Noir Alley

[jamesjazzguitar]

I missed it too. I thought Bone just ignored the doctor and bullied his way to the piano. Where was the doctor while the playing was going and the fire was raging and he said, "Better this way," meaning just let him die in the fire. Wasn't he in a position to see what what was going on? How could he be locked up? Thanks.

Bone locked up the Doctor somewhere near his place of residence and then went to the hall where the performance was (since the Doctor was going to take Bone directly to the police station).

The Doctor was found and released, made his way to the hall and got there while Bone was in the middle of his performance.

[Andree]

It appears you're saying that due to the Production Code Bone had to die (i.e. come to a bad end). If that is what you're saying I don't agree. What both the police and doctor said before the final scene are very understanding comments. Remember it was Bone that went to the doctor in the first place. He had remorse. He wanted to be caught and stopped (similar to a man that becomes a werewolf). The Code didn't require the death of someone who commits crimes that clearly has a mental illness. The best example of this is Scarlett Street where the killer (Eddie G.), escapes all legal punishment. So the film could have ended with Bone completing his concerto and being taken away to a mental institution.

While Bone is playing and the doctor comes in he has one of his "moments"; E.g. his slight gets blurry, etc... What caused that if not the music?

I think the case of Scarlet Street is one of those rare exceptions to the Code. I would imagine the producers had to fight
to see that Eddie G. doesn't die at the end, perhaps using the argument that his self-torment would be a worse punishment
than anything the judicial system could hand out. But in just about every case where there is a killer they are punished, mental
illness or not. Uncle Charlie had a few screws loose, even if it wasn't obvious to his kinfolk, and he still ended up on the wrong
side of a train. If Bone was really serious about being stopped he would have confessed his murders, even with the problem
of black outs, and spent the rest of his life in a prison cell or a mental institution. But that would have made for a flat ending,
especially compared with a guy going up in smoke while pounding away at the piano. That moment was because of the music.
Others were due to a sudden loud sound that was not music. The world is full of such sounds. That's why he needed to be locked
away.

[MissWonderly]

Yes, George has many talents. Besides being a brilliant composer, he won the torte eating
contest at Bayreuth last year.




Meet the Edwardian psycho, same as the Victorian psycho. Style, very impressive. Some dark, eerie cinematography and
atmospheric setting in 1903 London, the Guy Fawkes bonfire being a standout. And give Bone credit for the clever idea
of putting Netta's corpse on top of the bonfire just in time. But the substance is lacking. It just the same old, same old
nutcase killer, the only difference being the individual killer's tic. In Bone's case it's discordant noises. Hey, whatever.
One does feel sympathy for the old boy, at least a limited sympathy because he is still bumping off folks. And with the
Production Code we know that Bone is going to come to some kind of bad end, and playing the piano while all around
you everything is on fire is not a bad way to end things. A cut above the usual wrong in the head flick, but still too much
of the old been there, done that plot. I looked at Leslie Halliwell's Film Guide entry on Hangover Square and he quotes
this excerpt from Richard Mallett of Punch: 'A half-chewed collection of reminiscences of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde and
The Lodger.' A little harsh, but I think it sums it up pretty accurately.

You must be Vautrin. You have exactly the same style. Confirm or deny??

[MissWonderly]

[...snip ... ]
But the substance is lacking. It just the same old, same old
nutcase killer, the only difference being the individual killer's tic. In Bone's case it's discordant noises.
[ ... snip ... ]

And yet the music he composes is by definition discordant (in comparison with traditional more tonal fare), being modern as it is.

Does this apparent irony have any play in all of this?

I thought of that too-- that his own music is often "discordant", or anyway, sort of minor-keyish sounding. hm, obviously his own compositions do not trigger the "amnesia" that makes him go bonkers. But then, if you think about it, the sounds that seemed to trigger him were not musical sounds at all, "discordant" or otherwise; they were more jarring noises than anything else.
Although, if discordant or atonal music were to push George's nutter button, good thing he didn't listen to Arnold Schoenberg ( neither do I.)

[Andree]

You must be Vautrin. You have exactly the same style. Confirm or deny??

At this time, my fellow North Americans, I can neither confirm or deny that supposition. But I can assure you of one thing,
I am not a crook.

[laffite]

You must be Vautrin. You have exactly the same style. Confirm or deny??

At this time, my fellow North Americans, I can neither confirm or deny that supposition. But I can assure you of one thing,
I am not a crook.

MissWonderly

Your points are quite right on. The harsher sounds is what set him off, but if we are to be a forum worth its salt, the parallel with the idea of discordance modern music must needs be mentioned even if as just a curio. I introduced this point (I think) and didn't make such a big deal. It seemed cool to me that it came to my mind at all, like gee whiz laffite, look how observant, only to be told important details about the movements of the doctor that clearly slipped by my attention. Dognabit, I blame it on that fire and that idiot playing the piano, etc., hahaha.

Andree,

Yeah, right! Your avatar reminds me of a short story by Dorothy Parker entitled Big Blonde. And the extra e. I wonder if the new persona could have the notoriety of your previous. If you are chided about all this, it is because you are clever and highly respected. At least for me, I will cease along these lines from now on, it's enough to have the pleasure of knowing who I'm talking too, and that kind sir/madam is hopefully to be taken as a compliment.

This will all die down but beware looking skyward, you may see a Chinese Balloon.

To be honest, I am incognito on another forum. So far no one has said anything but the clues are obvious. It's only a matter of time.

[jamesjazzguitar]

It appears you're saying that due to the Production Code Bone had to die (i.e. come to a bad end). If that is what you're saying I don't agree. What both the police and doctor said before the final scene are very understanding comments. Remember it was Bone that went to the doctor in the first place. He had remorse. He wanted to be caught and stopped (similar to a man that becomes a werewolf). The Code didn't require the death of someone who commits crimes that clearly has a mental illness. The best example of this is Scarlett Street where the killer (Eddie G.), escapes all legal punishment. So the film could have ended with Bone completing his concerto and being taken away to a mental institution.

While Bone is playing and the doctor comes in he has one of his "moments"; E.g. his slight gets blurry, etc... What caused that if not the music?

I think the case of Scarlet Street is one of those rare exceptions to the Code. I would imagine the producers had to fight
to see that Eddie G. doesn't die at the end, perhaps using the argument that his self-torment would be a worse punishment
than anything the judicial system could hand out. But in just about every case where there is a killer they are punished, mental
illness or not. Uncle Charlie had a few screws loose, even if it wasn't obvious to his kinfolk, and he still ended up on the wrong
side of a train. If Bone was really serious about being stopped he would have confessed his murders, even with the problem
of black outs, and spent the rest of his life in a prison cell or a mental institution. But that would have made for a flat ending,
especially compared with a guy going up in smoke while pounding away at the piano. That moment was because of the music.
Others were due to a sudden loud sound that was not music. The world is full of such sounds. That's why he needed to be locked
away.

Please note that I said "had to die"". Anyhow it appears there was some misunderstanding: I agree that the Production code would require someone that commits murder to be punished, and that the most common punishment for someone with a clear mental illness is being locked up in a mental institution.

BUT I'm also glad that didn't happen! The best thing about the film is the ending. All that fire and smoke and then "The End" placed on top of that. I wouldn't wish to change a thing.

As for Scarlet Street: I have yet to find out how that got passed the Code censors. It is one of the key mysteries of the studio \ production-code era. Note that Bogie gets away with murder in The Big Sleep when he guns Canino (since Marlowe knew Canino had used all of his bullets and didn't even advise Canino to put-his-hands-up before pulling the trigger). Director Hawks had to lobby hard to keep that scene, mainly using the cruel scene where Canino murders Harry Jones using poison. I.e. Canino was so rotten the censors decided to look the other way.

[laffite]

"As for Scarlet Street: I have yet to find out how that got passed the Code censors. It is one of the key mysteries of the studio \ production-code era." Jazzy James

I thought we had that all figured out. Criss is insane. He has voices in his head. He is paying for the crime.

[laffite]

It’s gotta be Vautrin, nobody else writes anywhere near that satiric style. I don’t know what satire or irony mean of course, and don’t have the slightest idea what the lyrics of Dylan songs mean, but I can tell a horse by his color, a dog by his bark.

Then you know all one needs to know. The rest is ________ .

[Andree]

Andree,

Yeah, right! Your avatar reminds me of a short story by Dorothy Parker entitled Big Blonde. And the extra e. I wonder if the new persona could have the notoriety of your previous. If you are chided about all this, it is because you are clever and highly respected. At least for me, I will cease along these lines from now on, it's enough to have the pleasure of knowing who I'm talking too, and that kind sir/madam is hopefully to be taken as a compliment.

This will all die down but beware looking skyward, you may see a Chinese Balloon.

To be honest, I am incognito on another forum. So far no one has said anything but the clues are obvious. It's only a matter of time.

It's a photo of a notorious person, though somebody who isn't talked about much today. She's even more notorious than Fassbinder,
who was fairly notorious in his day. But she's had her 15 minutes of fame.

Watch the skies!

[Andree]

Please note that I said "had to die"". Anyhow it appears there was some misunderstanding: I agree that the Production code would require someone that commits murder to be punished, and that the most common punishment for someone with a clear mental illness is being locked up in a mental institution.

BUT I'm also glad that didn't happen! The best thing about the film is the ending. All that fire and smoke and then "The End" placed on top of that. I wouldn't wish to change a thing.

As for Scarlet Street: I have yet to find out how that got passed the Code censors. It is one of the key mysteries of the studio \ production-code era. Note that Bogie gets away with murder in The Big Sleep when he guns Canino (since Marlowe knew Canino had used all of his bullets and didn't even advise Canino to put-his-hands-up before pulling the trigger). Director Hawks had to lobby hard to keep that scene, mainly using the cruel scene where Canino murders Harry Jones using poison. I.e. Canino was so rotten the censors decided to look the other way.

I suppose even the Code wasn't adhered to 100%, but it came pretty close. Yes, the ending is quite spectacular, but as I've
already posted this is a very visually stylish movie whose plot and characters are rather routine. Taking all that into account,
it's still a better than average production to me. Yeah, Canino was likely one of those he had it coming decisions. He was
such a nasty specimen that wasting him was permitted. And Marlowe is the hero of the movie so that gives him a little leeway
in his use of violence.

[laffite]

Andree,

Yeah, right! Your avatar reminds me of a short story by Dorothy Parker entitled Big Blonde. And the extra e. I wonder if the new persona could have the notoriety of your previous. If you are chided about all this, it is because you are clever and highly respected. At least for me, I will cease along these lines from now on, it's enough to have the pleasure of knowing who I'm talking too, and that kind sir/madam is hopefully to be taken as a compliment.

This will all die down but beware looking skyward, you may see a Chinese Balloon.

To be honest, I am incognito on another forum. So far no one has said anything but the clues are obvious. It's only a matter of time.

It's a photo of a notorious person, though somebody who isn't talked about much today. She's even more notorious than Fassbinder,
who was fairly notorious in his day. But she's had her 15 minutes of fame.

Watch the skies!

The answer is not in the skies. Unless RE went to heaven, but not likely.

[Andree]

The answer is not in the skies. Unless RE went to heaven, but not likely.

I just tacked that on because it's the last line in the original version of The Thing. The nerdy reporter tells
people to watch the skies. Keep watching the skies. Hey buddy, you watch the sky, I'm going to get something to
eat.

[laffite]

The answer is not in the skies. Unless RE went to heaven, but not likely.

I just tacked that on because it's the last line in the original version of The Thing. The nerdy reporter tells
people to watch the skies. Keep watching the skies. Hey buddy, you watch the sky, I'm going to get something to
eat.

I thought you were talking about the Chinese Balloon. And Buddy, I don't watch movies like The Thing so I wouldn't know anything about that. Bon Appetit Oh, maybe it was the reporter who said that.

[Dargo]

...Yes, the ending [of Hangover Square] is quite spectacular, but as I've already posted this is a very visually stylish
movie whose plot and characters are rather routine.

Yep Vautrin..ahem..I mean Andree, I agree.

In fact, as I watched the final scene unfold the other night, I began thinking this scene especially had the look and feel of a Hitchcock directed film.

(...the camera movement and the lighting in particular)