Was there a particular meaning to that dialogue? The Driver advised it was $10.50 and John replies $12, right? I presume that includes the tip...I'm just wondering about the cabbie's reaction...Did he not want to accept a tip because John was black?
Thoughts anyone?
‘Six inches is perfectly adequate; more is vulgar!' (Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Re: An open window).
I think it's a combination of things...I think he was showing his displeasure at them being a couple in general (remember he did see them kissing in the cab), and I think he's showing his resentment that this black man for all intents and purposes is successful...or more to the point...he's more sucessful than the cab driver, and can afford to both pay the cab fare and tip well.
"The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain"
Or in other words the driver was simply N.V.S. of John. *wink* *wink*
"just panties, what else do I need?"
Poseidon Adventure
I think he's pissed that he drove 12 miles from the airport to downtown SF, waited for them, then off to her home and only made a very small tip. I didn't get the impression that their relationship upset him - if it did why not stop the cab and toss them out or get snarky with them.
shareThat almost 15% tip is not bad for a cab in that era. And the waiting wouldn't bother a cabbie; the meter is running the whole time, so waiting for a fare in the middle of their trip is easy money. (In most cities where I've taken a cab, the meters run by time, not mileage.)
shareAs with most things with this film, this cannot be viewed through a 2012 prism. In 1967, $1.50 was an exorbitant tip.
shareTip percentages haven't changed. 15% was an average tip then and now .
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Mmmm, no, the 15% as average tip is a fairly recent abomination. As one who lived through the 60s, 10% was the norm.
shareBigRedFan79, I don't agree with your point. First off, it is perfectly legitimate to have a cab wait for you. Their meter is still running, so they make money (and are not using gas). Second, the tip was fairly good, so I don't see that he would have any cause to complain - perhaps he expected more because of the luggage. But the airport to downtown SF trip is no big deal. There is no reason why he should expect a special tip for that.
shareWhat's wrong with a 10% tip? At one time, a 10% tip was the norm. Adjusted for inflation, that was a $10.60 tip.
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I think this was supposed to show his prejudice against African-Americans. That is how I've always understood it anyway. The smartass way he says "$10.50, Mac," is his way of implying that John might not be able to pay. I could be wrong, but this is the way I've always interpreted the subtleties of this scene.
shareI can't see any way that the cabbie would doubt that John could pay. He was dressed much too well for that to be even the vaguest of concerns.
However, it *does* embody a bit of reaction to seeing the black man and white girl making out in his rear view mirror. That is the whole theme of the movie, after all: other people's reactions to John and Joey being a couple.
Interracial couples in SF in the 60's was common and caused little if any commotion at all. SF has always been a very liberal society.
shareI think it was the 1967 film makers way of telling the 1967 audience how expensive San Francisco cab rides are.
shareWhy does everyone inject accusations of racism in *everything*? Most cabbies ARE smartasses, to begin with. They're tired, they've been putting up with people who just don't pay or try to talk down the amount of their fares. It's about people, not about race. Geez.
shareThis is a movie about racism, and showing a cabbie looking unapprovingly at an interracial couple was obviously done for a point.
shareThat sounds about right.
shareCab rides from SFO cost about $50 now, with tips, it's about $58. Also, there's a stereotype that black people don't tip (which is a joke on *Louie* btw) and I guess that since Sidney Poitiers said, "$12, right?" it could be a confirmation of what is somewhat a "white people" customs about the strange 15% tipping rate because really, comparing with the modern rates, $1.50 is akin to an $8 tips and $8 could get you a nice meal.
This is speaking as a foreigner who lives in San Francisco and where I'm from, tipping was around 10% and 15% is pretty surprisingly high. I'm guessing also that around 1967, 15% tipping was relatively new and that SP knowing about the 15% thing might have said that he knew about these 'new customs'.
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A ten and two singles would have done the trick. I think the cabbie was just a bit snarky because he doesn't approve of the interracial relationship. Its one of the first scenes in the movie, and its setting up the fact that society will not approve of their relationship.
Also, take in the fact that the cabbie just takes the money and goes, he doesn't even say thank you for the tip or anything, almost taking it begrudgingly.