This movie is probably from between 1950 and 1975/1980 (I’ve seen it 40 years ago on tv). I think it was in color. I don’t know why but I think it was either a war movie or a heist movie, maybe both.
I’m almost sure that one of the actors was Ernest Borgnine but I’ve never been able to spot the movie by looking at his credits, so I might be wrong.
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The scene takes place underground, probably something like in the galleries of the New York metro, outside public reach. Could also be an abandoned or bombed train station undergrounds, any damaged underground railway actually.
Several (at least two) men at hiding here. One of them has a cut limb (accident? war?) and the other ones prepare a fire, and put a piece of metal (rail section, I think) on the fire to heat it. They then apply the piece on the man’s wound to cauterize it.
When the bad guy(s) arrive, they force some of the men, at gun point, to start a sexual relationship, and they laugh because two of them are brothers.
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That’s all I have. I’m not even sure this is all accurate (not sure all events are in the same scene, but I’m pretty sure this is the same movie). Needless to say I shouldn’t have seen this at that age (I was 8) but there were no PG ratings at the time, I guess… (I remember my parents being shocked too). I don’t think anything was sexually explicit, but the tone made the scene(s) exhausting. Sorry for bringing up such a sordid topic but I’d really like to solve this mystery.
I’m probably going to look stupid for even suggesting this title. It is not an obscure movie, so I doubt it is the right answer. Could you possibly have some hazy memory of watching John Carpenter’s Escape from New York? It doesn’t match your recollections perfectly, but you did say you watched this movie when you were eight, about forty years ago, and you aren’t certain all the details you listed are accurate.
This is what matches up, at least partially…
– The film was released in 1981, exactly forty years ago, so very close to the time frame of when you remember watching the movie. It is a color film.
– Ernest Borgnine has a memorable role in the movie as a looney cab driver.
– You could describe this science fiction film as a war or heist movie. The premise is that in the future (1997) all of Manhattan is a federal prison. Prisoners are dropped into the city and left to fend for themselves. Survival of the fittest. No guards inside, but the perimeter is well protected. Anyone who attempts to escape is killed. But terrorists attack Air Force One and the President (played by Donald Pleasence) escapes in a pod that lands somewhere in Manhattan. The military force a bad-ass, ex-military, prisoner (Snake Plissken, played by Kurt Russell) to sneak into the city, do battle with the scum inside if necessary, and steal back the president. A “sort of” war/heist plot.
– There is a prominent scene that takes place in an old railway yard. It is a bit like you describe. There are small fires on the ground to keep people warm. The toughest gang has captured the President and they’re holding him prisoner here. Snake Plissken is shot in the leg by an arrow from a crossbow as he attempts to free the president. Nobody cauterizes his leg wound, however. The gang quickly capture Plissken and the President before they can leave the railway yard. The leader of the gang (The Duke, played by Isaac Hayes) tortures Plissken by grabbing the shaft of the arrow and twisting it around in his leg. So the cauterizing you remember is missing, but the railway station, leg wound, fires, and gang violence are all in this scene.
– In a scene that takes place immediately after Plissken’s failed rescue, the President has been chained to a wall and The Duke is shooting arrows at him. A prominent member of The Duke’s gang is a spikey-haired, punk-goth, who wears a lot of make-up. This punk, who gives off a strong gay vibe, walks up to the president, gets right in his face and for a moment it appears like he is going to make out with him and everyone laughs. In a later scene, the punk is in charge of guarding their prisoner. You see he has handcuffed the president to his bed, and placed a woman’s blonde wig on him. The wig is not an attractive look for Donald Pleasence. These two scenes are kinky enough that they could be the forced sexual relationship you remember.
Not an obscure movie. Probably not the one you are looking for. But it seems like it is close enough to at least suggest it as a possibility. Feel free to post a comment that you have seen Escape from New York a hundred times and it isn’t the movie you are looking for. The John Carpenter movie was a big hit when it came out. I think I went to see it three times that summer. It inspired a lot copy-cat films, especially cheap Italian knock-offs. Maybe one of those could be the movie you are looking for.
This is an excellent idea, but this is not the one, essentially because of the time frame.
Escape was released the year I watched my movie on tv but at the time (in France) all movies on tv were at least 6 years old due to regulations. And there’s no chance this viewing could have happened later, say in 1987 for example. This memory is much older than that.
Also there’s almost zero chance my father would have watched this with me, he never watched science-fiction. That’s why I was thinking it may be a war movie.
However, I have to congratulate you for this idea, because indeed it’s very close to what I exposed in the question. 🙂
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It inspired a lot copy-cat films, especially cheap Italian knock-offs. Maybe one of those could be the movie you are looking for.
Good idea. I will look into this. Thanks!
I come to realize that maybe those two scenes (cauterized limb, forced incest) are from different movies. I have no way to be sure. I hope I’m not wasting your time, people. Please help me find the answer(s). 🙂