I would like to weigh in on this discussion because I too found Duvall too intelligent at first. I grew up in rural Maine and knew many farmers and loggers that were not socially skilled, didn't talk much and would be considered by some to be slow. In fact, they were very smart about their own world, but not very knowledgeable about the rest of the world.
Like Fentry, they did not talk much and when they did, it was with as little words as necessary to convey their thought. I grew up with "if you've got nothing to say, don't say it".
However, as the movie went on, I realized it was not the intelligence in his eyes that bothered me, but two things that are not found in rural Maine eyes--awareness and warmth. Let me explain. The farmers and loggers I knew worked very hard and were good honest citizens. However, whenever you engaged one of them close enough to notice, you would see that although their eyes were clear, they were both cold and distant at the same time. I believe it came from a lifetime of hardship, hard work in the cold winters of Maine and their self reliant attitudes. They did not need anyone and relied soley upon their own resources to make it through the problems. It is hard to explain, but Duvall's eyes do not have it. His voice was very good, but the eyes were too warm and engaging. They did not portray a life of hardship and toil. No fault of Duvall's of course.
"We're going to need a bigger boat..."
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ancatdoh
16 years ago
"However, as the movie went on, I realized it was not the intelligence in his eyes that bothered me, but two things that are not found in rural american eyes--awareness and warmth. Let me explain. The farmers and loggers I knew worked very hard and were good honest citizens. However, whenever you engaged one of them close enough to notice, you would see that although their eyes were clear, they were both cold and distant at the same time. I believe it came from a lifetime of hardship, hard work in the cold winters of Maine and their self reliant attitudes. They did not need anyone and relied soley upon their own resources to make it through the problems."
I don't have the Maine experience to compare it to because my heritage is Southern, but I found Duvall's humanity was spot on. My father grew up in the 1930s in rural Georgia and I met quite a few of his contemporaries when we'd visit my grandparents when I was a kid (I'm 45), and Duvall's portrayal would have fit in perfectly with them. These were dairy, cotton, peanut and corn farmers who also grew up in the Great Depression and served in WWII, but they definitley had the Southern hospitality thing and laid back-ness about them.
The South is a whole different world, and the most obvious difference is the slowness of their speech compared to the North East. You drive down 2 lane country roads and people sitting on their front porch wave at you--I asked my dad why and he said "They just do."
I bet if Duvall ever plays a Maine native he'll have exactly the vibe you describe, but he nailed the salt of the earth Southern farmer for me.
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rspear61
16 years ago
Good point and very interesting. I have edited my answer to relate solely to Maine rural people. And I should add that I am referring to the rural Maine people of the 1940s (I am 65).
As a psychology and sociology quasi-student, I wonder whether the difference we are talking about was a northen life vs a southern life (enviromental) or an ethnic stock difference (heredity). Most of the folks I am thinking of in Maine were descended from Germany, Austria and Russia. On the other hand, most, if not all, had been in rural Maine for generations.
Maine, and New England in general, has always been known for its somewhat aloof approach to strangers. I wonder whether the south spawns as many jokes that involve a stranger and a Mainer and the Mainer always answers in one word answers. The touristy bumper sticker that reads "AYUP" has its roots in a real language that I grew up with. No one has ever captured it on TV (least of all the sherriff on Murder She Wrote--god that was awful) In fact, most non-Mainers would not have been able to understand a rural Maine farmer if they did happen to get into a conversation with one. The dialect was so thick and common words so distorted as to sound very much like a foreign language. But it wasn't..it was maine rural english.
You get the closest sense to what I am referring to in the recorded acts called "Bert and I". They give somewhat the closest sense of rythym and dialect I have ever heard recorded. Although the characters were fishermen, they certainly seem to capture the Maine sense of talking.
And I hope no one reading these posts interprets my comments in a negative way, because I have to say I feel mighty proud to have known these folks. Thinking back on them today, I feel humbled by my own accomplishments compared to theirs.
"We're going to need a bigger boat..."
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ancatdoh
16 years ago
Good point and very interesting. I have edited my answer to relate solely to Maine rural people. And I should add that I am referring to the rural Maine people of the 1940s (I am 65).
As a psychology and sociology quasi-student, I wonder whether the difference we are talking about was a northen life vs a southern life (enviromental) or an ethnic stock difference (heredity). Most of the folks I am thinking of in Maine were descended from Germany, Austria and Russia. On the other hand, most, if not all, had been in rural Maine for generations.
Maine, and New England in general, has always been known for its somewhat aloof approach to strangers. I wonder whether the south spawns as many jokes that involve a stranger and a Mainer and the Mainer always answers in one word answers. The touristy bumper sticker that reads "AYUP" has its roots in a real language that I grew up with. No one has ever captured it on TV (least of all the sherriff on Murder She Wrote--god that was awful) In fact, most non-Mainers would not have been able to understand a rural Maine farmer if they did happen to get into a conversation with one. The dialect was so thick and common words so distorted as to sound very much like a foreign language. But it wasn't..it was maine rural english.
You get the closest sense to what I am referring to in the recorded acts called "Bert and I". They give somewhat the closest sense of rythym and dialect I have ever heard recorded. Although the characters were fishermen, they certainly seem to capture the Maine sense of talking.
And I hope no one reading these posts interprets my comments in a negative way, because I have to say I feel mighty proud to have known these folks. Thinking back on them today, I feel humbled by my own accomplishments compared to theirs.
I think you're onto something--it's a New England thing vs. a Southern thing, and aloof is right on target. Not rude at all, just not warm and fuzzy, and not a stereotype either--it's just the way rural folks are from these areas.
I'm sure Duvall would spend time absorbing the Maine mannerisms before playing a Maine faaaamah and bring that to life just as effectively--guy's a master!
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