MovieChat Forums > Paradise Alley (1978) Discussion > 'We'd better leave mothers out of it' (...

'We'd better leave mothers out of it' (???)

posted 12 years ago by tohu
4 replies | jump to latest

This line is said by Lenny, to Stitch, in the arm-wrestling scene.

Stitch: "Whats your mother doing flappin round in a cage" [Laughter].
Lenny: "We'd better leave mothers out of it"
Stitch: [threateningly] "You got anything else to say, gimp?"
Lenny walks away. Awkward silence.
Cosmo: [trying to calm things] "Hey Stitch. Lets leave mothers out of it, ok?"

What's going on here? I never really understood this. It seems like a very significant moment, perhaps hinting at some past history between the Carboni and Mahon families. But I don't think it's ever explained.

Or have I missed something?

_____________

"Maybe I should go alone"
- Quint, Jaws.

[–] WarpedRecord 12 years ago

I don't think you missed anything, and as for myself, I wouldn't read too much into that remark. I doubt it hints at skeletons in the families' closets. It's just that Lenny doesn't like his mother disrespected. And who can blame him?

[–] davidemistero 10 years ago

as other user said is just that he didnt want to put mothers beetween their stupid discussion. Some people have this kinda stuff to say "your mother..." etc

[–] tohu 10 years ago

Yes I know that, and I know that its a common form of insult. But its not just the line itself. If you actually watch the scene, there does seem to be a lot going on, visually. When Stitch says the line, Lennie jumps straight in with 'Better leave mothers out of it,' and he and Stitch are looking at each other very coldly. Then Cosmo too exchanges a meaningful silent glance, and looks at the floor before trying to lighten the mood again.

I dunno. It just seems to me there's more to this than a simple mother insult. After all, most mother insults get brushed aside quite easily - especially in films of this kind of community. But here, there does seem to be something else going on, which none of them wants to refer to directly. It's all in the acting though, not so much the lines.

Of course I could be wrong. I just wondered if there was maybe something in the novel or a deleted scene or something, which explains it.

_____________

"Maybe I should go alone"
- Quint, Jaws.

[–] davidemistero 10 years ago

i didn't read the novel (i didn't know that this movie cames from a novel) but you can be right.
I mean maybe yes is not just an insult, maybe there was something in the past about their mother that Stich knew...