Blog #4

During the title sequence, a man on crutches hobbles towards the camera. Explain the significance of the image. Who in the story does this man represent? Why would this be an appropriate image to show at the beginning of the film? How does this sequence anticipate later developments in the film?

In the first frame of the film a man appears to be walking on crutches, and he is shown as a silhouette figure. The man in the crutches represents the late Mr. Nirdlinger, yet that’s not all it represents. In the film and novel Nirdlinger in put on crutches because he breaks his leg due to a work incident. After he was put on crutches is when the murder takes play. To get away with the murder Walter had to impersonate Nirdlinger by getting on a train and falling off the end of it, thus dying and breaking his neck. Walter and Phyllis thought it would be smart for people to witness Nirdlinger getting on the train so that when people start questioning the murder, people will believe he was there on the train. Although, the scene shows the man on crutches doesn’t just represent Nirdlingers death, but it shows another man death as well.  The night of the murder Nirdlinger was wearing a navy blue suit, a hat, a pair of glasses, and crutches with a broken leg. On the same night Walter wore all the same clothes and even wrapped his leg up to impersonate Nirdlingers broken leg, that make a distinct characteristic. The role of Nirdlinger ends short due to him getting murdered, so his role in the film is him dying so to speak. By Walter putting on his clothes he is all and all taking Nirdlingers fate and doom. This shows that in the end Walter will die or have the fate of dead man. Even though the viewer won’t know that by just watching the beginning of the movies, they would have had to read the novel or by some other way. Through watching the movie the significance of the man walking on crutches is revealed and the viewer can relate what happens to Nirdlinger and Walter. Walter didn’t know what would happen when he impersonated Nirdlinger but essentially he put himself in the role of Nirdlinger and in terms caused his own death or pain.

A significant change between the novel and the film is the raised prominence of the character of Keyes in the film version. Critics have suggested that the novel is a story of two lovers whereas the film depicts a love triangle and that often Walter is being pulled back and forth between Phyllis and Keys. What evidence from the film supports these assertions?

When reading the novel the relationship between Walter and Keyes isn’t as prevalent as it is in the movie. In the novel Keyes is just Walters’s boss and the detective figure. Keyes doesn’t really pop around in Walters life and, he only went to Walter when he needed something. Walter in the novel showed love and affection towards Phyllis, until he tries to kill her. But, in the movie Keyes and Walter play a more intimate role towards each other. With Walter saying, “I love you too” a few times to Keyes and doing favors for him, like lighting his cigar when Keyes can never find a match. Keyes also goes to Walters’s apartment unannounced. Keyes seems to be more privileged then Phyllis was. Also in the film Walter appears at Phyllis house and shares a few words, after she shoots him in the arm, he then shoots her and kills her.  Although, when it came down to Keyes, Walter had respect for him, that even with a gunshot wound he went over to his office and confessed to the whole murder. The respect he had for Keyes was eminent. In the last scene of the movie Walter is trying to get away but by the time he reached the door he didn’t have enough strength to carry himself. Walter is on the floor and tries to light his cigarette, when he doesn’t have the strength to do it; Keyes gets down next to him to light his cigarette. This scene shows the true brotherhood these two men shared.