Language in Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull (1980)

One of the dozens of things I keep track of in mainstream movies is the language used in reference to female characters, both women and girls. Part of the reason for this is that language is very revealing about filmmakers. It tells us a lot about how well or poorly they think of women. Raging Bull (1980), a biographical drama written by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, includes just one significant female character (Cathy Moriarty, the protagonist’s wife). Women only speak to each other in two scenes, and their exchanges total seven words. As if that wasn't bad enough, the language used in reference to women is very offensive (and illuminating).

Consider the following examples of things said to or about women in this drama that is very popular with men. Joe Pesci refers to Moriarty as “F*ckin’ c*nt.” Robert De Niro calls waitresses and women he does not know doll, darling and honey. Men repeatedly say motherf*cker. They also say: “on your mother’s c*nt then”; “F*ck your mother!”; “Your mother’s an animal!”; “They’re miserable because their mothers take it up the f*ckin’ ass”; and “Your mother sucks f*ckin’ big f*ckin’ elephant dicks.” Pesci says of a 15-year-old girl (Moriarty), “She ain’t the kinda girl you just f*ck and forget about.” De Niro asks Pesci about her, “You didn’t try to f*ck her?” and he replies, “I try to f*ck anything. You know that.” He says to De Niro: “You’re a married man, it’s all over. Leave the young girls to me”; “Wanna do yourself a favour? Bust her f*ckin’ hole, throw her out. Either that or live with her and let her ruin your life, ‘cause that’s what’s happenin’. […] How much shit could you take?”; “F*ckin’ Jew c*nt, why don’t you hit her in the head with a bat?” and “Kill the f*ck” (about his first wife). De Niro says of her, “I hit her enough.” He says to Moriarty, “Did you f*ck my brother?” and “Why’d you f*ck Joey?” He says to Pesci: “You and I both know, any woman, given the right time, the right place, the right circumstances, they’ll do anything, right?” Pesci says to Theresa Saldana, “Who asked you? […] When people are talkin’ you don’t interrupt. […] I’m gonna make you cry.” A comedian says on stage, “Come on, lady. Laugh it up. I laughed when you come in.”

It is worth repeating that this movie is very popular with male audiences. Especially when you consider that women are disrespected and sexualized in speech from beginning to end. It's the type of movie that normalizes misogyny. Think of the times you've heard people quoting Top Gun (e.g. "I feel the need, the need for speed") or The Godfather. People do this in 'real life' as well as in other movies. For example, in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) an Indian boy says the above-mentioned Top Gun line. I have never heard a man quote Raging Bull, but I'm sure it happens. I'm also sure this movie desensitizes people to VAW and blameworthy treatment of women of girls. I look forward to sharing my findings about the language used in mainstream movies of the 20th and 21st centuries in my upcoming film guide for women. 

© 2019 Alline Cormier