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Befade
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:20 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 3784 Location: AZ
Quote:
the killer appears to be in two places at once


Joe......I think I know where you mean if it's near the end.

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Earl
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:33 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 2621 Location: Houston
While watching it with the Closed Captions feature turned on, I was struck by how little dialogue there is in the first 30 minutes of Dressed to Kill.

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Marj
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:13 am Reply with quote
Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 10497 Location: Manhattan
I'm trying my best to catch up and hope to join you tomorrow.

Betsy--Terrific opening!

Earl--Do you have French subtitles too?
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Joe Vitus
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:22 am Reply with quote
Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 14498 Location: Houston
Befade wrote:
Quote:
the killer appears to be in two places at once


Joe......I think I know where you mean if it's near the end.


I'm quoting from memory, haven't seen the movie in over a decade (I borrow Marc's copy from Earl this weekend), but, yes, I believe so. One of them on the subway and one in a taxi, if memory serves.

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Marj
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:24 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 10497 Location: Manhattan
Is it on the subway scene? God, I just watched it last night and I'm still not sure. Rolling Eyes

One point I wanted to make: As often as BDP borrows from Hitchcock, this is the first film in which he employed an actual Hitchcock strategy.

When Liz is in Dr. Elliot's office, and is rifling through his things, we see Elliot remove his coat and begin to enter the room where Liz is. This is a classic Hitchcock moment. Hitchcock often set up scenes in which he knew the audience would be yelling under their breath, "Don't go there!" or "Watch out. Get out of there!" Of course we were helpless to do a thing.

So, as many showers scenes as we see, as many voyeuristic scenes, this scene is where BDP finally 'got' what made Hitchcock a genius and figured out a way to manipulate his audience in the same way.
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Joe Vitus
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:44 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 14498 Location: Houston
Great point, Marj.

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Marj
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:04 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 10497 Location: Manhattan
Thanks Joe.
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Befade
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:44 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 3784 Location: AZ
Joe.......I believe you are refering to the scene where Dr. Elliot is in his office listening to Bobby's phone message on tape and Liz is in a taxi being followed by Bobby.

I'm getting lots of new ideas watching this again and taking notes. The aspect of this movie that is so like Psycho.......the heroine dying during the first third.......forces the viewer to switch gears.....that doesn't happen in most movies. I would have liked to have seen how Angie Dickinson's character dealt with her life after she discover her lover/stranger had vd. I don't think Janet Leigh's character was quite as compelling. Would she have returned the money? And done what?

Another observation. Nancy Allen does a great job of portraying a woman who is as different as possible from Kate Miller, the victim. She is Liz Baker, the call girl, street-smart woman of the world, carefully using her profits from johns to invest in the stock market. She's nobody's patsy. She doesn't take shit from the cops and she's not dependent on any man for self-worth or financial stability. In fact the kind of man she admires is the nerdy, but resourceful Peter, Kate's son played by Keith Gordon.

On the other hand Kate Miller is great victim material......afraid to tell her husband what she wants sexually...beseiged by a visiting mother she doesn't like.........insecure unless she is desired by a man sexually......willing to risk all for just that one boost to her ego.

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Befade
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:56 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 3784 Location: AZ
Quote:
Watched Dressed To Kill, and it was cheesy and dopey in that patented DePalma way.
I took some sketchy notes afterwards, so I won't jump the discussion again


Just located this earlier comment from Gromit...

Gromit........some sketchy notes, please.

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Joe Vitus
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:10 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 14498 Location: Houston
Betsy,

You're probably right. I can't wait to see it again. I'm hoping Earl is enjoying it, too.

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Marc
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:15 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 19 May 2004 Posts: 8424
I appreciate you guys keeping this forum popping. I have to go to my father's tomorrow. And then to NYC on Monday. I'll be marginally active in the forums.
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Joe Vitus
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:27 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 14498 Location: Houston
Hope you're dads' doing okay and the following trip to New York is a blast.

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Marc
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:41 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 19 May 2004 Posts: 8424
Thank you Joe. I appreciate it.
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marantzo
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:37 pm Reply with quote
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Marc, I didn't know or didn't remember your dad having a problem. I hope it's a good get together for the two of you.

New York is a great city, I'm sure you will like it. Laughing
Marj
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:27 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 10497 Location: Manhattan
Marc -- Hope you have a good trip. I hope all is well with your father. You have my phone number. If you feel like it and have some time, feel free to use it.
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