MovieChat Forums > The Lost Weekend Discussion > Birnam's reaction to the pawn shops bein...

Birnam's reaction to the pawn shops being shut?

posted 9 years ago by trist962
5 replies | jump to latest

He wants to know why the shops are closed; the Jewish man tells him about it being Yom Kippur and then the "agreement" with the Irish shops about closing on St Patrick's Day. Birnam replies, "Oh, funny! That's very funny!", and continues to stagger along. OK, from that reaction, it seems to me that Birnam figures the guy is pulling his leg & just being a wiseguy and he really doesn't believe him. BUT--since the Irish shops WERE closed, after all--did the "agreement" in fact, exist? I know it's a film, and maybe that dialogue was inserted to lighten things up a bit, in the midst of Birnam's miserable situation?

[–] Druff 9 years ago

I assume there really was such an agreement amongst the pawn brokers of NY. And to me there was no doubt that Birnam believed the explanation. He was just being sarcastic.

[–] ichray 9 years ago

I think he actually (or in addition) says: "...that's a good joke...," indicating that the situation arising from the (all-too authentic) idiosyncratic agreement between the two groups that is ultimately denying him much-needed alcohol is worthy of God (or some cosmic force) playing a cruel prank on him...

[–] EllisFowler 9 years ago

Look at the brokers' faces after he makes the "funny" comment. It's pretty obvious that they're perplexed by his reaction to their explanation.

[–] trist962 9 years ago

Thanks for the "hint"; I certainly hope to be able to pick that up...IF-- I'm EVER AGAIN ABLE to see this film (among many other classics), again, at some time in the future, ever since my (un-named) multi-conglomerate, greedy cable company REMOVED Turner Classic Movies from my monthly subscription package! 😠

[–] EllisFowler 9 years ago

DAMN. TCM is, to the best of my knowledge, standard fare for just about any one-step-up-from-basic cable package. Are you able to pick up Watch TCM online?