MovieChat Forums > The Hill (1965) Discussion > Was Williams making a pass at Stevens?

Was Williams making a pass at Stevens?

posted 19 years ago by Mellow_Biafra
14 replies | jump to latest

Just caught this film on TCM On Demand... what a terrific film. I never really was a fan of Connery until I saw this film but what a powerful film and a powerful performance. I just had this one question, after Stevens got punished for having white wash on his kit the next scene where Stevens is painting the walls and Williams is sitting there taunting him... was there some kind of sexual inneundo going on there? With Williams chewing on his stick and talking about tormenting a gay solider previously and then talking about how Stevens needs to learn how to survive. I totally got the vibe that Williams was sexually presurring Stevens. And then the next scene Stevens collapses and loses it. Anyone else have any input?

[smoke2][smoke3]American until further notice

[–] DextermeetsCooper 19 years ago

Yeah, I also interpreted that way.

[–] reese-36 19 years ago

There was definitely a homoerotic vibe to that scene.
What a great movie; fantastic acting.

[–] reynolds-ray 18 years ago

I felt the same way with that scene. It struck me as odd, because it was so out of left field. But I do beleive he was trying to engage Stevens in a little action.

[–] dmb0903 18 years ago

I just saw it On Demand and thought the very same thing.

[–] Ddey65 18 years ago

That was actually Harris chewing on the Baton, but it was Williams who first started taunting him.

[–] lovecraftfan 18 years ago

nope barking up the wrong tree he was trying to tell him that he could live through the prison if he kept his self together, using a previous prisoner as an example

[–] Bernnard_Black 18 years ago

Agreed. There was no homosexual intent. Stevens was insecure about his manhood, certainly, but that's just part of his character. Harris was trying to explain to Stevens what it took to survive. The book handles the scene a bit better.

[–] DD-931 18 years ago

It was (and may still be) common behavior in the military for men who are considered weak to be labeled as gay and harassed accordingly. I think the treatment has far more to do with cruelty than anything else.

Still, it is a bit ironic that in tormenting Stevens for his supposed homosexuality, Williams behavior comes across to some as having homosexual overtones as well.

[–] kholmes1965 18 years ago

Nah, I didn't get that particular vibe or inference.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] DD-931 17 years ago

That was Gossett, not Glover, in AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN. Otherwise, you're pretty much dead on about the equivalent military behavior.

[–] SipteaHighTea 17 years ago

I knew guys who face pressure from their fellow soldiers to get drunk, smoke, and have sex with women. If you did not do those things, they made you an outcast, harrass you, and thought you were a nut case to said the least. They would also bait you to see if you were a homosexual like asking you the question "Do you like me?" So much for all this talk about being a band of brothers and military comradeship.

[–] acaciaavenue22 17 years ago

When he asked me (screamed, really)"What's your primary mission??!!"

My response: "To do exactly as you tell me to sir."

DI, always screamimg: "Yeah? Then suck my D#%K!"

Me: "I'd rather not sir."

DI: "Why not? Don't you like me?"

Me: "I like indoor plumbing sir."

That got him laughing so hard we were all secured from attention for 20 minutes!

[–] 17 years ago

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