MovieChat Forums > Paper Moon (1973) Discussion > So was Moses her father?

So was Moses her father?

posted 4 years ago by redban (6776)
6 replies | jump to latest

Certain details hint that he might have been:

1). Various people remark that they resemble

2). He admits that he was close to her mother, and he had met the mother in a bar. He talks of how the mother was beautiful, like Addie.

3). He doesn't put up a huge fight when they tell him to take Addie, besides saying, "Well, let me think of it" briefly. That detail hints at some fatherly affection

What I think is that Moses had hooked up with Addie's mother (a possible prostitute / slut), and then he and Addie's mother split before the pregnancy. So he really can't say for sure that he is father, but he also can't rule it out

[–] MovieMadness (124) 3 years ago

In the novel, it is also not clear if he is her father. The theme of the story is "make believe" -- the two characters often just pretend to be father and daughter while conning other people with their make-believe schemes. The "Paper Moon" song is about make believe. Another great film that year (1973), "The Sting", is, of course, also about cons and make-believes.

[–] goldenagefilmstv (178) 3 years ago

There is no doubt whatsoever that Moses is Addie's father. Besides the physical resemblance, notice that they both have a habit of cracking their knuckles. That little detail is in there for a reason. He even cracks his knuckles while saying, "It's for sure I ain't your pa." His action subtly belies his words, since we saw Addie doing that earlier.

When, at the fairgrounds, Addie said, "He ain't my pa," it was just because she was disappointed that he was not more accepting of her, and not because she really believed it.

[–] liscarkat (19398) 3 years ago

There is some doubt. Lots of people crack their knuckles. It's a habit, not a genetic trait.

[–] goldenagefilmstv (178) 3 years ago

In my opinion, that detail was included for a reason. Especially since he did it while denying (for the last time in the movie) that he was her father. It's the intention of the scriptwriters that I was thinking of.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I think it's implied he was.

[–] Annkat (382) 2 months ago

I think Addie would like him to be her father. She tries to copy him and make connections.

But since it is implied the Mother had many male friends, it’s unknown.

I think the casting of a real father daughter led to some unintentional conclusions for the story.