MovieChat Forums > My Name Is Julia Ross (1945) Discussion > Great little noir...ahead of its time?

Great little noir...ahead of its time?

posted 11 years ago by !!!deleted!!! (41638798)
9 replies | jump to latest

It's not a major part of the film or anything, but I was quite surprised to see the rather obvious reference to an abortion at the beginning when Julia and the maid discuss her having her "appendix out" two months after she first met Mr. Bruce and from the discussion had had a relationship with him.

Their conversation was heavily loaded with innuendo, when the maid said her sister also had an ahem...."appendectomy" and was now dead.

It was not until pretty well into the '50s that illegitimate pregnancies that were terminated were discussed in code that way when a girl was "in trouble." Even by then a termination was rarely discussed and when it was it made film history in a way.

Even in "Peyton Place" when it was obvious that she was pregnant, the girl was taken in for "an appendectomy."

But in 1945? Wow.

[–] nscom-1 11 years ago

I think you're completely imaging that she had an abortion. It wasn't ahead of its time, it didn't happen.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (41638798) 11 years ago

Really? The housekeeper was smirking at her. And Julie made a point to say she'd met him "two months ago." Just the classic number of months for film pregnancies to become known. The conversational atmosphere in that vestibule conversation was loaded with innuendo.

The thing is: If it wasn't a termination, why even mention an appendectomy in the first place? What's the whole point of that plot? And the housekeeper made a point of saying her sister died from errr the same "operation."

And appendectomy was the code then....the way legitimate doctors performed abortions and entered them as appendectomies in records.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] cookiela2001 10 years ago

Yes, that scene does appear to be very coded, as to Julia's operation.

.

[–] DorianGray502 9 years ago

___I don't believe the operation theory at all. Could be, but I didn't see it as coded or anything other than what was discussed. Maybe a man would see this different than a woman?
___Neat little thriller. Foch reminded me of Anne Baxter. A few plot holes, and unbelievable moments, but for it's time, I think pretty good, engrossing. Reminded me also of a 60's film 'Die, Die My Darling' with Talullah Bankhead and Stephanie Powers.
___So accustomed to seeing George Macready in later creepy roles, it seemed odd to see him young and creepy. Dame May Whitty was pretty emotionless and two dimensional, and I cannot see her running down those seaside rocks, wouldn't happen.

"When the legend becomes down fact, print the legend!"

[–] SkiesAreBlue 8 years ago

I agree, it wasn't that kind of film to insinuate pregnancy and abortions. I think it was meant to relay that JR was in desperate circumstances after having had an op and the doctor told her to be careful. Probably been in convalescents and out of work for sometime. She was looking for work and without much success. It was a neat little thriller and I enjoyed it.

SkiesAreBlue

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 7 years ago

I don't think that Julia had an abortion. I think that it's just as she said in the film. She had an operation and she fell behind with work, paying the bills, etc. That part of the film was put in to set up the story. She was desperate for a job and she snapped up what she could.

~~~~~
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen = 

[–] henrimaine 7 years ago

That's an interesting interpretation. It did not occur to me at all that they might be talking about abortion. The cleaning lady did seem a bit too sarcastic in her comments, but I did not think much of it. All in all, that interpretation is too good to be untrue, so matter is settled - she had had an abortion.

[–] liscarkat (16515) 4 years ago

She didn't have an abortion, but there are people who insist on seeing secret messages in every old movie. Next we'll hear about the lesbian subtext between Julia and the nurse.