Local Hero (1983) written and directed by Bill Forsythe
Peter Capaldi as Danny Oldsen, Denis Lawson as Gordon Urquhart, Jennifer Black as Stella Urquhart and Peter Riegert as “Mac” MacIntyre
Urquhart: How is the casserole de lapin?
MacIntyre: Excellent. Terrific. Thank you.
Oldsen: Lapin? That’s “rabbit.”
MacIntyre (through a mouthful he’s not swallowing): Is this my rabbit?
Urquhart: Yes.
MacIntyre: (spits it into his napkin)
Oldsen: Harry!
MacIntyre: Trudy.
Urquhart: We don’t allow animals in the bedrooms. I should’ve told you sooner.
MacIntyre: It’s a pet, not an animal. It had a name! You don’t eat things with names! This is horrific!
Urquhart: It was an injured rabbit, that’s all. It was in shock with a broken leg. It was in pain.
Oldsen: Excuse me Mr. Urquhart, but I think you were a bit hasty. Mac was lookin’ after it. All it needed was lots of rest and the proper treatment. There was every chance of a full recovery and a fully active life. Mac was on top of the situation.
Urquhart (to his wife Stella): They didn’t like the rabbit.
Oldsen: Mac loved the rabbit. That’s just the point! It had a name! Two names! (leaves)
Urquhart: I’m sorry, I just don’t think there’s a lot I can do. Is it worthwhile calling the vet, Stella?
Stella: Don’t be a clown, Gordon. Get into the kitchen and make some coffee.
Urquhart: It had a broken leg. It was a clean snap. You check the bones in the dish if you don’t believe me. (leaves)
Stella: I’m sorry, Mac, but we eat rabbits here. The vet would’ve done the same. I didn’t know it had a name.
MacIntyre: It’s ok, Stella.
Stella: Now look, you don’t have to finish it if you don’t want to… How was it anyway?
MacIntyre: It was nice. Apart from it being Trudy it was nice.
Stella: What lovely little eyelashes you’ve got.
MacIntyre: (awkward pause) Was it a wine sauce?
Filed under: Movie Quote of the Day
This movie is wonderful. Thanks for reminding me that I have to watch it again immediately.
It has always been a desert island favorite of mine, but I hadn’t watched it in many years. I was a little worried this time around that somehow it would disappoint or that I’d outgrown it, but it was as wonderful as ever.
***Spoilers*** The conceit that the villagers actually WANT to sell their land to the big evil oil developer totally saves it from being kind of a cliche. It’s not about how progress is inherently bad, but how it’s important to stop and recognize the simple pleasures all around us. That’s a message I can get behind ***end spoilers***
You guessed correctly Craig, this is another film that had a special resonance for me. It has such a unique and gently winning tone, with a tiny bit of magic realism thrown in. I loved Burt Lancaster’s work in it.
Great movie, cant wait to tell my son who spent a summer in a village on Scotland.