i just know that the hooker Rogo can't say any other word but Goddamn and Christ. she was more a preacher than Hackman.
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I heard it too! Didn't hear him say "Holy." before though, just "F. it's heavy!" lol

The Logo network bleeped it out when they showed the movie on 11/27/15.

Where'd you get "Feckrel" from? It sounded nothing like that. He clearly said "Holy f it's heavy."

So many wishful thinkers need their hearing checked. There's a whole extra syllable in there! So unless he said Holy Feckrel or something like that, I don't see how it could be an F-bomb.

no myth it was real…

I'm not surprised it was said in the movie, as the F-word was used in THE FRENCH CONNECTION the year before. That it made it to television, however, strikes me as amusing.

I'm sorry, it was confirmed in the text commentary on the DVD that he used the F-word, not the verbal commentary.
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Just watched this scene and yes, the F-bomb was definitely dropped!

Oh, yeahdefinitely the F bomb, and not long after he told Hackman to watch his language. One use of the word would still get it a pg-13 rating today. I'm not sure about the rule back in 72.

I just watched it on demand on Encore, and he definitely drops a bomb.

Just watched it again. While the beep is not 100% clear, that is what I hear. But you have to listen for it because it's much lower than the usual dialogue.
It is 100% NOT "mackerel". It sounds nothing like it.

Definitely sounds like the F word to me. Question: I listened to both commentaries and there was no mention of the F word being said. When was it discussed?

The DVD commentary confirmed that he used the F word.

I wouldn't classify this as a "movie myth" just yet. I watched my copy again just last night, and it surely doesn't sound like "mackerel" to me. Steve V.

He says "Holy mackerel, this things heavy". Its one of the lesser urban movie myths that there was an F-bomb in that scene. Its been discussed on many of the Facebook & Yahoo groups.

Borgnine said it. It even aired on television, no one caught it, we're talking network TV in the 70s. I believe the caption says 'holy mackerel'.