower but very straight alas why he cared so much about the young hottie "Goldie" like an uncle or Father ...

[–] SueDNim (33) 7 years ago

Didn't you notice his expression when Miss Casswell kicked off her shoes and took up her Karate stance to reveal a typical man's dream of a beautiful, intelligent, stacked broad of his own age who can match him in a fight? She was pushing all of his buttons. Not gay!