Hot Lips change
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — MASH
dvician — 15 years ago(December 21, 2010 07:16 PM)
The only part of this movie I don't get is Hot Lips changing. She is strict, military and a very good nurse, meaning on the ball, then after she hooks up with Duke, we see her in the football game as one of the most stupid characters ever filmed. Seriously, Dumb and Dumber could outsmart her.
It just doesn't fit. For the football game, they really should have chosen another character for that part. Sure, maybe Duke "set her straight", loosening her up a bit and giving her character more appeal, but I seriously doubt he &^%ed her brains out, literally.
Was there supposed to be a more meaningful interpretation of this change I should have picked up on? -
bhobnine — 15 years ago(December 30, 2010 07:35 PM)
Shes been sexually harrassed, ridiculed, belittled. For an upright,uptight,straight military,kinda gal, this treatment has been unforgivable. ' THEY'VE DONE ALL THIS STUFF TO ME AND YOU DO NOTHING!' she sobs to her commanding officer, whos ridicules her and tosses her out of his tent, and yet, there she is at the end playing head cheerleader at the game and hanging out in the tent with the guys. The transformation scene is missing, and thus its a 'wtf' change in personality. Other than the friggin football game tossed in at the end, this is weakest link in the movie.
"Pffft, my suspension of disbelief has higher standards than that" -
avario — 15 years ago(February 16, 2011 07:20 PM)
As an avid follow of Sally Kellerman, I am here to tell you all something: What a lot of you may not know is that when 'Hot Lips' walked into the commanders tent, she threatened to resign her commission. That line was said to not have originally been in the script. It was actually, Kellerman's own anger speaking out. If 'Hot Lips' resigned her commision she would no longer be in the film. So, Kellerman turned the role upside down and had fun, instead of being disgusted with what went on with her character.
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molypocho — 14 years ago(September 22, 2011 09:38 AM)
I think Hot Lips only wants to be accepted at this point. She is willingly ignorant, as long as they know she is on the team. Like an abused dog.
In my opinion, jarring, unexplained shifts in character are all part of Altman's brilliance. The shift temporarily stuns, and then forces us to ask questions: Depth. -
bluefellow — 14 years ago(September 28, 2011 03:11 PM)
In my opinion, jarring, unexplained shifts in character are all part of Altman's brilliance
Well that's certainly putting a positive spin on things. Too bad other directors didn't pick up on this technique. Scorcese could have suddenly transformed Travis Bickle into a glib, sociable man-about-town 3/4 of the way through
Taxi Driver
.
"I don't want any Commies in my car. No Christians, either." -
molypocho — 14 years ago(September 30, 2011 05:34 AM)
But Travis Bickle is the protagonist. We experience the film through his eyes. Hot Lips, if anything, acts as an antagonist. We are not meant to identify with her. Perhaps we feel pity, but never empathy.
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franzkabuki — 11 years ago(April 04, 2014 10:27 AM)
"Scorsese could have suddenly transformed Travis Bickle into a glib, sociable man-about-town 3/4 of the way through Taxi Driver".
He could have - if it made sense and jibed with the film`s themes & purpose.
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan -
dwarol — 14 years ago(October 16, 2011 11:12 AM)
It was an echo of the sexual revolution of the '60s. After hooking up with Duke she was supposedly liberated and able to cast off all the old straight-laced morals of her military upbringing, which reflected the morals of pre-60s America. That was after all how Hawkeye and Trapper lived. In the 2010 time frame it all looks a little dated and ridiculous.
That was one thing about the series which was much better than the movie. Hot Lips in the series gradually became a much more liberated woman who did not depend on any man and who became much more comfortable with herself. Supposedly this happened because Loretta Swit was unhappy with the original one-dimensional aspect of her role (which caused Larry Linville to leave). -
ElMaruecan82 — 14 years ago(November 23, 2011 01:09 AM)
This part bothered me the most, she was abused, bullied and humiliated but at the end, she chose to act like a stereotypical dumb blonde girl. And I guess just because it's Altman, we must give the film the benefit of doubt and consider that it was a gutsy movie that makes it a "fearlessly inventive director" I don't know. I guess it was just written by a guy who wanted the strict woman to be 'domesticated', who wanted the bullies to win, like a mean-spirited version of Benny Hill.
"Darth Vader is
scary and I
The God
father" -
Bitterblogger — 12 years ago(June 19, 2013 07:08 PM)
It's a combination of her awareness that Col. Blake had no intention of disciplining Hawkeye and Trapper, and that word had reached her that General Hammond, to whom she and Frank had sent a letter of concern about how the camp was run, was so keen on football(and that he'd dropped his inquiry re her claim) that she figured she'd get on board with her support.
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scarlettohara146 — 12 years ago(December 24, 2013 04:13 PM)
I think this was to show her character change over time. We can assume Duke and Hawkeye get there fairly early in the war and leave when it's almost over. That could be enough time for Hot Lips to have a change of attitude.