MovieChat Forums > 'Allo 'Allo! (1982) Discussion > Why a limp?

Why a limp?

posted 18 years ago by chips76309
11 replies | jump to latest

I apologise if this has been asked before, but I didn't see it on any of the threads.

Why do the Gestapo characters limp?

Thank you!

[–] simcoxk 18 years ago

I think it's just a character qwirk that Gibson wanted for Flick. And the vonSmallhausen limp was added just for comedic value, like a 'Mini Flick' or something. I could be wrong, but that's just my opinion. Anyone else have any thoughts?

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] chips76309 18 years ago

That would have been funny!

[–] alex_fa19-3 18 years ago

Is it possible to watch the Comedy Connections episode online anywhere? I tried Youtube, but they didn't have it.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] chips76309 18 years ago

O lord, I never noticed that, but you're so right. Flik really does look like a spoof of the villain from ROTLA.

How funny. That character was soooo creepy in his black trench coat and hat, and Flik is so over the top with the same costume!

[–] helenkrutherford 18 years ago

Often Gestapo characters are shown like that because many members of the gestapo were only in it because some physical ailment prevented them from joining the real army. In Herr Flick's case that would be some kind of leg problem. That, or it was pure comic value.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] DSNForever 18 years ago

Toht from Raiders was an inspiration for the character though.

[–] joshavanhoudt 11 years ago

The Herr Flick character is modeled partly on Joseph Goebbels, who had a deformed right leg and therefore walked with a limp. Like Herr Flick, Goebbels was not a big, impressive man, but rather a flimsy man with nonetheless a strange kind of authority.

I think they thought it would be funny to make the limp a Gestapo-trait after it turned out to be such a success in the Herr Flick character.

[–] greenbudgie 9 years ago

I seem to remember a creepy film that has a Nazi dragging his feet along. Although I can't remember it's name, I think that the limp is to give Flick a sinister feature.