The Dentist on Money Politics

Olivier as Dr Christian Szell.

One of the most memorable films, Sakmongkol saw was the 1976 film Marathon Man- starring among others, Dustin Hoffman and one of Sakmomgkol’s favourite, Lawrence Olivier. Olivier played the Nazi Dentist- Dr Christian Szell. He was also known as the white angel because of his silver hair.

In a very agonizing and really scary scene( plus the fact that Sakmongkol is also terrified of dentist) the character played by Olivier, Szell was drilling the teeth of the character played by Hoffman- babe. In real life, Szell tortured Jews at Auschwitz and would grant favours to prisoners in return for the gold on their tooth.

Szell used his dentist skills to torture his captives. In the film Marathon Man, as he was about to torture his captive, Babe, Szell said:-

Oh, don't worry. I'm not going into that cavity. That nerve's already dying. A live, freshly-cut nerve is infinitely more sensitive. So I'll just drill into a healthy tooth until I reach the pulp. That is unless, of course, you can tell me that it's safe.

Szell: Is it safe?

Babe is tortured by Szell, a skilled dentist, who repeatedly asks "Is it safe?" Confused by the question -- a code phrase he doesn't understand -- Babe denies any knowledge, but is tortured. The dentist offers him oil of cloves, an anaesthetic, as positive inducement to cooperate. Eventually, Babe loses consciousness and Szell pauses his torture.

When the real dentist, DS Khir Toyo was interviewed by The Star, every time KT answered the questions on money politics, Sakmongkol is reminded of Herr Christian Szell.

Is it safe? Every time KT says he is not into money politics, a nerve is freshly cut. Every time he answers, he keeps drilling into a healthy tooth and the drill reaches the pulp. While drilling , he asks, Is it safe. And like Babe, we lose consciousness.