What’s Aged the Worst?
Slapping Laura; sister’s accent; raw egg in beer; vanished shuttle convenience
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:46Read transcript
- Walk-up Eastern Airlines shuttles between LaGuardia and Boston are admired as a vanished convenience, classed as aged best by one and aged worst by another.
- Aged worst: the sister's attempted Boston accent is criticized, with joking blame on New Yorker Lumet.
- Galvin slapping Laura is a principal aged-worst choice.
- Producers reportedly wanted the slap removed to protect Newman and audience sympathy,but Newman insisted it fit the character.
- The slap is contextualized by his immediate discovery of betrayal and a period drunk lawyer's plausible behavior, while still condemned as violent misogyny; alternatives such as throwing a drink are suggested.
- Raw egg in beer as sober-up breakfast is another aged-worst choice, contrasted with modern juice/immunity drinks and connected jokingly to Cool Hand Luke's eggs.