These may be a bit late so I apologize if the time for Asphalt Jungle posts has passed but there were a couple of things on posts that I didn't see that I felt were still worthy of mentioning.
First, was the scene in which Doc Riedenscheinder (however you spell it) get arrested. I thought the period where the girl is dancing is quite interesting and of course his quote "Plenty of time" which we have already discussed. But the part of the scene that I found more powerful was when he asked the police officer, "How long have you been waiting outside?"
The police officer responds "About two or three minutes."
Riedenschneider then thinks aloud "About how long it takes to play a phonograph record isn't it."
The police officers tells him to stop babbling but we, the audience understands what it means.
I believe this scene perfectly personifies that each character got caught up in their own vice. If Doc Riedenschneider had decided to leave and not give the girl the nickels to dance, he could have escaped. Now, being the existienalist that he was, he probably felt that he have lived for pleasure so the fact that he got caught was worth it because he enjoyed himself to the last minute, just like Jons from the Seventh Seal.
However, I personally would have been kicking myself, if I would have escaped if it wasn't for my own selfishness and vice. Doc did not seem too upset but I would have been very angry if I had only missed escaping by a couple of minutes because I thought I had "plenty of time" and just wanted to watch this girl dance.
And finally, and this will be a very short thought. Stupid Hays Code! I wanted Dix to escape and the fact that he died, although it brought closure to the film, I was hoping that he did not get caught or killed, but I knew he had to. But of all of the characters, I was rooting the most for him and his death was the most upsetting to me.
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Agreed the movie would have been better had Dix escaped
ReplyDeleteI was also rooting for at least one of the bad guys to escape both the long claw of the law and the longer claw of death. However I still enjoyed the film immensely.
ReplyDeleteSorry Danny, but nobody escapes the longer claw of death (not even you, Juan Ponce de Leon). And I think that the consensus here is that the Hays Code was a spoiler to the end of this film. We all knew that ALL of the bad guys would die. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this film and apparently, so did Jimmy. Really, three separate posts?! Give your mind a rest and pace yourself. Just kidding. I value your opinion and read all (read as most) of your posts.
ReplyDeleteNice point Jimmy! I also agree that the Hays Code was the worst part of the film. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I couldn't help rooting for their escape anyway.
ReplyDeleteIt's possible, you know, to simply declare that he DID escape. They couldn't write it that way because of the code, but perhaps his death was only symbolic. Doll's devotion turns him around 180 degrees, the old Dix dies at the entrance to the farm, but the new Dix will live, plowing, pitching hay, hauling manure etc. THe fact that he only has 4,000 dollars in his pocket is a bit of a drag, but not insurmountable.
ReplyDeleteWe only saw the death of his selfish, criminal side.
Happy now?
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ReplyDeleteYea just to reiterate, the Hays Code is pretty lame. Just yesterday I watched The Killing again and I was once again annoyed at the ending. In some ways, it was the perfect ending, but in other ways, it was a kick in the arse.
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