# Old B&w movies where in the guy slaps the woman. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 3, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223 "2013-02-03T16:18:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/21 "2013-02-04T05:16:26Z")
Homeric, even. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/22 "2013-02-04T05:18:05Z")
Here’s a video round-up of some old time movie [Broad Slapping](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZaEP51rtmg). That is the actual name of the video BTW. Fair warning, I hesitated about posting a link as the vid has a fairly glib attitude toward misogyny. Some people might be offended. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/23 "2013-02-04T07:50:47Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > Does Wayne actually hit O’Hara in “The Quiet Man”? I know he drags her 10 miles across the countryside to return her to her brother for not providing a dowry (“Your custom, not mine”). One old Irish woman gives him “a good strong stick to beat your wife”. I don’t remember him actually hitting her but it’s been a while since I’ve seen it. > > Of course we have evolved now to where we have rap records where women are routinely called bitches and 'hos. I can’t recall a slap either. I do recall the helpful woman who offered the Duke 'a stick to beat the lovely lady" with, however. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/24 "2013-02-04T09:59:55Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m hysterical! I’m having hysterics! I’m hysterical! I can’t stop when I get like this. I can’t stop. I’m hysterical. Oh my god. Ah-la-la-la. **splash of water in the face** > [@](#): > > … I’m wet! I’m wet! I’m hysterical and I’m wet! **slap!** > [@](#): > > …I’m in pain! I’m in pain, and I’m wet!.. and I’m still hysterical! ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/25 "2013-02-04T10:24:36Z")
no – don’t hit! Don’t hit! It doesn’t help, it only increases my sense of danger! ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/26 "2013-02-04T12:35:13Z")
I don’t think Wayne slaps O’Hara in THE QUIET MAN either, and, if he does, she certainly does NOT say, “Thanks, I needed that.” Nor does Katherine Hepburn reply that way to Cary Grant in the opening of PHILADELPHIA STORY (not a slap, he pulls back his fist for a punch and then thinks better of it – shakes his head and growls – and simply pushes.) ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/27 "2013-02-04T13:15:57Z")
Robert Mitchum slaps Jean Simmons’s face to calm her hysteria in [Angel Face](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044357/). Interesting behind-the-scenes from [here](http://www.contactmusic.com/movie-review/angelface): > [@](#): > > The DVD features a lively commentary by film noir historian Eddie Muller, who relates a great Mitchum anecdote: Preminger, in his sadistic glory, had Mitchum repeatedly slap Simmons harder and harder in take after take. Finally, at the end of his rope, Mitchum, when prompted by Preminger to slap Simmons yet again, instead turned around and, slapping the surprised face of Preminger with full force, then asked, “Is that the way you want it, Otto?” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/28 "2013-02-04T15:08:42Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Ronald Reagan did some fine wimmen-hittin’ in THE KILLERS. But Reagan’s character was SUPPOSED to be an evil bastard in _ **The Killers.** _ Nothing he does is supposed to indicate what acceptable behavior is. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/29 "2013-02-04T15:10:05Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Well, he was, at least, impetuous. Bur for most of the movie, Maureen is mad at the Duke because he’s too mellow and WON’T fight! ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/30 "2013-02-04T16:14:35Z")
I dunno. A couple years ago, the guy who was living with me made me and a friend sit down and watch an old episode of The Honeymooners with him. He’d been telling me how knee-slapping hilarious The Honeymooners was, and neither my friend nor I had ever sat through an entire episode. He laughed and chuckled and slapped his knee through the entire episode. My friend and I just blinked at each other. When it was finally, mercifully, over, he looked at me all butthurt, trying to figure out why I hadn’t really been all that amused. Note, there was no actual wife-slapping in that particular episode. I never know if the husband ever made good on his threat to punch his wife straight to the moon. I was just appalled and horrified that people were once so entertained by the notion of a presumably loving married couple sniping at each other and treating each other like complete shit. She was a shrewish harpie who was condescending and disrespectful. He was a clueless arrogant asshole who was condescending and respectful. How was this ever a model of a great marriage? People really looked to this show for ideas about what marriage should be like? I guess I’m just not entertained by seeing people treat each other badly. Because it’s not entertainment to me, it’s just real life. I can look around me and see that all day long. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/31 "2013-02-04T16:41:28Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > I dunno. A couple years ago, the guy who was living with me made me and a friend sit down and watch an old episode of The Honeymooners with him. He’d been telling me how knee-slapping hilarious The Honeymooners was, and neither my friend nor I had ever sat through an entire episode. He laughed and chuckled and slapped his knee through the entire episode. My friend and I just blinked at each other. When it was finally, mercifully, over, he looked at me all butthurt, trying to figure out why I hadn’t really been all that amused. Note, there was no actual wife-slapping in that particular episode. I never know if the husband ever made good on his threat to punch his wife straight to the moon. I was just appalled and horrified that people were once so entertained by the notion of a presumably loving married couple sniping at each other and treating each other like complete shit. She was a shrewish harpie who was condescending and disrespectful. He was a clueless arrogant asshole who was condescending and respectful. How was this ever a model of a great marriage? People really looked to this show for ideas about what marriage should be like? > > I guess I’m just not entertained by seeing people treat each other badly. Because it’s not entertainment to me, it’s just real life. I can look around me and see that all day long. I hear this kind of complaint about \*\*\*The Honeymooners \*\*\*a lot, and it’s never made a bit of sense to me. If you just don’t think it’s funny, fine- tastes vary. But the idea that the show condoned spousal abuse is just silly, because Ralph Kramden would never have dared lay a hand on Alice, and they both knew it. Alice was unmistakeably the boss in that household! Ralph’s threats to send her “to the moon” were empty and feeble, and frequently delivered AFTER Alice had put him in his place and left the room. She intimidated him, not vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/32 "2013-02-04T16:57:17Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > How was this ever a model of a great marriage? People really looked to this show for ideas about what marriage should be like? It wasn’t, and no. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/33 "2013-02-04T16:58:24Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I hear this kind of complaint about \*\*\*The Honeymooners \*\*\*a lot, and it’s never made a bit of sense to me. > > If you just don’t think it’s funny, fine- tastes vary. But the idea that the show condoned spousal abuse is just silly, because Ralph Kramden would never have dared lay a hand on Alice, and they both knew it. > > Alice was unmistakeably the boss in that household! Ralph’s threats to send her “to the moon” were empty and feeble, and frequently delivered AFTER Alice had put him in his place and left the room. > > She intimidated him, not vice versa. I did not suggest at all in my post that the show condoned abuse, nor that Ralph was the perpetrator of abuse. It was clear that Alice intimidated him with her bullying, assholilsh behavior. His empty threats to pop her in the face was less than a mature way to handle it. It wasn’t a matter of – for me, anyway – labeling one spouse abusive over the other, or saying that one was dominating the other. I just thought they _both_ treated each other rudely and disrespectfully and it’s not funny. It’s just two mean-spirited people treating each other like shit, not as if they value and deeply love one another, is not amusing or entertaining to me. Perhaps bullying and haranguing your husband until he threatens violence before kow-towing to your manipulations is funny where you live, but it just doesn’t do shit for me. FTR: My parents used to quote this show at each other all the time. I didn’t know they were using quotes from a show, because I’d never seen The Honeymooners. I just thought my dad and stepmom didn’t like each other very much and thought treating each other like shit was funny. I thought the reason people get married was because they\* like \*each other, not to have a convenient whipping boy/girl for the rest of your life. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/34 "2013-02-04T17:18:06Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > I did not suggest at all in my post that the show condoned abuse, nor that Ralph was the perpetrator of abuse. It was clear that Alice intimidated him with her bullying, assholilsh behavior. His empty threats to pop her in the face was less than a mature way to handle it. It wasn’t a matter of – for me, anyway – labeling one spouse abusive over the other, or saying that one was dominating the other. I just thought they _both_ treated each other rudely and disrespectfully and it’s not funny. It’s just two mean-spirited people treating each other like shit, not as if they value and deeply love one another, is not amusing or entertaining to me. Perhaps bullying and haranguing your husband until he threatens violence before kow-towing to your manipulations is funny where you live, but it just doesn’t do shit for me. > > FTR: My parents used to quote this show at each other all the time. I didn’t know they were using quotes from a show, because I’d never seen The Honeymooners. I just thought my dad and stepmom didn’t like each other very much and thought treating each other like shit was funny. I thought the reason people get married was because they\* like \*each other, not to have a convenient whipping boy/girl for the rest of your life. I’m not a big fan of The Honeymooners. But your description of the show is a caricature. It was a show about a loving, if bickering, couple. Which is a description of about 90% of all home-set sitcoms since. And before, if radio is included. If you hate it, fine. All reactions to art are equal. I’m just saying that when other people praise the show it’s not because they approve of abuse. The show they see doesn’t contain the stuff you describe. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/35 "2013-02-04T18:38:49Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I’m not a big fan of The Honeymooners. But your description of the show is a caricature. It was a show about a loving, if bickering, couple. Which is a description of about 90% of all home-set sitcoms since. And before, if radio is included. > > If you hate it, fine. All reactions to art are equal. I’m just saying that when other people praise the show it’s not because they approve of abuse. The show they see doesn’t contain the stuff you describe. I guess I just don’t see the love there. All I see is the bickering. I’ve never found watching a couple take pot shots and snipe at each other as entertaining. Note: I don’t care much for this in modern sit-coms either, which is probably why I don’t watch any. Were the Kramdens ever shown kissing and making up, or being genuinely kind or affectionate toward one another? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/36 "2013-02-04T18:50:39Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Were the Kramdens ever shown kissing and making up, or being genuinely kind or affectionate toward one another? Half the episodes end with “Baby, you’re the greatest!” and an embrace/kiss. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/37 "2013-02-04T20:00:26Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Half the episodes end with “Baby, you’re the greatest!” and an embrace/kiss. Exactly. There were more endings like like than on almost any other show except _I Love Lucy_. A show legendary for the explosive outbursts of the husband at the antics of his wife. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/38 "2013-02-04T21:29:48Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Not quite the same (not exactly a slap, she wasn’t hysterical and she didn’t thank him), but here’s the opening scene from [A Philadelphia Story](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukZDbYWVybs). (Great movie by the way) > > Also, [Airplane](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0GW0Vnr9Yc). What I like about that scene in Philadelphia Story is that he is about to smack her a good one (a punch, not a slap)… and she doesn’t even flinch. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/39 "2013-02-04T22:44:08Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Nor does Katherine Hepburn reply that way to Cary Grant in the opening of PHILADELPHIA STORY (not a slap, he pulls back his fist for a punch and then thinks better of it – shakes his head and growls – and simply pushes.) Sure, like anyone is going to accept _your_ recollection of Cary Grant’s character in _The Philadelphia Story_. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223/40 "2013-02-04T23:42:24Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > no – don’t hit! Don’t hit! It doesn’t help, it only increases my sense of danger! I fell on my keys. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-b-w-movies-where-in-the-guy-slaps-the-woman/649223.md?page=3)