I am interested in reading peoples' opinions of the following :-
Why did Peter Lorre ('The Mexican/The General') place his gun down where Robert Young could reach it? Was it a form of suicide, a careless mistake, or something else?
I wondered that too. The only thing I can come up with is that, since spying seemed to be one big frat club back then, and veddy British of course, that Lorre was giving Young the chance to take his own life. Oh so civilized, don't you know, hale fellow well met and all that rot.
And perhaps Lorre's character was considered so over the top, so odious, that he needed to die as well at the end. But what a bizarre character he was!
I like that answer. I hadn't thought of that but you make a really good point. Your probably right about him needing to die, but I really liked him. I thought he was a fun character, with an interesting dichotomy of being a hot and passionate lover of life but a cold blooded killer.
I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it!
And high as a kite in every single frame...
Apparently, Lorre was much into morphine at the time of shooting this movie. He is so over the top one wonders if he knew what he was filming.
Father Knows Best When It Comes to Popping a Cap in One's A$$!
I love Peter Lorre's toilet paper tearing tantrum.
The Mexican/General: ISSUED? WHAT DO YOU MEAN ISSUED? LIKE A PASSPORT? THIS IS TOO MUCH!IMPOSSIBLE MAN! THIS IS TOO MUCH! REALLY TOO MUCH! FOR YOU, BEAUTIFUL WOMAN! AND WHAT FOR ME? WHAT FOR ME? NOTHING! NOBODY! NOTHING! CARAMBA! CARAMBA! I resign...I resign...
How many Peter Lorre movies have you seen? To pass off a brilliant performance on the effects of drug use is completely rediculous. I think had Alfred Hitchcock had issues with Lorre and his performance, he would have never cast him in the role. Obviously he knew what he was looking for and got it from Lorre.
shareFirst of theres no reason for why he had to die, the only reason is that the stupid ass*holes in the film industry back then killed every singe amoral character off. Seriously that crappy ending ruined the film for me.
Somebody here has been drinking and I'm sad to say it ain't me - Allan Francis Doyleshare
The German spy (Robert Young) was trapped in the wreckage and calling for a drink of water ("Wasser!"). Lorre had his gun out to finish him off, but apparently decided to be merciful for one last moment and give the guy a drink before killing him. He put the gun down and pulled a flask from his pocket and was unscrewing the lid when Young grabbed the gun. I would say that putting a gun down where your enemy can reach it should be classed as a "careless mistake". And like some others, I was VERY sorry to see Lorre made gory!
shareCould it have been suicide by murder since he pushed the wrong guy off the mountain?
But then, the General didn't seem like he had a guilty conscience. I agree about being careless.
[deleted]
careless mistake.
Smoke me a kipper. I’ll be back for breakfast
When he heard that he pushed the wrong guy off the mountain, he just laughed--which was pretty repulsive. It sickened Madeliene Carol's character. Up til then The General was a pretty interesting person.
And that poor dog.
The General considered Marvin as another professional. It would not have occurred to him that Marvin would have seen any benefit in killing him at that point, since Marvin was clearly doomed. While Lorre was a professional killer, he did not kill out of contempt or nationalism, but Marvin did. Not expecting another pro to be burdened with those kinds of passions turned out to be the General's fatal weakness, which ironically was a rather sentimental one. It completes the portrait, and it's a hell of a performance by Lorre. Induced or otherwise, what matters is what ends up on the screen.
shareThanks L.Ladd. Just watched it last night and the ending made no sense, I've 2 copies of it [vhs, dvd] and feared the quality was the reason for the inexplicable ending. You explanation is sound. One, perhaps, ought to consider this was pre-WW2 and the idea of absolute evil was not embraced, of even one's enemy is cricket. It was the theme behind the civilized prisoner camp of Grand Illusion. It reminds me of Colonel Blimp who needed to learn that lesson as his miliary career progressed.
shareI really hated to see the General go out like that. Nowadays he would have a string of movies with him as the star.
So long and thanks for all the fish!