MovieChat Forums > The Secret of NIMH (1982) Discussion > Not one but two profane words!

Not one but two profane words!

posted 17 years ago by rwillams-1
25 replies | jump to latest

I can tell by reviews that most have noticed the scene when Justin says 'damn' though most may be surprised to know that Jeremy curses. In one scene Brisby's kids are starting to untie Jeremy when he tells them how the rats of Nimh are only trying to help. Then, the oldest son Martin is convinced that Jeremy is a loon. As Martin throws a loop of string over Jeremy's beak, right after the string is pulled tight, Jeremy mutters 'son of a bitch'. You may have to replay that brief moment of the scene and turn the volume up a notch but trust me, you will hear it. If you view this on DVD, note that the english subtitles won't display it.

[–] MaynardRules 17 years ago

His mouth is pretty muffled and it sounds more like "Mum um a mimth" to me. It's pretty obvious that he's trying to say "son of a bitch" though.

[–] Aimless_Small_Potatoes 17 years ago

I saw this movie over and over as a kid and never noticed that. Clearly it's not that big of a deal...

---
"I don't understand the question, and I won't respond to it." Lucille Bluth

[–] torydude 17 years ago

"Son Of A Bitch" is clearly not needed, and overboard... But "Damn"??? What, where you born in Utah or something, in the 20's

*rolls-eyes*

[–] mbphilly 17 years ago

LOL< that's actually pretty funny. The bird saying son of a bitch because of loopy Aunti Shrew and the kids. Hidden but funny. And why worry about the swearing? There's a scene in which a Rat is crushed to death and two more Rats have a vicious sword fight. A little incidental cussing is pretty tame in comparison.

www.actblue.com/page/pro_action

[–] thespis-3 17 years ago

I remember, as a kid, feeling so awkward hearing such a strong curseword (damn)... what an innocent time that was! I can't imagine anyone being "offended" though by either that or the muffled "son of a bitch".

I'd call the "you couldn't catch a hooker with that line" line in Fox and the Hound (which my friends and I noticed for the first time watching the video (no DVD then) in college) much more scandalous.

[–] solidgameboy12-1 17 years ago

Straying off the SONIMH subject for a moment, how can everyone forget Transformers with it's "Oh S**t!" line said by Spike?

That was the reason why that movie got a PG rating was of that word alone.
Beats that Michael Bay Version any day of the week.

Nicolas Cage in a bear suit. Enough Said.

[–] Jal8919536 17 years ago

A lot of references were made to "Watership Down"; Jenner (whose position is as lieutenant of the army, BTW) is like General Woundwort, while Jeremy is comic-relief like the seagull Kehaar, who also has some mouth (or beak, in this case), telling the rabbits to "piss off" and explains how the "damn farm cat" jumped him. XD

[–] everdormant 17 years ago

Maybe, except that Mrs. "Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" was written 1 year before "Watership Down."

[–] Jal8919536 17 years ago

True, but the film adaptation of "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" as "The Secret of NIMH" was released in theaters four years after the film adaptation of "Watership Down". ; )

[–] nat365 17 years ago

Hehe! My brothers and I got into trouble because of that. We rushed upstairs to inform our mother that the seagull had said 'piss off' and she told us off! We managed to convince her we were telling the truth, but I remember being surprised, because I must have been about 12 at the time, and at school we used the word 'piss' all the time without even thinking about it. It was the first time I'd even been informed that the word was rude enough to actually worry about saying it in public. I'd equated it with something harmless like 'bloody' (which I have never seen anyone told off about, except in a book I read when I was a kid, where a character inadvertantly got into trouble by telling her teacher that a classmate had hurt their 'bloody knee'. Of course, she meant bloody literally, so that was alright, lol).

[–] jones-mcwagnick 17 years ago

Hah! You should see the movie, Monster Squad.

Want me to pour it?

[–] JaySherman7 17 years ago

i love when Ultra Magnus says, while trying to unleash the matrix "Open. Damn it, open!" that blew my mind as a kid.

[–] fiatlux-1 17 years ago

'I remember, as a kid, feeling so awkward hearing such a strong curseword (damn)... what an innocent time that was! I can't imagine anyone being "offended" though by either that or the muffled "son of a bitch".'

OMG, me too!!! It was actually worse in my elementary school. It was considered foul when we were young to say "Shut up!" instead of "Be quiet!". I am so old.

But as far as profanity in this film goes, I didn't catch the "Son of a bitch" part but I did hear a "Damn" in it. I agree totally with the poster that mentions a rat being crushed and one stabbed, and parents get riled about a couple swear words? Unfortunately in this day and age profanity is a part of life. Kids will hear it, no matter what we do.
Parents should do what mine did: Acknowledge the words, but tell us they are not nice words to say, we we are not allowed to say them at least until we are grown.

She controlled the animals of the forest even the trees seeming to do her bidding.

[–] Your_enigma 16 years ago

"I'd call the "you couldn't catch a hooker with that line" line in Fox and the Hound (which my friends and I noticed for the first time watching the video (no DVD then) in college) much more scandalous."

Wait...wha? Where was this?

"DON'T PANIC."

[–] Jillers 17 years ago

When I was a kid and saw this for the first time "damn" was a pretty big deal to me.

[–] tal17 17 years ago

You know, you all have to remember that this was produced and released at a time when something like that wasn't that big of a deal, nor did people care too much. I remember seeing and hearing things on The Muppet Show that were definitely geared more toward adults than children, but nobody made a big deal about it like people do now. And it has nothing to do with values or morals. Too many people today just have their egos up their collective rear-ends, and are wound too tight to just let a person decide for himself whether or not something is offensive.

So, GROW UP ALREADY!! "Shrek" had more than two so-called profane words, plus a butt-load of innuendo, and it's a great movie! So is Nimh! Live with it!

[–] 80sgal4ever 17 years ago

I was almost certain that back when 'Secret of Nimh'
was first released on vhs, that it did have a PG rating...?

It certainly does need a PG rating -
more so for violence and scary images (like the owl)
but also for the few language moments. I recall another,
it was muttered by Jenner or his sidekick...

Anyhoo, the Jeremy one went over my head as a kid,
but perhaps the kids of today may pick it up easier.

-----

He had me juggling teacups all night long. With tea in them!-TLU

[–] TalesfromTheCryptfan 17 years ago

Don't forget "The Last Unicorn" was mistakeninly rated "G" afterall it had "What in Hell" and some damns.

"It's the Stay-Puft Marshmellow Man!"-Ghostbusters.

[–] four-sleeves 17 years ago

it sounds more like "son of a ..mreph..."

[–] arrowhawk64 17 years ago

who gives a *beep* go watch teletubbies

[–] Taylor_is_tight 17 years ago

They say 'damn' in commercials, now. They were like "Damn right!" In one just now. And that's not considered 'bad', I guess.

Xandi Sanders
God made coke. God made Pepsi. God made Greg Sanders so darn sexy!

[–] justinsgirlforever 16 years ago

Justin's swearing was a tiny reason why i had a crush on him as a kid! not only was he charming and a cute, fluffy rat (in my little eyes) but he also had the guts to say *gasp* a swear word. i was very into the "bad boy" image when i was six. he was the first cartoon character i'd ever heard cuss, so i was absoltely delighted with it. now, of course, people go into conniption fits about it. i don't really see why.

oh, and i noticed Jeremy's swearing the first time i saw the movie. i laughed at it and my parents thought i was just laughing at his predicament. i never corrected them.

"No, sweet lady, you are welcome here." - Justin