MovieChat Forums > Design for Living (1933) Discussion > Did Miriam Swear?

Did Miriam Swear?

posted 15 years ago by andreaswashere1989
24 replies | jump to latest

In the scene where Miriam Hopkins is arguing with Edward Everett Horton i am positive that she swears at him. she says the F word. If i'm right than that would have to be the only movie prior to the end of the production code in 1968 to feature the F word. I think that is awesome. and who better to say it than Miriam Hopkins, who is by far one of the greatest actresses of her time. You had Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Barbara Stanwyck, Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Jean Harlow etc. and Miriam Hopkins definately held her rank with (and above some of) them all. Luv you Miriam!!!!!!!

By the way i can't write the actual F word on this post but i'm sure you know what i mean. the scene where she supposedly swears is about 1h 27m 33s in the film.

[–] lbelle 15 years ago

no, I believe she said "your whole flock of Eaglebauers." (had to listen twice, though - It did sound like shedropped the F bomb!)

[–] lubin-freddy 15 years ago

Yes, she did say "flock". Even in pre-code Hollywood, they wouldn't have used that word. And even if he could have gotten away with it, it's not Lubitsch's style. (Sturges, on the other hand....)

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[–] KlutzyGirl 14 years ago

During the film I saw this thread title, and when I heard her say the line I did a double take and knew immediately that was what you referred to! lol Coward was famous for his sneaky lines, using high wit to get the lower points across. This film is a great example of his work done right; unfortunately there are many poor versions of his wonderful plays.

[–] ObstinateAnnette 14 years ago

Coward was famous for his sneaky lines, using high wit to get the lower points across. This film is a great example of his work done right

I agree that Noel Coward had a wonderful wit. Surprisingly, in the commentary before the film tonight on TCM, Robert Osborne said that none of Coward's actual writing was included in the screenplay (aside from one line spoken by Gary Cooper during a toast). Apparently, Ben Hecht is responsible for writing the rest, so he should get credit where credit is due...

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[–] continuousmonsterdrip 13 years ago

Yes, that's Hecht all right. One of the very best screen writers ever.

[–] genplant29 14 years ago

She didn't actually say the "f" word, but I absolutely know the spot in the movie that you're referring to, readily heard and noticed it, too (realizing what the ACTUAL spoken word, "flock," was), as the movie was airing (I hadn't read any posts here beforehand, incidentally), and am amused now to see that it wasn't just me whose ears had that trick played on them. I do suspect that "flock" very probably was meant as a deliberate play on words.

[–] DD-931 12 years ago

Sorry, OP. The f word is definitely used twice in the 1932 SCARFACE.

But you are correct about her final scene with Horton. I just today watched it, and yes, she does use the f-word.

[–] monescu4 12 years ago

Don't know about its use in SCARFACE, but unless DD-931 is referring to "flock" as the f-word, it is NOT used in Lubitsch's DESIGN FOR LIVING.

[–] AssetsonFire 11 years ago

Just for the record, I wasn't aware of this discussion before watching the film. I'd advise the naysayers to go back and listen. She definitely doesn't say, 'flock of'; there's no hint of an 'l' or an 'of' in there. The way she pronounces it sounds like 'fockin' or 'farkin'. Yes, the subtitles say 'flock of', but subtitlers have been known to lie about such things.

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[–] DD-931 11 years ago

Thanks for the backup, AssetsonFire. But some people just need to live in denial.

[–] doccarbon 10 years ago

Just listened to the line. Very clear to me, she says "flock", not the f-bomb. Additionally, 1) as previously stated, the f-bomb was NEVER used at that time, even pre-code, and 2) even if it was, the f-bomb, even though it is the most versatile word there is, would not have "worked" in the subject sentence. "... a whole flock of Eaglebauers....." works, whereas insert the f-bomb in place of "flock", and it does NOT work.

[–] Beau_Buffet 8 years ago

Not so clear to me. The subtitles do say "flock", but I'm not sure of what I'm hearing.

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[–] rmm413-1 10 years ago

During her onscreen marriage to Edward Everett Horton, they talk a few times about his clients "Skronk and Egelbauer." In the scene you're talking about, it sounded clearly to me like she simply said "Skronk 'n' Egelbauers" (meaning his key clients), as she had earlier in the film. However, the way she spits it out almost like a curse, I can clearly see how you might think she said "take your F in' Egelbauers." In fact, I'd be a little surprised if it wasn't done that way deliberately. But they did it in a way they couldn't possibly get in trouble over.

Believe me, if she really did use that word in that film, you'd have heard about it before, because the film would have been famous for it.

It definitely didn't sound like "flock of" to me (and that wouldn't really make sense anyway); perhaps people are just assuming subtitles are correct, when they often are not. I can also understand why people would be looking for an actual word here and because of that, not recognize a proper name, especially a strange one.

[–] angelx 10 years ago

I was gonna ask the same thing! It did sound like the "f" word. As I understand it, the first mainstream American film to use the F-word was M*A*S*H.

[–] lubin-freddy 10 years ago

Besides the obvious fact that the word wasn't said (only the Americans have concepts such as "F-WORD" and "C-WORD"), it must be said that Lubitsch, with his sense of refinement and understatement, was not a director who would have tried it. Sturges is another matter.

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[–] AcademyAwardWinnerJordy 10 years ago

Had Sturges ever used curse words in film before?

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[–] AcademyAwardWinnerJordy 10 years ago

Had Sturges ever used curse words in film before?

Ruin is a gift. Ruin is the road to transformation (Eat, Pray, Love)

[–] Godfrey2 10 years ago

There's also the scene in Red Dust where Jean Harlow makes a passing comment/mutter about the "f...ing French." Or at least it sure sounded like she said it. I know others who are firm in that assertion - and that may well be. I prefer to go with my imagination and think of Ms. Harlow as using the F-bomb.

And thank gawd for TCM doe all of the wonderful pre-codes. many of them might have been lost by now if not for them. And thanks to AMC for the saving and showing them in the 80s and early 90s.

[–] lubin-freddy 10 years ago

Sturges didn't use "curse words", he couldn't, but he did get away with Mr. Kockenlocker, which not only was conscious, but was appropriate.

Don't lend your hand to raise no flag atop no ship of fools.

[–] skiddoo 8 years ago

What about nuts? Since 1915 it was slang for a part of the anatomy, according to Online Etymology Dictionary.

[–] skiddoo 8 years ago

And what was with that plant they sent for her wedding? Nuts, also??

[–] Merrida 9 years ago

I've watched this movie three times and same thing, I could have sworn I heard the f-bomb dropped! LOL

I understand she didn't but the delivery was brilliant.

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[–] Xcalat3 (3754) 5 years ago

Flock makes more sense but it sure sounded like fuck to me.

[–] Popcorngal (4937) 5 months ago

When she stated she would be a"mother of the arts". I think that was a censored form of cursing. I am watching it now and it really surprised me!