Was the "whistle" line written by Hemmingway or Faulkner? I don't have a copy of the book, so I thought someone could help me out...
shareIt was written by Faulkner- that's what it says in the dvd special features. It wasn't even originally in the script I believe- he sort of snuck it in.
shareHow does one actually put their lips togehter AND blow to make a whistle??
I usually end up making either a raspberry sound, or sounding like an odd motorboat.
"What time is Recess?"
Why is this line so well remembered? Of course everyone knows how to whistle. Or is there a sexual connotation in the word "blow"? Am I missing the point?
Whenever I think of that line, it takes me back to my secondary schooldays, when I was a fairly clueless child, and everyone always knew sexual terms and drug slang, and would talk to each other knowingly using such terms, while I was always left puzzled, or missing the point.
It was the same with Nirvana. Other kids would say to me, "You do not understand what Mr Cobain is trying to say when he sings 'a mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, fellatio, yeah!' You should leave such matters to people like us, who understand what Mr Cobain means, and where he is coming from. Beat it, square-o!"
It may be so well remembered for the way it was delivered in the movie. Other than that, I don't know.
As for what "Mr. Cobain meant by 'a mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, fellatio'.. " -I don't have a friggin' clue about that. Wonder if he even knew what the *beep* he was talking about! -Sort of sounds like he's trying to be a rapper and just rhyme some words.
"What time is Recess?"
No way in hell do I think that it was meant as anything sexual.
shareYou're right! -My bad..
I was thinking of the Mae West line: "Why don't you come up and see some time?"
"What time is Recess?"
I think that it was meant to be something, though. Maybe sexy - if there's a difference between sexy and sexual.
shareI think she could have said something completely mundane -- like "I'm going to go bake a casserole" or some such -- and it STILL would have been sexy, if delivered in the way that she delivered that famous line. It was 80% delivery -- her tone, attitude, physical demeanor, presence, and expression -- though I think the context, and the line itself with the words "lips" and "blow" added to it, certainly.
The anatomy of a great line!
See, I don't think it WAS a great line! It doesn't make sense, either in and of itself, or in the context of the scene. A lot of people think she's telling him to whistle if he needs her, but if you pay attention to the words, that's not it.
I think she means all he has to do to make her happy is whistle at her--which he hasn't done at any other point, so it just seems so random.
I get that the "lips" and "blow" part make it seem titillating, but a guy "blowing" isn't sexy, and it's definitely not a reference to anything a woman would *cough* do.
I don't get it. The line, to me, is like the naked emperor. I think most people just don't admit it's meaningless to them.
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...I found your post and I'm glad you were more up-front about it than me. I just don't think there's actually anything there, unless it was possibly just perceived differently at the time for reasons I'm too young to know.
shareIt doesn't make sense, either in and of itself, or in the context of the scene.
I think she means all he has to do to make her happy is whistle at her--which he hasn't done at any other point, so it just seems so random.
Heh, heh, thanks for the English to English translation. Now maybe you can do Trainspotting for me?
I asked the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.
Great explanation, PillowRock -- thanks! :)
sharePillowRock: I think you explain the line best.
shareActually the Mae West line goes like this: " Some time when you don't have anything to do . . . and a lot of time to do it . . . . come up and see me." It's MUCH funnier that way than the way it's usually misquoted.
shareNot literally but everything that comes from Lauren Bacall's mouth sounds sexual.
What you see is nothing. I got a Balinese dancing girl tattooed across my chest.
Actually, the line from Mr. Cobain went:
"A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido..."
It's actually "a mosquito, my libido."
He said it's all in your head, and I said, so's everything--
But he didnt get it.
The whole line -
"You know you don't have to act with me, Steve. You don't have to say anything, and you don't have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and... blow."
My take -
Basically no need to put up a front with her, as she can figure out what she thinks you need or you can forgot all about her.
She was showing she should be the one in charge of their reltationship at that moment.
After Bacall delivers her line "you do know how to blow, don't you?", Bogey puts his lips together and softly blows a "wolf whistle", suggesting that she is attractive and he is interested.
Kodak makes film, I make movies.
Since MY name is Steve, I cut a wav from a YouTube clip of this quote to use when my computer enters and exits Windows. What can be better than my computer telling me up front as it starts, in Bacall's sultry voice: "You know you don't have to act with me, Steve. You don't have to say anything, and you don't have to do anything. Not a thing."?
And just to remind me that we're parting on good terms, the last thing it says to me before "leaving" is: "You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and... blow."
Please describe the results of this thrilling experiment! We hope you're still capable of visiting imdb:)
share"It was the same with Nirvana. Other kids would say to me, "You do not understand what Mr Cobain is trying to say when he sings 'a mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, fellatio, yeah!' You should leave such matters to people like us, who understand what Mr Cobain means, and where he is coming from. Beat it, square-o!"
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nothing to do with To Have and Have Not (even though the reason I'm here is that I just watched it), but I wanted to comment on the "misunderstanding" of Kurt Cobain's lyrics (specifically 'Smells Like Teen Spirit')...even though those comments are a few years old I saw other examples of people still not understanding those lyrics recently...which is surprising to me, because it's fairly simple...I think it's just overthought...
Cobain's known as having been "impressionistic" in his lyrics; he's not usually telling a specific story, or following a narrative. He wants to convey a feeling. The line...
"a mullato, an albino, a mosquito, my libido" (NOT "fellatio", lol. Were you pronouncing that fell-a-TEE-oh?)
...is nothing more than a list of things that are freaks/oddities/outcasts/pests...in other words flawed, undesirable and unwanted (the "my libido" is the kicker: he wrote the song when Tobi Vail, of the "riot grrrl" group Bikini Kill, supposedly spurned (swatted away? like a mosquito?) his advances. I think she also spray-painted "Kurt smells like Teen Spirit" on a bedroom wall, too, in case you were wondering where the title came from (Teen Spirit was a deodorant marketed to teenage girls in the late '80s, early '90s)). He was empathizing with the outcast, declaring his membership in that club:
"Our little group has always been
and always will until the end
Hello, hello, hello, how low"
Anyway, not so complicated...Being an outsider, "loser" ...whatever you want to call it, is the whole essence of the song.
For anyone who cares...for those who don't I apologize for going off-topic.
"We are the beautiful and holy children of God"-Bill Hicks
"We're a virus with shoes"-Bill Hicks
You can't really be serious. How else do you do it--with your fingers? Maybe you'll learn when you're a little older, dopey, but it doesn't seem like you'll have much of a chance of getting a job in construction.
I whistle by putting my lips together and blowing (air), or sucking it in...
Bogart demonstrates it perfectly after she walks out of the room. And Bacall's line is a sexy challenge, acknowledging the strong chemistry between them, not a sexual offer, IMO.
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I don't think it is meant to be taken literally. It's an excuse of a line that demonstrates Slim's character. She's tough and sexy. And you don't know what she's trying more to be here. "..,put your lips together and blow" could easily be Slim's subtle way of telling Morgan to "keep your mouth shut and get lost," as "blow" was used as a way to tell someone to leave, or, "get lost."
shareThat line and scene... classic in every sense of the word.
Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!