Electric Underpants

I’m a huge Beatles fan, so the other night I decided to watch the movie “Help!” which I hadn’t seen in maybe 20 years. It’s not great, but it has its moments. Not far into the film, there’s a scene in which the cult members led by Leo McKern’s Clang attempt to cut off Ringo’s hand while the Beatles dine in an Indian restaurant (they need the big red ring that’s stuck on his finger for their human sacrifice ceremony.) After failing in the attempt, Clang pulls his minion Bhuta aside and, as the characters face the camera, makes a hand gesture. Twenty years ago, I thought nothing of it. But now that gesture has a new and mildly obscene meaning. In the interest of recognizing classic moments like these from the history of cinema, I present this graphic…

There are certain anatomical impossibilities that likely explain the look on Bhuta’s face.