| Cutline: Charlie Chaplin in The Great Dictator – the first film in which you could actually hear what was coming out of the little tramp’s mouth
Last week, while checking out the Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases on DVD, I made a belated discovery: they can talk.
The sadistic cat-and-mouse cartoon duo, famous for their silence as much as their zest for mutual destruction, have been capable of speech since the 1940s. Like many people, I had assumed that they were mute until 1993’s The Tom and Jerry Movie.
I really should have known, since I had actually seen 1943’s The Zoot Cat before (at the Plaza Theatre, if I remember correctly), and both characters speak in that one. To my embarrassment, I learned of my error after writing last week's Video Vulture column, which now contains a glaring factual error. Oh well… live and learn.
It's easy to see why Tom and Jerry stick in our minds as silent characters. They only speak on rare occasions in the original MGM shorts, and never in the TV series. Once in a while, Tom will attempt to chat up a girl cat, while Jerry plots against him. In the live action film Anchors Aweigh (1945), Jerry cameos as a king who gets dance lessons from Gene Kelly, and Tom shows up as a castle servant.
There are plenty of other characters who appear to be completely speechless, yet who pipe up on rare occasions. Read on.…
Penn and Teller Get Killed (1989): Teller, the silent half of the Penn & Teller comedy-magic team, croaks out a line or two towards the end of this oddball film, just before he and the rest of the cast get killed. I've heard two reasons explaining why Teller traditionally leaves the patter to his motor-mouthed partner: 1. Teller was never 100 per cent comfortable with the way his voice sounded onstage, and 2. if your Las Vegas act includes a talking psychic monkey-head on a table, it's better if the audience doesn't immediately recognize the head's voice as belonging to one of the magicians. Incidentally, Teller spoke again on an episode of The Simpsons. ("Don't leave me alone with him! He'll beat me! You don't understand... I'm not the first Teller!")
Clerks (1994): This is the film that launched the career of director Kevin Smith, and also that of his onscreen alter ego, Silent Bob. Over the course of several movies, Bob would show the protagonist the error of his ways for letting the love of a good woman get away (Chasing Amy and Clerks), stand up for his own merchandising rights (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back), and also wheeze out a few tired movie quotes (Dogma and Mallrats).
The character also piped up for the "Science says" segments from the short-lived Clerks animated TV series. Jay and Silent Bob action figures are also available, by the way. Press Jay's button and he'll say one of several pre-recorded phrases. Press Silent Bob's button and nothing happens.
South Park: Bigger Longer, and Uncut (1999): Kenny's actually been talking since his first appearance – we just can't understand what he's saying most of the time. In the movie, he shocks the world by taking off his hood. Now we can hear him and see his face! (Virgin Megastores released a limited edition of the video with an unhooded Kenny on the cover.)
The Great Dictator (1940): Charlie Chaplin managed to keep silent cinema alive for longer than anyone expected, but even he had to eventually move with the times. This film is the only one in which his famous character, "the little tramp," is heard talking. Chaplin would continue to play speaking parts in films (Limelight, Monsieur Verdoux), just not as his famous alter ego.
The Spiral Staircase (1946): Now, let's see... it's been ages since I've watched this suspense classic about a madman who stalks a mute girl, but I seem to remember her character speaking a single line after her ordeal is over. Sure hope I'm not screwing up again.
Ms. 45 (1981): OK, in this one the mute woman definitely says something at the end. (Nice to be on firm ground again... fortunately, I own this tape.) Thana (Zoe Tamerlis), a mute seamstress, goes on a murderous rampage of vengeance against all scummy males after being raped twice in one day. Her killing spree ends when her female friend stabs her, and she says "Sister..." as she dies.
Silent Movie (1976): How's this for a gimmick? The only spoken line of dialogue in the entire film comes from legendary mime Marcel Marceau. When asked if he wants to be in the movie, he says "Non." I guess you could call this a French-language movie, then.
Cockfighter (1974): I haven't seen the film yet, but if it's anything like the book by Charles Willeford, the protagonist (played here by Warren Oates) refuses to speak until the story is almost over, surprising the various characters who assumed he was mute.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975): "Chief," a large, stoic inmate at an insane asylum, proves himself to be full of hidden strengths, including the unexpected ability to speak. Want some gum, Chief? "Thanks. Mmm. Juicy fruity." |
