Lucas Delgado
The phrase hold the chicken between your knees is a reference to a famous scene in the 1970 film Five Easy Pieces, written by Carole Eastman and Bob Rafelson. In the scene, Bobby, played by Jack Nicholson, is attempting to place a complicated order with a waitress in a diner. After a back-and-forth about substitutions and side orders, Bobby tells the waitress that he wants a plain omelette, a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast with no mayonnaise, butter, or lettuce, and a cup of coffee. The waitress begins to write down his order, repeating it sarcastically as a Number Two with various items held or left off. Bobby then tells her that all she has to do is hold the chicken, bring me the toast, [and] give me a cheque for the chicken salad sandwich, and she won't have broken any rules. The waitress challenges him, asking if he wants her to hold the chicken, to which Bobby replies, I want you to hold it between your knees. The scene has been described as a metaphor for how America became embroiled in the Vietnam War and a commentary on unthinking obedience to rules.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film | Five Easy Pieces |
| Year | 1970 |
| Character | Bobby |
| Actor | Jack Nicholson |
| Scene | Bobby orders a meal at a diner |
| Dialogue | Bobby: "Now all you have to do is hold the chicken, bring me the toast, give me a cheque for the chicken salad sandwich and you haven't broken any rules." Waitress: "You want me to hold the chicken, huh?" Bobby: "I want you to hold it between your knees." |
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What You'll Learn
'Hold the chicken' scene from Five Easy Pieces
The "hold the chicken" scene from the 1970 film Five Easy Pieces takes place in a roadside diner. In the scene, Bobby (Jack Nicholson) pesters a waitress (Lorna Thayer) by making a complicated order. He asks for a number two, a chicken salad sandwich without the butter, lettuce, and mayonnaise, and a cup of coffee. He then adds that all she has to do is "hold the chicken, bring me the toast, [and] give me a cheque for the chicken salad sandwich." When the waitress asks for clarification, Bobby says, "I want you to hold it between your knees." The other people in Bobby's group laugh, and the frustrated waitress points to a sign indicating her right to refuse service.
The scene is based on two real-life incidents. Firstly, screenwriter Carole Eastman witnessed a similar interaction at Pupi's Bakery and Sidewalk Café in Los Angeles, where an aggrieved Jack Nicholson pushed all the plates and cups off a table. Secondly, director Bob Rafelson frequently asked for substitutions at restaurants. The scene is considered legendary and one of the best representations of the New Hollywood era. However, some believe that it overshadows the rest of the film, which is just as worthy of recognition.
In the film, Bobby Dupea is a surly oil rig worker with a privileged background as a piano prodigy. He struggles to fit in with his affluent family of musicians and the blue-collar types he tries to blend in with, including his girlfriend Rayette (Karen Black). Five Easy Pieces follows Bobby's journey to his family home in Washington after learning that his father is dying. The film explores themes of existential despair and the search for meaning and place in a world where the "frontier" is gone.
The "hold the chicken" scene is not only entertaining but also subtly conveys the film's themes. Bobby's behaviour in the diner reveals his rootless existence and his difficulty in fitting in with those around him. The scene also hints at the open-ended conclusion of the film, suggesting that Bobby will never find what he is looking for and will continue to wander in despair.
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The scene earned Jack Nicholson his first Oscar nomination
The phrase "hold the chicken between your knees" refers to a scene in the 1970 film Five Easy Pieces, which starred Jack Nicholson. In the scene, Nicholson's character, Bobby, and his three companions sit at a table in a diner. Bobby asks the waitress for a plain omelette, a cup of coffee, and a side order of wheat toast. When the waitress informs him that they don't do side orders of toast, Bobby asks her to make him a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast, but to "hold the chicken." The scene ends with Bobby instructing the waitress to "hold the chicken between your knees," to which the waitress responds by pointing to a "right to refuse" sign above the counter.
This scene helped earn Jack Nicholson his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor. In the film, Nicholson plays Robert Eroica Dupea, a classically trained pianist who becomes alienated from his bourgeois background and drops out to explore a seedier lifestyle. The film's tagline, "He rode the fast lane on the road to nowhere," captures the character's journey. Nicholson's performance in the film is described as tightly wound and absorbing, with an enjoyable musicality to his delivery of the dialogue. The lighting shifts to capture the contrast between the grubby plainness of Bobby's life in California and the dark, stifling tastefulness of his Washington home.
The "hold the chicken" scene has become a memorable part of the film and is often remembered as a metaphor for how America became involved in the Vietnam War. The scene showcases Nicholson's ability to carry a film in a way that garnered awards attention. Nicholson's career took off in the 1970s, and he became one of the most celebrated actors of his generation. He has received a total of 12 Oscar nominations, winning three Academy Awards for Best Actor and one for Best Supporting Actor.
The "hold the chicken" scene has also sparked debates about its filming location, with some insisting it was shot at a diner north of Duncan, near the Red Rooster Cafe, a roadside joint on the Trans-Canada Highway. However, humorist Arthur Black wrote about visiting the cafe and learning that the scene was not filmed there.
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The scene was written by Carole Eastman
The scene in question, which involves holding a chicken between one's knees, is from the 1969 film "Five Easy Pieces", starring Jack Nicholson. The scene was written by screenwriter Carole Eastman, who also wrote the film's story and screenplay.
Eastman's scene has been the subject of much interpretation and analysis. On the surface, it appears to be a bizarre and comedic moment in the film, but it has deeper layers that reflect the themes and character dynamics of the story. The scene involves Nicholson's character, Bobby Dupea, and a young woman he meets at a diner, played by Susan Anspach. Dupea challenges the woman to a game of chicken, which involves holding a live chicken between their knees and seeing who can hold on the longest.
The scene is memorable for its absurdity and its deviation from traditional romantic scenes in films. It showcases Dupea's unconventional and unpredictable nature, as well as his playful and mischievous side. By introducing this game, Dupea breaks the tension and establishes a unique connection with the woman, who rises to the challenge. The scene also reflects the film's exploration of class and cultural differences, as Dupea comes from a privileged background but has chosen a life of manual labour and isolation.
Carole Eastman, who wrote the scene, was known for her unique voice and contribution to the New Hollywood cinema of the 1960s and 1970s. Her work often explored themes of alienation, identity, and the human condition. In "Five Easy Pieces", she crafted a scene that not only entertained audiences but also provided insight into the complex characters and their relationships.
Overall, the scene written by Carole Eastman in "Five Easy Pieces" is a testament to her skill as a screenwriter and her ability to create memorable and meaningful moments on screen. By incorporating the unusual and comedic act of holding a chicken between one's knees, she added a layer of depth and intrigue to the film, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.
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The scene was directed by Bob Rafelson
"Hold the chicken between your knees" is a famous line from the 1970 film Five Easy Pieces, starring Jack Nicholson as Bobby Dupea, a classically trained pianist who has dropped out of his privileged background. The line is from a scene in a roadside diner, where Bobby and his companions are seated at a booth. Bobby asks the waitress for a plain omelette, a cup of coffee, and a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast without mayonnaise, butter, or lettuce. When the waitress informs him that they don't do side orders of toast, Bobby insists that she makes sandwiches, and asks her to "hold the chicken between your knees." The scene earned Nicholson his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Rafelson's debut feature film was Head (1968), which he co-wrote with his friend Jack Nicholson, who also starred in the film. Rafelson and Nicholson collaborated on several other films, including Five Easy Pieces, The King of Marvin Gardens (1972), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), Man Trouble (1992), and Blood and Wine (1996). Rafelson's other notable films include Stay Hungry (1976), which starred Jeff Bridges and a young Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Mountains of the Moon (1990).
As a producer, Rafelson was involved in two significant films of the era, Easy Rider (1969) and The Last Picture Show (1971). He was also one of the creators of the pop group and TV series The Monkees, along with his partner at Raybert Productions, Bert Schneider. Rafelson and Schneider's success allowed them to establish the record company Colgems.
Rafelson's films are known for their entertaining and subtle storytelling, as well as their excellent performances and cinematography. His work has been praised for its ability to capture the contrast between different worlds, such as the grubby plainness of Bobby's life in California and the dark, stifling tastefulness of his Washington home in Five Easy Pieces. Rafelson's talent for directing hard scenes and neo-noir films has been recognized, and he is considered one of the great directors of Hollywood.
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The scene was shot at a diner north of Duncan
The phrase "hold the chicken between your knees" is a reference to a scene in the 1970 film "Five Easy Pieces", starring Jack Nicholson. In the scene, Nicholson's character, Bobby Dupea, a surly oil-derrick worker, stops at a roadside diner with his girlfriend Rayette and two hitchhikers they picked up. Bobby asks the waitress for a plain omelette, toast, and a chicken salad sandwich, but the waitress refuses to bring him toast as a side order. Frustrated, Bobby responds with the now-famous line, "I want you to hold it between your knees," referring to the chicken salad sandwich.
As for the filming location of this iconic scene, there has been some speculation that it was shot at a diner north of Duncan. The humorist Arthur Black wrote about visiting the Red Rooster Cafe, a roadside diner on the Trans-Canada Highway between Duncan and Chemainus, which he believed to be the filming location. However, he was gently informed by a waitress that the scene was not filmed there.
The film "Five Easy Pieces" was largely filmed on Vancouver Island, and the diner scene is a memorable part of the movie. The specific diner location north of Duncan has not been definitively identified, and it may remain a mystery, adding to the allure of this classic film.
The scene captures the contrast between Bobby's grubby, plain life in California and the dark, stifling tastefulness of his upper-class family home in Washington. The lighting and setting contribute to the overall impact of the scene, showcasing the talent of cinematographer László Kovács. The dialogue, written by Carole Eastman, also adds to the appeal, with inventive vulgarity and priggishness.
The "hold the chicken between your knees" scene is not only entertaining but also earned Jack Nicholson his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor. The film itself was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Actor, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Picture, and Best Writing.
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Frequently asked questions
The phrase originates from the 1970 film Five Easy Pieces, written by Carole Eastman and directed by Bob Rafelson.
The line is said by the character Bobby, played by Jack Nicholson.
In the film, Bobby and his companions stop at a roadside diner, where Bobby wants to order a meal. He asks for an omelette, a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast with no mayonnaise, butter, or lettuce, and a cup of coffee. The waitress sarcastically repeats the order, saying, "One Number Two, and a chicken sal san -- hold the butter, the mayo, the lettuce -- and a cup of coffee." Bobby then says, "Now all you have to do is hold the chicken, bring me the toast, charge me for the sandwich, and you haven't broken any rules." The waitress challenges him, asking if he wants her to hold the chicken, to which Bobby replies, "I want you to hold it between your knees."
The line is a joke or a play on words. In the context of the scene, "hold the chicken" can mean either to physically hold the chicken or to leave out the chicken from the sandwich. By saying "hold it between your knees," Bobby is making a humorous or sarcastic comment about the waitress's ability to follow his specific order.
The scene is famous for its tension and for showcasing Nicholson's acting skills. It also serves as a metaphor for the film's themes of alienation, obedience to rules, and class dynamics.
