MovieChat Forums > The Wild Geese (1978) Discussion > the gay medic was so....

the gay medic was so....

posted 5 years ago by [deleted]
5 replies | jump to latest

stereotypical.

[–] Artisan (3464) 4 years ago

Yeah but funny and eccentric which I guess is what they were going for. Those type of characters especially in films back then can be taken as either a slur or an early way of incorporating gay people into films. Depending on how you want to see it.

I think it was a bit groundbreaking, I am sure there were plenty of gay soldiers but you seldom see them in films.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21460) 4 years ago

I think I remember Whitty having a grenade clipped to his chest harness when he ran out of ammo and was mutilated by the Simbas. Damn, that’s a rough scene. I wish he’d survive every time.

[–] HarlemEagle42 (17740) 3 years ago

*shrugs* Eh yeah he was. But beyond that, he was as brave as the rest.

[–] janoss (214) 3 years ago

Yes, he's doing schtick but his character knows what he's doing. "'Ello sailor" followed by innuendo was pretty standard back in the day. It was considered funny.

However, he's still a badass. He's my favorite character in the movie.

[–] huwdj (4566) 3 years ago

Kenneth Griffith, the very distinguished stage, TV and film actor with credits going back to 1938. Forever immortalised as 'the gay medic' or the slightly mad guy in Four Weddings And A Funeral.
But I guess that's the fate of many actors and is perhaps better than being totally forgotten?