The Protective Brother

     The character of Hugh can be described in many different ways. I pointed out in class that I saw him as overly protective, I still attest to that but after watching it again I have come to the conclusion he is about his siblings creating the best lives for themselves. It is evident Benny to a degree coasts off of his success (the little of it he has at least) and doesn't really have a direction. I first get this notion when Benny is asking Hugh for $20 to pay a guy back he borrowed money from for a few beers. This I found baffling, for one how Benny is asking for it, he appears zoomed like he may have been taking drugs, this I can't attest too but it certainly appears that way, though I could relate that too Benny chain smoking cigarettes all through out the film. However, $20? For beer? That today is a lot of money for beer, in 1959 we're talking so that seemed very suspect.
     Hugh is already extremely disdained in the negotiation scene at the night club. He feels utterly useless over having to introduce the girls or as he refers to them as the "floozies". Regardless he takes the two night showcase at $35 a night, leaving everything but dignity in tact. Too bad he is only walking away $50 of it because he feels obligated to take care of his brothers alcohol debt.  It is then that Benny feels he won't get his way locking dead eyes with Hugh, puts on his sunglasses and walks away like he is going to cry. Between his brother, the floozies, the pushy promoter, and manager making his decisions, all Hugh can resort to is a cigarette watching the annoying floozies prance around thinking about being billed third.
    Playing the role of big brother isn't easy, especially when you have multiple siblings and you feel the need to play big brother with all of them. In case Hugh does not have enough issues with Benny, he is constantly on Leila's case. She appears to be doing the best out of them all, young, attractive, decent job, but still big brother Hugh is there to make sure she doesn't walk the streets of New York City by herself and has cab fare. Once the scene with Tony, is where the true big brother comes out and almost leads to violent episode. I though how Hugh handed that situation was great, I thought for sure something was about come about. Hugh kept calm, cool, and collective, around Tony's clear racist thoughts and calmly told him to get out. Hugh, I feel is the kind of big brother and sibling should desire to have in their life.