The Film Forum’s Brit Noir month is gonna need a Cockney rhyming slang decoder if today’s They Drive By Night(1939) is any indication of the series.
“Me and me ol' china was having a bit of Rosie when ‘e says, ‘take a butcher's at that,’ and I said, 'go on, use your loaf!'” isn’t an actual bit of the movie's dialogue, but it hits most of the highlights of the slang I heard (and understood). What this means: my mate (= China plate) and I were drinking tea (= Rosie Lea), when he said, look (= butcher’s hook) at that, and I said, aw, use your head (= loaf of bread).
Another thing: the family name kept showing up in the background on posters and the like because it’s the same as a once-omnipresent tobacco company. No relation that I know of, and we sure didn't get any of the blood money, but it's strange to see it emblazoned all over.
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3 comments:
I love film noir. This posting makes me wish that I lived in a big city. Now I'm Frank Bough ter 'ave a cuppa Everton Toffee so Rabbit and Pork ter ya mashed potato.
It's contagious, isn't it? Me fav is "syrup" (of figs=wig) and germans (german bands=hands) and of course titfer (tit for tat=hat).
Yes--very contagious and funny trying to mimic the speech (I have been making the dog laugh)
good ones Matthew, esp tit for tat.
Some favs of mine: apples and pears (stairs) worry and strife (wife) pins and pegs (legs) and Gunga Din (chin)
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