MovieChat Forums > 1941 (1979) Discussion > A couple of things to look for: You migh...

A couple of things to look for: You might consider them SPOILERS

posted 10 years ago by Boaz777
4 replies | jump to latest

James Caan is one of the sailors who picks up Perry Lang and throws him over a table at the USO! (I wonder why he was in this.)
And Mickey Rourke in his first major film as one of Ackroyd's tank crew! Not sure if he had any lines at all.
Slim Pickens and Christopher Lee can both be seen fighting in the last shots looking down into the yard.

Also, there was a great first reveal of John Belushi's character, popping into frame.

It's interesting to me that this came out just one year before "Airplane!".

Personally, one of the best parts was when Treat Williams started to "dance" with Diane Kay. Although the Matheson/Allen story line was a bit long, the low point of the film, was, for me, the ventriloquist dummy.

I enjoyed this film more than I thought I would.

[–] HevyChevy 10 years ago

The guy who manipulated the dummy was becoming quite a popular actor in those days.
Usually doing some sort of "comedic sidekick", based largely on his "geeky" looks and odd voice.
The guys came from the stand-up circuit and ventriloquism was part of his act that often bled into his acting scenes.
He was known for the dummy, and movies like this often relied on known "stereotypes" (so to speak) as part of their comedy, thus, the dummy gets a part in this movie, too.

...and yeah, I also thought that aspect was a bit much.

Tell me, you love your country?
Well, I've just died for it.

[–] mswisby 10 years ago

I loved the dummy. I have sick sense of humor. What could be worse than being afraid of heights, stuck on a ferris wheel with a geeky, creepy guy. And then he pulls out a dummy. Hilarious!

[–] HevyChevy 10 years ago

Interesting that you see him as "creepy".
His characterizations were seen as humorous, due to his "geekiness", back then.
"Creepy" is the last thing anyone ever saw him as.

...the dummy, on the other hand...ever since "Magic" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077889/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1)...never trust 'em!

Tell me, you love your country?
Well, I've just died for it.

[–] enfilmigult 10 years ago

I dunno, his pulling the dummy out got the single biggest laugh of the movie for me. Although now that I think of it that says more about the rest of the movie than it does about the dummy.