MovieChat Forums > Mystery Street (1950) Discussion > 2 questions

2 questions

posted 13 years ago by jpgr1
5 replies | jump to latest

1) What was the motive for James Joshua Harkley to kill Vivian Heldon? Was she pregnant with his child?

2) How did Peter Moralas know that there wouldn't be any bullets in the gun at the end?

[–] dcmakm47 13 years ago

you've seen the film, so these aren't spoilers. But for those that haven't skip seen it, my post and watch the film.

answer 1 , Yes she , Vivian was pregnant. and even if she wasn't J. Harkley may have felt she was a threat. calling his house , demanding to see him.

2, Jackie Elcott ( the lady who lived at Mrs Shemway's boarding house) put the magazine from the pistol in her coat when she removed it after Mrs Shemway asked her if she knew about guns.
She later gave it to Peter Moralas... He still took a chance, he had no way of knowing if Shemway stole the gun with extra magazines...

hth's

[–] joygu1 13 years ago

1. yes the motive was that she was pregnant, and he was married, he had an older daughter, so in the 50's code for married

2. He knew there was no bullets because the girl who lived in the rooming house took the clip out before when Elsa character was showing her the gun. Than when the girl called Peter to tell him about the gun, she gave him the clip.

Evie Decker: Did you ever feel like it wouldn't matter if you lived or died?

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

joygu1 says > yes the motive was that she was pregnant, and he was married, he had an older daughter, so in the 50's code for married

Actually Hartley has three daughters. The one we saw visiting him at his office is his middle child; he has two more, one older and one younger than her.

He knew there was no bullets because the girl who lived in the rooming house took the clip out before when Elsa character was showing her the gun. Than when the girl called Peter to tell him about the gun, she gave him the clip.

Hartley had been in the military and had a history of using that gun. It seemed odd that he wouldn't know by feel whether or not the gun was loaded. The clip, when inserted, gives the gun added weight and a different feel.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

[–] Rheli 7 years ago

It seemed odd that he wouldn't know by feel whether or not the gun was loaded.

He had a lot on his mind just then.

[–] mdonln 7 years ago

Rheli says > He had a lot on his mind just then.

You're right but what was on his mind was survival; escape; all the more reason he should have noticed the gun was not loaded. Even if he hadn't noticed it before, when he went to use it, I'd think the sudden realization would have hit him.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]