oops, Lionel

[Joel S. Berson]

At 8/22/2012 12:06 AM, Laurence Horn wrote:
>Begin forwarded message:
>
> > From: Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at yale.edu>
> > Date: August 21, 2012 11:56:54 PM EDT
> > To: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Subject: "right back at you"
> >
> > Watching "Guilty Hands", a 1931 movie with a "perfect crime"
> theme shown on TCM, I was wondering about an exchange between the
> Richard Grant, the murderer (and former D.A.), played by John Barrymore
>
>I meant *Lionel* Barrymore, a.k.a. Mr. Potter.  I hate when that happens.

Larry is excused only if Lionel wasn't in a wheelchair in "Guilty
Hands".  I'll let Larry reply to Wilson's question about "slumlord"
and banker Potter, the role that Wikipedia says he is most noted for.

Joel


>LH
>
> > , and the chief of police (an old colleague of his) whom he
> welcomes to his house, where the murder has just taken
> place.  Grant/Barrymore, coming down the stairs, cheerfully greets him:
> >
> > Richard Grant: "Well, well, well, Bill Mott!"
> > Bill Mott:        "Right back atcha, Dickie!"
> >
> > I didn't realize this use of "Right back at you" (or "atcha",
> with allegro palatalization) was around in 1931.  Anyone know when it began?
> >
> > LH
>
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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org