MovieChat Forums > In This Our Life (1942) Discussion > Creepy Uncle!

Creepy Uncle!

posted 9 years ago by dellahicks
20 replies | jump to latest

I just watched this movie, had it on our PVR from TCM, and the scenes with Uncle William and Stanley, gave me the willies! The entire relationship just seemed so improper, is that me judging it by today's standards, or would it have been the same for that period of time as well? It started with him not wanting to kiss her on the cheek (the alternative revolts me!) the way he pawed at her, then her practically throwing herself at him, in exchange for his assistance with her legal woes! Her aunt just seemed oblivious to what was going on right in front of her! I wanted to fast forward through those parts, but feared I would miss something essential, by the end, I wish I had anyway!

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] dellahicks 9 years ago

Too bad it took the man to be on his deathbed, to quit being a perv! I know anything goes these days, but I have to wonder how audiences would react to their relationship. It amazes me it made through censorship back in that day and time, or maybe it was not seen as being cringe worthy! If so - I think creeps me out even more!

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] dellahicks 9 years ago

Did I misunderstand, I thought he was a blood uncle(?) Was he not her mother's brother? You could have something there with the money though, maybe they thought it was perfectly fine for a woman to use her feminine ways to take care of herself!

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] dellahicks 9 years ago

I hate to belabor a point kbarada, but when I looked online (I deleted it off our PVR) the consensus is that William Fitzroy was Lavinia Timberlake's brother, Charlotte is her sister-in-law. That would make creepy Uncle William..well still creepy!

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] dellahicks 9 years ago

Absolutely! I think I'm fairly broad minded, but that just grossed me out!

[–] lynnrnsd 8 years ago

He's definitely her mother's brother. ASA says something to the mom about "Your brother's behavior".

[–] shadycady 8 years ago

He was Lavinia's brother, and it was gross seeing him act that way.

The Divine Genealogy Goddess

[–] libearian 8 years ago

William Fitzroy is Lavinia Timberlake's brother. Minerva says to Roy, "Miss Stanley takes after her mama and Uncle William, the Fitzroy side." Later, Asa tells Lavinia, "My dealings with your beloved brother are a thing of the past."

Well, I can't just call out "Oh, butler", can I? Somebody's name may be "Butler"!

[–] wmoores 8 years ago

I watched the movie again last night and tried to concentrate on the perceived creepiness of the uncle. I saw none. I'll stick to my original post that he was just a doting old uncle.

[–] wmoores 9 years ago

I have watched this movie several times and find nothing cringe worthy. Stanley was just a spoiled, rotten woman. The uncle just doted on her, nothing more.

[–] butaneggbert 9 years ago

There was a common strategy to get things past the censors: give them something bigger to chew on. A script would be submitted with something really overt, so that when it got vetoed the director would be left with what they wanted in the first place.

Fantasizing an example here: film makers want William's pervy attraction to Stanley to be evident to the audience. If they write it straightforwardly, they know they'll never get away with it. So they put in something over the top: he steals a kiss from her, or grabs a handful, when his wife isn't looking. Censors go ballistic; they cut that bit, and the writers offer a "compromise" with the tickle scene and Stanley's transparent teasing instead.

I can definitely imagine the finished product having resulted from that kind of negotiating.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] poetcomic1 9 years ago

it was supposed to be creepy and the fact that this is the man who emasculated and ruined her own FATHER makes it WAY over the top creepy.

[–] talisencrw 8 years ago

He creeped me out as well. No wonder she was so screwed up. The film was 9/10 for me. I kept half-expecting her to be using him (notice her touching his upper legs when she talked with him at one point) to try and get back at him for how he had screwed her father over (and thus basically her family).

[–] twhiteson 8 years ago

Yes, the clearly incestuous overtones of the relationship between Uncle William and Stanley are shocking to see in a movie from 1942.

However, it is a John Huston film and you have to expect some edginess even in a glossy, Code-restricted, studio-produced film such as this one.

I did chuckle at the poster who thinks this relationship was just one of a kindly uncle "doting" upon a favored niece. There are none so blind as those who will not see.

[–] mindthinkr 8 years ago

So much was shocking for me to see in this movie. More than the lecherous uncle. Also the way that the (how do I be PC here?) black people are portrayed. When the uncle was discussing the lectures that Craig was attending it reeked of racism. This movie couldn't be remade in this day and age. We have enough riots as it is!

[–] snsurone 8 years ago

You forget, this film takes place in Virginia during the Depression when racism and Jim Crow were rampant.