MovieChat Forums > Jimmy the Gent (1934) Discussion > Need help please with an unexplained clo...

Need help please with an unexplained close-up

posted 10 years ago by dlevy1201
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I need some help please.

At around 58 minutes into the film when Bette Davis' character Joan is crying and her boss Mr. Wallingham attempts to soothe her. He wipes her tears then reaches into his desk drawer for a mirror so she can fix her makeup. The camera takes a close-up shot inside the drawer and singles out a lady's compact - we clearly see the two little dogs depicted on the enameled cover.

I went through the film twice and I can not find the significance of the close-up. Did anyone else find this strange?

[–] jmiller1918 10 years ago

Yes, that was odd, and I don't think there is a single clue in the movie to explain it. Maybe the other piece of film that would have given that shot relevance was cut out in the final editing process? Could it have been a gift from Jimmy when she worked for him, and the fact that she has kept it means she still has feelings for him? I guess we'll never know.