April 02, 2005

"What we have here is a failure to communicate"

One of my all-time favorite movies is "Cool Hand Luke."

Paul Neuman is at his best in this classic prison movie, playing the eponymous Luke who just cannot conform to the norms of society---let alone the strictures of life on the chain gang.

What makes the movie, however, is the malevolent image of the guard boss, fat Southern sheriff looking dude in khakis and mirrored sunglasses, who would always utter "What we have here is a failure to communicate" before beating the living crap out of Luke.

Anyhoo, apparently Argentina is talking about retaking the Falkland Islands.

And I can just imagine the Baroness Thatcher reaching into her handbag, pulling on the mirrored shades, and uttering "What we have here....."

D'Oh! One of our commentators takes issue with my memory of the movie, but hey, no one's perfect.

Posted by Steve at April 2, 2005 06:23 PM
Comments

Strother Martin, the camp warden, said "what we have here is a failure to communicate", not the mirror-glassed guard.

the guard didn't always say this; he never spoke.

he never beat the crap out of Luke, or anyone else.

George Kennedy, as Dragline, beat the crap out of Luke, but only once.

Dragline uttered "you muthahead" all the time.

Posted by: Glenn Bowen at April 2, 2005 07:44 PM

generally, you have a choice of either 'Falkland Islands' or 'Islas Malvinas'. 'Faukland' is quite new and innovative.

Posted by: dave s at April 3, 2005 08:20 AM

Considering the fact that the islands are still British property, I think "Falkland Islands" is appropriate, however new and innovative. Argentina, incidentally, is an economic basket case; what are they going to fight this war with? I'm not sure Argentina could defeat the Paraguan navy right now.

Posted by: D. Carter at April 3, 2005 03:08 PM

That's "Paraguayan".

Posted by: D. Carter at April 3, 2005 03:09 PM

Steve, R and I really like Cool Hand Luke, and will quote that very phrase when the dicombobulated "restaurant server" walks away with the wrong food and a corrected order.

For what it's worth, I knew to whom and what you were referring.

Details, details....

Posted by: Rae at April 3, 2005 05:06 PM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?