The Vine: December 9, 2015
There’s a scene from a film that I saw, perhaps in the ’90s, perhaps earlier, that I can’t get out of my head due to its sheer irreverence and ballsiness, but for the life of me (and Google), I can’t seem to place.
I’m hoping one of your astute readers might recall it and name the movie. The jist of the scene is that a young-ish female goes into a liquor store to buy a bottle of something or other. The cashier asks to see her ID, or asks if she’s old enough to buy said bottle. She responds by lifting her shirt, exposing her (obviously old enough) breasts, possibly uttering a rejoinder like “does this look like I’m old enough?” And the clerk promptly and wordlessly rings up her purchase and puts it in a bag.
Does this ring any bells, Tomato Nationals?
Thanks,
Brier Random
Santa Barbara, CA
(and winner of the New Yorker caption contest in August 2013 if that gives me any cred)
Dear Brier,
Google’s not helping me out either, except to suggest that maybe I don’t want to see Neighbors after all. Readers?
Tags: Ask The Readers popcult
This is just a guess since I’m at work, but it’s not Clerks, is it? It certainly sounds like something that could have been in Clerks. Which I haven’t seen in approximately 100 years.
I don’t know about a movie, but I swear this bit has been in at lease one episode of every Law and Order/CSI franchise. Sigh. Do guys ever drop their pants to prove they’re old enough?
I’m at work, so I can’t check, but my first thought was also Clerks.
I’ve seen Clerks about 60 times; that doesn’t sound familiar to me. Doesn’t mean it didn’t happen…
Damn, I was hoping someone had got it by now because that sounds fammiliar to me but I’ve no idea what it’s from. I don’t think it’s either Clerks or Dazed and Confused, which were my first two thoughts.
@Nanc: for real. With regard to the current predicament of women in film, Maureen Dowd
published a truly excellent article in the New York Times. I think my favorite part is when she reports that female writers in Hollywood are inured to being asked to “put in a rape scene.”
I also seriously doubt it’s Clerks.
I remember a commercial around the same time. I think it was for Coke. Three teenage girls buy coke (or whatever) products at a convenience store and are asked for some kind of rewards card that let them win prizes (I think. My memory’s very fuzzy on this). Anyway, the camera switches so you see them from behind and see one pulling down the neck of her skirt, one lowering the waistband of her pants, so it looks like they’re flashing the clerk but really just showing the rewards card in their bras and underwear.
My point is, maybe a lot of places did scenes like that. I don’t remember seeing that movie specifically, but it sounds like one of the many movies in the 90s that tried to be Heathers.
I know it’s not Dazed and Confused. Maybe Mallrats?
This is certainly not the movie you’re thinking of since it’s from 2011, but this exact scene is in a British movie called Albatross. The woman in question is Jessica Brown Findlay (Lady Sybil from Downton Abbey). You can watch the scene online but the links I’m finding are on somewhat icky websites that I really don’t want to link to. If you Google her name and “flash” you’ll be able to see it if you want, maybe it will jog someone’s memory about an earlier movie with a similar scene?
On a related note, man the internet is terrible sometimes.
Was it Felicity Jones in “Albatross”? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1541149/?ref_=ttqt_qt_tt
It does sound Mallrats-y.
Oh, you know, I did that. It was me. Its on the store video
It does sound very Mall Rats-esque.
If you saw it in the 90s or earlier, like others said, it’s obviously not the movie you’re looking for, but the scene from Albatross starts at about 0:43 in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5MyftFkEfM
It IS “Albatross”.
From the quotes section on IMDB:
Clerk: Have you got any ID?
Emelia: [takes out her compact and looks at herself] Yeah, definitely me.
Clerk: No. Are you 18?
Emelia: Yes.
Clerk: Can you prove it?
Emelia: [flashes him] There. Are those not the breasts of an 18 year-old?
Clerk: That’ll be 2 pound 99, please.
I don’t think it’s Mallrats. I haven’t seen that movie as often as I’ve seen Clerks, but do malls have liquor stores?
OP here, it was INDEED Albatross, thanks!! For some reason I thought I saw it a long time ago. I much appreciate the help, everyone!!!
The movie is Albatross wiht Jessica Brown.