no subways smelling sweet-sour

[Hell Armsfeldt]

Hi,

The quote comes from Kirk Douglas playing Charles Tatum, a former big-city newspaperman, now a small-town newspaper journalist talking about New York in Ace in the Hole. (1951 - directed by Billy Wilder for Paramount Pictures)

Give me those eight spindly trees in front of Rockefeller Center any day.
That's enough outdoors for me. No subways smelling sweet-sour.

"[...] subways smelling sweet-sour." means :

1. ... smelling food ? (sweet and sour)
2. ... smelling sweat ?
3. ... stinking. (in general)

Any help or idea is welcome.

 

[Tdol]

Possibly 1 or smelling both good and bad IMO.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Hello, Hell!

It doesn't make sense.

Did you find that written somewhere, or did you write down what you heard while you were watching the movie?

 

[Hell Armsfeldt]

Hello, Hell!

It doesn't make sense.

Did you find that written somewhere, or did you write down what you heard while you were watching the movie?

I checked the spelling with official subtitles. Just for clarification:

"Give me those eight spindly trees in front of Rockefeller Center any day.
That's enough outdoors for me. No subways smelling sweet-sour. [... like in New York.]"

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I checked the spelling with official subtitles. Just for clarification:

"Give me those eight spindly trees in front of Rockefeller Center any day.
That's enough outdoors for me. No subways smelling sweet-sour. [... like in New York.]"

Oh! That makes sense.

Subtitles are often very wrong. I just ordered the movie from Netflix and will probably see it Wednesday night. I'll let you know what I find out.

 

[Hell Armsfeldt]

Meanwhile, you can already enjoy a clip from this scene. You can find out this quote at 50" to 1'05".

 

[Mrfatso]

Not A Teacher

If the New York Subway is anything like the London Underground, then it means the various human body odours mostly sweat that mix together to make a distinct smell.

In in the clip from the movie the character is describing New York, where he used to live, to the quiet nature of New Mexico.

 

[Jordan Smith]

It can probably mean either in that context. Like maybe the people smell of sweet and sour chinese food

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Thanks! Context is everything. He's listing things New Mexico lacks that he misses.

... no subways smelling sweet-sour.... = ... there are no subways here, with their sweet-sour smell.....