What's the deal with the name of "Molly" for Joe Don Baker? This reminds me of 'Prime Cut', which has Gene Hackman as a villain named "Mary Ann". There is another movie, which I can't remember off the top of my head, made during this same era that also has a male character with a distinctly female name. Was this in vogue then, or is this just a coincidence?
shareGood guestion, I think it was just an ironic thing that was inserted into the script, that such a masculine character would have a girls name. Like a hulking 6 foot five 350 pounder named 'Tiny'.
"Life is a state of mind"
I think Molly was the character's last name - although it's never made clear.
shareMaybe it was MAULEY! :-) It would certainly fit.
shareMaby it's a "Boy called Sue" kind of a thing:
And he said: "Son, this world is rough
And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough
And I knew I wouldn't be there to help ya along.
So I give ya that name and I said goodbye
I knew you'd have to get tough or die
And it's the name that helped to make you strong."
He said: "Now you just fought one hell of a fight
And I know you hate me, and you got the right
To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do.
But ya ought to thank me, before I die,
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you "Sue.'"
-----------------------------------------------------
...And don't forget - The Duke was born Marion and Big Daddy was Shirley Crabtree!
nothing to read here
shareMolly was the character's real first name in the novel.
The film kept it more it's incongruity than anything else.
The film changes and reduces Molly's role from that in the novel.
Bad films are a crime against humanity.
Maybe a reference to the drug that had started to gain popularity in the 70s.
share