What's in a name? Mary Poppins. Dambusters. The Taking of Pelham 123.


Nigger, Snowflake, Snowball, Whittie, Blackie, Chalky, Molasses & Charcoal are some of the names I have heard black men called in old films. Although I don't like it I recognise the terms are of the time. You can't use todays 'acceptable language' in films set in the past, it just doesn't work. It's one reason I don't like remakes.

In The Taking of Pelham 123 (1974 version, not the hideous remake) a dozen passengers on a New York subway train are held hostage for 1,000,000 dollars. A handsome black man is not convinced they will not be harmed if the ransom is paid. He says assurances were given America would win when he went to Vietnam. Guess what? in the credits he is listed as pimp not veteran. At no time are the names, professions or any other personal details of the hostages given. For speaking up he is hit and told "Shut up nigger". (I still love the film though).

I have watched the film Mary Poppins countless times and did not realise the word 'hottentots' was discriminatory language. I can understand why people who know the term would be upset but regrading the certificate because of one word seems a bit extreme; could it not have been dubbed over? 

They did that for The Dambusters. Comedian Al Murray, in a stand up routine, joked he liked the 1955 film but wondered what they would call the dog in a purposed remake. The name of Wing Commander Guy Gibson's black Labrador was Nigger.

Even sewing was touched by racist names, in a job lot of vintage threads I found this; a nigger brown reel.



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