I've never seen this movie, but I have been told that Alan Ladd has a conversation with (I think) Virginia mayo in which hhe tells her he doesn't carry "the knife" any longer, and she replies with the immortal line (looking down at his mid-section) "But I see you're still wearing the sheath".
Could anyone confirm or deny this authoritatively? Seems just too good to be true.
I have not seen this movie in years, but I do remember an exchange between Alan Ladd, and a woman (I assume it was Virgina Mayo)that went as you described.
shareThis is not true.
shareFirst, as I recall, Ladd's last conversation with Mayo was not chit chat, he was telling her no one is the worth the number of deaths she caused. He was dumping her. The immortal line did not occur, something that will be apparent when The Iron Mistress finally makes it to DVD.
shareI just finished watching the movie. Near the end of the movie Jim Bowie is "bushwacked" and badly injured. Teresa (played by Daria Massay), the daughter of the Mexican governor of Texas, happens by and picks him up and takes him for medical attention. The knife is left behind. After healing Jim follows Teresa to Texas. Jim quickly falls for her and asks her to marry him. Teresa says he is already wed, to the knife. Jim responds, "I no longer carry the knife." Teresa then says "But you still carry the sheath."
shareAt the 96 minute mark of the movie , Jim Bowie is in the office of the Vice Governor of Texas, Don Juan de Varamendi, the father of Ursula (Phyllis Kirk), Bowie’s new interest. Don Juan is discussing Jim Bowie’s violent past. Talking about Bowie’s knife, he says: “Men have called it your iron mistress.
Bowie: “Senor, I no longer have the knife.”
Bowie pulls out the folded sheath. “Only an empty sheath remains.”
Don Juan, about to quaff some wine: “Salud.”
There may be a hidden message about safe sex and condoms there somehow.
It is Ursula, portrayed by Phyllis Kirk, who rescues Bowie and takes him for medical attention. Daria Massey portrays Ursula's younger sister Teresa, and the young ladies are daughters of the Mexican governor of Texas.
When I saw the film last week, I noticed the home of Teresa and Ursula was identical to the Steves Homestead, a historic house in the King William district of San Antonio. You may remember the piano Teresa is playing in the room with french doors when Bowie follows Ursula to her home in San Antonio. In the 1970s I had toured the Steves Homestead with my aunt and uncle who lived in a nearby San Antonio neighborhood, and I immediately recognized the location. I have been curious as to whether the scene was filmed in the Steves mansion or if the room had been duplicated on a sound stage.
Sheila Beers
I can only guess those saying it isn't said have seen a different edit of the film or have seen some movie myths piece that has got it wrong.
I just watched the film on TCM now and can state that she absolutely does look down and say "you still wear the sheath" Wonder how many takes it took to get that bit filmed.