MovieChat Forums > The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) Discussion > Morgan Freeman's speech

Morgan Freeman's speech

posted 19 years ago by sdrawkcab8
13 replies | jump to latest

I was wondering if that awful speech at the end is in the book too. You could see that Freeman was embarrassed at having to deliver such corny lines.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MoreBS 19 years ago

Hmm, I always thought that was the best part? I guess it is a little preachy.

[–] ucalderonagosto 18 years ago

I think the speech is part of the satire. When he is delivering it there is a moment when he seems to notice a camera and moves towards it. That, and the content of the speech which is way too exaggerated, suggests he is another player in the game. But it´s hard to tell given the weirdness of this movie.

[–] MoreBS 18 years ago

You might be right, there. When he says "decency is what your grandmother taught you." there's a black guy in the front row who shrugs with a kind of WTF expression on his face.

But like you said, its difficult to tell wheather its being satirical or not. This tends to be the case with De Palma. I read an interview snippet on one of the De Palma sites where he was talking about Deborah Sheldon's shlocky rape/murder scene in Body Double and he claimed "I don't do satire"

I think he was probably winding people up.

[–] jgravely 18 years ago

PLEASE BEHOOVE ME NO ILL BEHOOVE!!!!!LOL

[M. Night Shyamalan]"He had 2 1/2 good ideas. The well's clearly dry." - Tim Briody

[–] Acaseoftheoz 18 years ago

asoinas

[–] vincevega918 18 years ago

Morgan makes the best of every movie, seriously... his voice says it all.

[–] swt_jne 18 years ago

I disagree with your premise that Freeman's speech at the end was contrived, and that he had difficulty delivering it. Whilst the speech indeed provided unnecessary commentary as to why the case was being dismissed, and addressing the political media circus the incident had become; De Palma knew exactly what he was doing when he included it in this satirical film. I even believe Freeman ENJOYED expressing himself in this rational, truthful manner!
What was he supposed to say, "This entire case is unfounded and silly, now y'all go home and behave yourselves"? *bang gavel*
Some may cry racism or no justice - however our legal system requires evidence and proof that a crime was committed. Let us not forget the OJ trial; where the State failed to prove their case and OJ got away with murder. Racism? No justice? It's not a perfect science, but it's the best we have.

[–] bamatommy 18 years ago

I thought Freeman's speech was excellent.

[–] MrBlondNYC 18 years ago

According to interviews Morgan Freeman has given, he didn't enjoy making the movie at all and wished he hadn't taken the role.

Personal motto: What Would Jon Stewart Do?

[–] pninson 17 years ago

The speech does not appear in the book. (SPOILER WARNING)...........................................................'

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The judge in the book is white. When he dismisses the indictment, there aren't enough bailiffs to control the crowd; Sherman, the judge, and the attorneys duck out through a side door while the crowd charges the bench.

And there's more ... about a year later. But you can read the book for yourself; I've already given away too much.

It's not at all likely that a group of angry people would be calmed and quelled by a simple homily, delivered to swelling music. That sort of thing only happens in films.

[–] stevenackerman69 16 years ago

Yeah, I know the judge in the book is white. In fact, it is sort of funny that the judge's name is White in the film.

[–] stevenackerman69 16 years ago

I'd love to look at the book myself, just to see how dumbed down they made it. Freeman, by the way, seemed to be doing Joe Clark as a judge. And why he didn't just throw all the spectators out when they first protested is beyond me.