MovieChat Forums > Downhill Discussion > What happened in the shop ?

What happened in the shop ?


Some may call it Hitchcocks first Mc Guffin. According to Truffaut Julia accused Roddy of theft in the store but the issue of theft never explicitly was mentioned. Tim was the person being guilty (on whatever). What i noticed is that Julia tried to be kissed by Roddy in their dance but he was just laughing about it. Then she made out with Tim while Roddy messed around as a cashier giving away a big candy box for 5 pennys. He easily replaced the difference to her before leaving the store. She invited Tim for another day. He probably was molesting Julia then and she wrongly accused Roddy on it as she couldnt forgive him. Or she had fun making out with Tim and simply had the idea on how to punish Roddy as she realized that his dad had enough money to satisfy her. In the flashback scene she talked about the money Roddy gave to her suggesting that he was trying to buy way more than the replacement of a bunch of candy. Probably the accuse was about sexual molestation so that Roddy had to leave school. However such probably couldnt have been told and neither shown at the time. In Paris Roddy saw himself becoming a male bitch for old rich ladies probably suggesting on what a tasteless community exists in Paris` district of Pigalle. The scene in which Tim throws away his candy box in the campus apartment probably was shown to confirm that he has been in the store and just took it with after his molestation and that he`s nervous about the issue. Does anyone think different ?

reply

It seems very clear to me that she is implying that Tim has got the girl pregnant. Nothing is said but she says something like "your father is rich. You can see me through it."

BUT she is only doing it because she has realised Roddy is rich and can throw money around.

Roddy is very naive - a bit dim - but actually surprisingly well acted by Ivor Novello.

reply

If YOU ask me, aside from the dancing and one kiss that we see, I don't think much more actually happened. I think she simply lied, because she knew, back then, that the girl would always be believed. Women weren't known as liars, thieves, whores and downright bad people in the '20's, so the simple claim of bad behaviour would have been accepted without argument. No call for witnesses, and no checking for DNA, etc. Open-and-shut case, if there ever was one! Poor Ivor Novello! lol Still, it was good to see him in another film. FuturePrimitive666.

"*bleep* it all and *bleep*ing no regrets!"

reply

I agree, it's obvious nothing happened but she is trying to frame Roddy for a pregancy. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time, he flashed his money around and he appeared unsophicated when it came to these matters. She probably had to find some way to cover up the pregancy and Roddy was a easy target.

reply

Shes claiming to be pregnant and it occured not on the day both men visited her but instead on the EARLY CLOSING day she keeps hinting at when the guys leave, obviously the other guy (not roddy) came back then and did more then dance. It is a little confusing as the timing must be over a few days but appears almost immediately in the film.

reply

she was trying to frame him alright. what's worse his friend stood aside and let him take the fall. and thanked him for it too, might i add!

reply

It's easily implied that Roddy's friend went BACK at closing time on Wednesday, and they had sexual relations.

People on this thread seem to miss the fact that Maybel felt SCORNED because Roddy was the guy she wanted. He did not want her, but his friend did. And his friend was the baby-daddy. She got revenge on Roddy for not wanting her by blaming him for the pregnancy. The money was incidental. And so was her pregnancy. the fact is, whether or not - it WOULD have been Roddy's friend - who had a reputation to protect.

So Roddy was being a good friend and took the blame.

It's kind of an interesting Hitckcockian take on the Prodigal Son!

"All I want in life is a thirty share and a twenty rating."

reply

[deleted]