History Fridge / TheBigLebowski

* Maude chose the Dude to father her child because she wanted a man who would have no interest in fatherhood, one who'd let her have the kid all to herself. Maude must have good intuition, because she's right. All through the movie, Donnie--the "baby brother," childlike member of the bowling team--goes virtually ignored by the Dude, being scolded and comforted almost entirely by Walter. One must wonder if Maude somehow got a chance to observe their relationship before settling on her decision.

* Looking about the house of the titular Lebowski, many shots with the old man include statues of women rendered in metal. On one level, he has an extensive collection of [[{{Pun}} trophy wives and kept women]], but on another he has surrounded himself with images of women that provide no opposition to him and which he can claim direct ownership and dominion over, as opposed to every other woman in his life, who has free agency and uses it to defy/control him. They're literally the only women in his life that don't run roughshod over the old man.

* For a film class, I had to write a paper on the obsession with manhood in the film such as Lebowski Sr. asking about what makes a man and the references to castration. The film is technically Howard Hawks The Big Sleep with the dude being Philip Marlowe, Maude as Lauren Bacall's character, Bunny being the flirtatious little sister and Jeff Lebowski being the wheel-chair bound father. The idea of manliness in Howard Hawk's films and Raymond Chandler's books was about being assertive, having control of your women and situations. Does any of the male protagonist's fit this ideal? No, in fact the only people who do are Maude and presumably her mother before her. Who is the Big Lebowski of the title than? It's Maude!

** Possibly my favority part of the movie is how every idiom The Dude uses someone else said to him earlier in the movie and every piece of the movie that has you scratching your head wondering why it's in there pops up later. The Sadaam working the shoe counter comes back from the news report in the opening scene is a prime example.

* FridgeHorror: Walter seems to know more about kidnapping someone and holding them for ransom than the three Nihilist.

* I was reading an interesting analysis of ''The Big Lebowski'' the other day, and managed to have one of these because of it. The analysis stated that whenever the Dude pointed out that Walter was living under the thumb of his ex-wife, Walter would direct his anger at something else (After talking about the dog, Walter pulls his gun on the other bowler for going over the line.) The FridgeBrilliance came when I realised that Walter didn't actually get angry at the Dude until the Dude suggested that Walter wasn't genuinely Jewish. [[HiddenDepths There may be more to the angry veteran than we thought...]] - {{randomfanboy}}

* FridgeHorror: Walter seems to know more about kidnapping someone and holding them for ransom than the three Nihilist.

* Walter is wearing his wedding ring on the chain with his dogtags throughout the movie.

* In the very beginning of the film the cowboy mentions how The Dude is the kind of guy who belongs where he is, as a man of his time. Then it hits you that this is coming from someone who seems so out of place, and out of their own time.

* Some time ago I became a Dudeist as a kind of joke. And then I ran across some of the literature that's out there, and they tied it to Taoism. Upon further reflection, many philosophical undertones became clear. The most important of which to me was the realization that the entire conflict of the movie is from the Dude not being very Dude-like. He references this later, when he says "I could be sitting here with just pee stains on my rug." The Dude allowed himself to be influenced by the infecting voice of anger and greed, and look what it got him. This led me to see it as a story of how one should deal with the problems of life. Not with anger, or seeking retribution. But to abide, and flow along the universe. There are now a number of great books on Dudeism, and I highly suggest looking into it. -Mitchell-

* Right before [[spoiler: Donny dies of a heart attack, he misses his only strike in the movie and looks shocked. When he returns to his seat, he is shaking his hand around. What's one of the symptoms of a heart attack? Numb arm.]] The Coens are incredible.

* Near the very end, the Dude and Donny offer the Nihlists whatever money they have on them, and Donny offers up the 18 dollars he has. In Jewish numerology (which this troper is a little fuzzy on the exact reasoning), 18 means ''chai'' (life). And then shortly afterward [[spoiler: Donny dies of a heart attack so the giving of 18 dollars was him giving his life!]] Possibly a coincidence, but as this is the Coen Brothers it could have been intentional.

* Walter goes through the movie [[HairTriggerTemper exploding at every little slight, real or imagined]], and violently losing his temper at the slightest provocation. Except when Jesus Quintana is mocking / threatening him, to which his only response is a nonchalant comment after he's gone reminding everyone around him that Jesus is a pederast ("... Eight-year-olds, Dude."). A sign, perhaps, that Walter holds Quintana in such deep contempt that where he would rise to the jibes of anyone else, with Quintana he feels it's just completely beneath him.

** I know what analysis you speak of, but there is a logical reason for Walter blowing up at the Dude. Any other point in the movie, someone else was always around. When the Dude challenged Walter's Judaism they were driving in the car. Notice how Walter doesn't attempt to look too often at the Dude during his rant. It's cause he doesn't want to direct his anger at him, but he can't help his own temper. Moreover, this desire to not explode at his friend is further backed up by Walter becoming distracted rather easily whereas before his temper tantrums weren't interrupted by the threat of approaching COPS. -Tropers/RockySamson

--->[FiveSecondForeshadowing "This is what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass!!"]

--->'''''"This is what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass!!"'''''

--->'''"This is what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass!!"'''

* Near the very end, the Dude and Donny offer the Nihlists whatever money they have on them, and Donny offers up the 18 dollars he has. In Jewish numerology (which this troper is a little fuzzy on the exact reasoning), 18 means ''chai'' (life). And then shortly afterward [[spoiler: Donny dies of a heart attack so the giving of 18 dollars was him giving his life!]] Possibly a coincidence, but as this is the Coen Brothers it could have been intentional.

* Walter goes through the movie [[HairTriggerTemper exploding at every little slight, real or imagined]], and violently losing his temper at the slightest
provocation. Except when Jesus Quintana is mocking / threatening him, to which his only response is a nonchalant comment after he's gone reminding everyone around him that Jesus is a pederast ("... Eight-year-olds, Dude."). A sign, perhaps, that Walter holds Quintana in such deep contempt that where he would rise to the jibes of anyone else, with Quintana he feels it's just completely beneath him.

* Walter goes through the movie [[HairTriggerTemper exploding at every little slight, real or imagined]], and violently losing his temper at the slightest provocation. Except when Jesus Quintana is mocking / threatening him, to which his only response is a nonchalant comment after he's gone reminding everyone around him that Jesus is a pederast ("... Eight-year-olds, Dude."). A sign, perhaps, that Walter holds Quintana in such deep contempt that where he would rise to the jibes of anyone else, with Quintana he feels it's just completely beneath him.
* The music that introduces Jesus Quintana is a latin-cover version of "Hotel California by TheEagles. Which band does the Dude fucking hate again?

* Walter goes through the movie [[HairTriggerTemper exploding at every little slight, real or imagined]], and violently losing his temper at the slightest provocation. Except when Jesus Quintana is mocking / threatening him, to which his only response is a nonchalant comment after he's gone reminding everyone around him that Jesus is a pederast ("... Eight-year-olds, Dude."). A sign, perhaps, that Walter holds Quintana in such deep contempt that where he would rise to the jibes of anyone else, with Quintana he feels it's just completely beneath him.

** Possibly my favority part of the movie is how every idiom The Dude uses someone else said to him earlier in the movie and every piece of the movie that has you scratching your head wondering why it's in there pops up later. The Sadaam working the shoe counter comes back from the news report in the opening scene is a prime example.

* I was reading an interesting analysis of ''The Big Lebowski'' the other day, and managed to have one of these because of it. The analysis stated that whenever the Dude pointed out that Walter was living under the thumb of his ex-wife, Walter would direct his anger at something else (After talking about the dog, Walter pulls his gun on the other bowler for going over the line.) The FridgeBrilliance came when I realised that Walter didn't actually get angry at the Dude until the Dude suggested that Walter wasn't genuinely Jewish. [[HiddenDepths There may be more to the angry veteran than we thought...]] - {{randomfanboy}}