Will Wright deliberately rolls a pencil off of the desk during the inquest, causing it to fall on the floor. This is detailed very closely, but for what reason?
I've seen the film three times and this continues to escape me.
Thanks.
I would imagine that Fritz Lang had it done deliberately, to 'punctuate' the scene. Also, it may show how things can go out of control.
shareI wondered the same thing, why did he do that. I thought it was to see the reaction of the killer but all he did was look over to it. It didn't go anywhere. It's a mystery.....
shareThanks for replying; I'm glad to know that I wasn't alone in being perplexed by this.
Perhaps something was lost in the editing that would have made the moment clear. It was a rushed and low budget production, after all.
Thanks again!
It was interesting because for a moment you think that the person who did that with the pencil is starting to suspect the right person and not his brother and had some kind of theory in his head. I also wondered if something was edited out or Lang just didn't pursue the meaning of it.
For some dumb reason it reminds me of a Brady Bunch episode where a guy, think it was Jackie Coogan, is suing Mrs. Brady for hitting his car with hers and "causing" whiplash and Mr. Brady knows he is faking so he drops something to the floor, I think a book, in the courtroom and Coogan glances over to it real fast and easily.
Oh yes, that's one of the many Brady Bunch references to Fritz Lang -- the series is filled with them.
shareYou will remember at this point during the scene that Stephen is being questioned about how his brother was able to enter his house (to get the sack). Stephen essentially says that the back door was unlocked so John could come and go as he pleased.
Around here the pen rolls off. The expression of the inspector seems to suggest that he is convinced that John is guilty of murder, and in turn it tells the viewer what every impartial person in the room is thinking.
The confusion about this moment reveals (at least to me) that Fritz was not in top form when he directed House by the River.
My opinion is that the inspector suspects Stephen, not John, so during Stephen´s testimony, while Stephen very calmly practically accusing his brother John, inspector rolls the pencil to try to break his calmness and force him to make mistake, but unsuccessfully.
shareMy opinion is that the inspector suspects Stephen, not John, so during Stephen´s testimony, while Stephen very calmly practically accusing his brother John, inspector rolls the pencil to try to break his calmness and force him to make mistake, but unsuccessfully.
I agree that it looks as though this was meant to be an attempt to stop the flow of what was being said in the court hearing at the time.
share