What was he twirling? - The Caine Mutiny (1954) Discussion

[–] jmlemt 19 years ago

Just steel ball bearings. It's a way to focus neuroses, a nervous habit like a hyperactive person that shakes or twitches a leg when sitting still. As Tom Keefer said about him, "He's a Freudian delight, crawling with clues!"

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[–] jcush21 19 years ago

Yes they were ball bearings, tho I wonder if it wasn't supposed to be the US version of Chinese worry balls?

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[–] DrPrunesquallor 19 years ago

Well, they were worry balls, in effect. Just in a version that's easier to pick up in a ship.

You see? I'm a steelworker. I kill what I eat. See?

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[–] jcush21 19 years ago

You're right Dr. Good point. :-)

"This ship was designed by geniuses to be run by idiots."

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[–] Jason_Radley 12 years ago

Yes, he was a heavy exponent of pocket billiards.

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[–] batjak456 16 years ago

Many years ago I was watching something like Dinah Shore's 'Dinah's Place' and I believe she had as a guest Van Johnson.
All of the above may be incorrect, but I do remember someone mentioning that the steel balls that made that incredibly appropriate sound in that quiet courtroom, while being manipulated by Bogie, had to be tethered together because they kept slipping through his fingers during filming.
Because I 'shot' a lot of marbles when I was a kid back in the early to mid '50's, I instantly recognized that unique sound the first time I saw "The Caine Mutiny".
I love this 'minor' trivia stuff.

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[–] stevenscottoddballz 16 years ago

Yes, I like the "minor' trivia stuff, too! I just recently learned that they had a name for the mechanical shark in "Jaws"! It was "Bruce"! Hmmm...I wonder if he was the prototype for "Finding Nemo"?

Eight divided by one-half equals four squared!

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[–] TorontoJediMaster 16 years ago

In the book, a psyschiatrist says that Queeg's hands tremble. So, he rolls the steel balls as a way to steady them.

And yes, the Bruce in Finding Nemo was an homage to Jaws.

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[–] stevenscottoddballz 16 years ago

OH! I really LOVE reading books made from movies, or VICE/VERSA. Thanks! Now, I'll be checking the book stores here for the book of Jaws! Thanks!

Eight divided by one-half equals four squared!

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[–] TorontoJediMaster 16 years ago

The name Bruce never appears in the novel Jaws. It was the nickname given to the mechanical shark, by the film crew, while shooting the movie at Martha's Vineyard in 1974. The Bruce reference in Finding Nemo was more of an injoke to hardcore movie buffs who are familiar with the story behind the nightmarish shoot for Jaws.

Incidentally, I think you might be disappointed by the original novel by Peter Benchley. Jaws was one of the rare films that actually improved on the book it was based on.

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[–] dolphin_nosed_bottle 16 years ago

Steve, I'm both pleased and proud to add another small drop to your minor trivia pail. Ever wonder why Speilberg's mechanical shark was called 'bruce'?

Answer; Bruce was the first name of Speilberg's lawyer; professional courtesy!

"Void Where Prohibited"
Like Ozzy Osbourne did at The Alamo???
No...Thank...You!!!

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[–] stevenscottoddballz 16 years ago

OH! That was interesting! And I'm sure thathis lawyer appreciated THAT! (Sarcasn note induced here.)

Eight divided by one-half equals four squared!

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[–] rwsmith29456 14 years ago

They are Chines Baoding balls that are used to calm nervous tension, or can be a nervous habit.

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[–] stevenscottoddballz 14 years ago

OH! I JUST looked that up! That looks like something I could use! I have a BIT of nervous tension. {Certainly not as bad as HE had, but enough to need SOMETHING to do with my hands.}

Eight divided by one-half equals four squared!

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[–] Stevicus-2 13 years ago

They are Chines Baoding balls that are used to calm nervous tension, or can be a nervous habit.

I've seen those before, but they were quite a bit larger in size than the ball bearings Captain Queeg was shown with.

In fact, when I saw those Chinese relaxation balls (as they called them), I immediately thought of Captain Queeg and started imitating his rant about the missing strawberries. ;-)

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[–] angelofvic 13 years ago

What I immediately thought of was Ben Wa balls.
.

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[–] ridgerunner72160-609-362419 12 years ago

I figured they were ball bearings and some sort of nervous habit that Lt. Queeg had.

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[–] mandrake62 12 years ago

Probably they are the chrome plated steel marbles called steelies that were were used as shooters during that era when marbles was a popular game played by kids. They would have been readily available in any variety store back then.

http://www.landofmarbles.com/steelie.html

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[–] hisgrandmogulhighness 12 years ago

I wonder if kids still play with marbles?

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[–] KobiyashiMauru 12 years ago

Only is some video game or I phone App.

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[–] denham 11 years ago

Surely the film is inviting us to consider whether Queeg's fondness for displaying his two spherical objects may relate to an absence of their counterparts elsewhere?

"I beseech ye in the bowels of Christ, think that ye may be mistaken."

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[–] sage2112 9 years ago

Pinballs. Hey, could be, right?

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