MovieChat Forums > Mortal Thoughts (1991) Discussion > What ethnicity are they supposed to be?

What ethnicity are they supposed to be?

posted 13 years ago by Missyrocks
14 replies | jump to latest

They certainly seem way Italian, but all the last names are not. Makes no sense. Even down to the open coffin and envelopes of money. Italian, but from the last names, they're Polish?

[–] moosefeathers 13 years ago

Joyce was Italian, and I believe that Jimmy was Polish. Cynthia and Arthur were Jewish.

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...

[–] sbender6767 13 years ago

clearly they were trying to be Italian. Only Italians yell that much and treat there woman like that.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] moosefeathers 13 years ago

I thought Kellog was a Jewish surname?

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...

[–] HarveyManfredSinJohn 11 years ago

'Kellogg' is a Scottish/Celtic surname. What made you think Arthur and Cynthia were Jewish?

[–] moosefeathers 11 years ago

Actually Arthur made me think they were jewish.

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...

[–] missscoobyca 13 years ago

Reply to Nena902: I'm sorry, I don't know how to do the quote feature.

They could be a mixed family too though. My Mom was raised by a Jewish mother and Christian father. They celebrated BOTH Christmas and Hannukah. Unorthodox obviously, but I know other families that do the same thing, so this could be the case for Cynthia and Arthur? I don't recall seeing a menorah or other Hannukah decorations though, and the tree is very evident as you mentioned! lol

[–] missscoobyca 13 years ago

I don't think it's so much ethnicity as it is region. They are all from New Jersey, and while there is a large Italian population there, the accent/attitude/lifestyle is more linked to being from Jersey regardless of origin, than being Italian per say. In my opinion. =)

[–] hitchcock_blonde 13 years ago

A good point, but I am pretty sure Joyce is Italian. She cusses in Italian in the scene where they are preparing to go to the ME's office.

No Louis, you're mistaken. It's not me.

[–] Missyrocks 12 years ago

LOL. Yes, I think all the Xmas trees & Cynthia crossing herself and kissing the crucifix at the wake rule out Jewish! I do think Cynthia is Italian, they're making gravy at her mom's house, and I think Joyce is as well. Her father is Dominic and she does use Italian slang to curse. But I didn't think the husbands were. It's a wake so I think Jimmy is Polish with Urbanski as last name & just assumed Artie was Italian with weird last name for Italian.

[–] tigero-05533 9 years ago

BRUCE WILLIS WAS POLISH.
SO DEMI MOORE IS ITALIAN

[–] JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies 11 years ago

The most accurate ethnicity would be "Joizy"--in other words they're New Jerseyans, from Bayonne, and they seem to have roots there going pretty far back. For most cultural concerns that overrides other ethnic factors.

[–] robert-blau 11 years ago

My thoughts exactly.

[–] ctldy 9 years ago

From the way they talked, both girls are of Italian ancestry. And from the picture at the end of the film, they have been best friends since they were babies. I know people from Jersey have that accent, but there was more to it than that.

Jimmy was definitely Polish, with Jewish as his religion. But Arthur I have no idea. The name Kellog is British though. So Scottish is my guess.

And their ethnicity is white. Ethnicity is race. Where as ancestry is where their family comes from. And that's what this topic is truly about.