MovieChat Forums > J. Edgar (2011) Discussion > 'Don't you ever do that again..'

'Don't you ever do that again..'

posted 12 years ago by JheanSoSolid
2 replies | jump to latest

I am still confused at this part when Tolson and Hoover are on the floor fighting and he kisses him. Hoover tells him, "Don't you ever do that again." Was he referring to the fight or the kiss? Sounds stupid to ask, I know, but I'm really confused. If they were really gay lovers, why was it a problem to kiss him?
If he was referring to the fight, lets keep in mind that Hoover threw the first punch so its understanding why Tolson didn't back down from him and had his small ass held down. That's why they ended up on the floor to begin with.
Maybe they were gay lovers but never took it further than a handshake and a hug, maybe they were different than the couples of today, who knows.
Or maybe Hoover was just attracted to Tolson but never wanted more than a mutual relationship with him, no kissing, no sex, no affection. Just an, I like you, you like me, but it won't go anywhere, kind of relationship.

She would make me coooool, and then we would both ruuuuule, forevaaaaaa.

[–] Chiscully 12 years ago

I think he was referring to the kiss as he was terribly repressed and guilty about his attraction to men.

[–] archer6749 11 years ago

Throughout the movie it's indicated slightly by both Hoover and Tolson that they had a bit of a crush on each other but nothing past a friendship. I think Tolson showed more aside from the kiss that he had a crush on Hoover because he gave Hoover this look like he was just asked to be Hoover's boyfriend when Hoover offered him the job as second in command and would show expression's of jealousy when Hoover would be talking to women or talking about the women he's been with. Hoover on the other hand asked Helen specifically if Tolson's resume was in the stack of applications and hired him when his qualifications wasn't even close to what Hoover was looking for in the other men. Hoover was also the one who placed his hand on Tolson's in the back seat of the car and kissed him on the forehead before leaving the night that he died. As for the kiss, I'm sure (if it ever actually happened) that Hoover and Tolson would have blown it off as being an act of drunkenness.

As for the part you were asking about, whether or not Hoover told Tolson not to do that again, he was referring to the kiss. In the script (which the movie follows faithfully) it states that after the kiss Hoover tells him "Don't you ever do that again" without actually meaning it.