MovieChat Forums > The High and the Mighty (1954) Discussion > *SPOILER* Ed + Clara Joseph

SPOILER Ed + Clara Joseph

posted 17 years ago by sectorsevenggg
4 replies | jump to latest

When Ed & Clara Joseph are getting off the plane, towards the bottom of the steps she screams and he punches a photographer in the face. What is this all about? Seems like a big over-reaction on both their parts. There were only a handful of press people waiting and she had to see them as soon as they got to the door. She waits till they get to the bottom and then lets out a terrifying yell. Nowadays it can be expected for people to hate and attack the paparazzi, but this wasn't even a celebrity photo opportunity type of situation, it was news. In 1954 this seems kinda extreme, anyone else agree or disagree?

[–] crimson_n_clover 17 years ago

The man hit the photogharpher becaiuse the flash set the woman off again who had calmed down.The press had to know the people would be in no mood to be dealing with questions and flashing cameras.The past has no lock on that.It s a normal reaction of someone being involved in a life threatning situation and making it out ok.

[–] TorontoJediMaster 17 years ago

The sad irony for Ed Joseph is that -after a horrendous vacation- he could now be charged with assault if the photographer was of a mind to press charges against him.

[–] ae36 9 years ago

I always thought the irony with this couple was the "good neighbor philosophy" that Ed kept talking about it.

The idea was that of all passengers on the plane, he and his wife should have stood up better in the crisis.

His wife is a mess and a pool of jelly from the moment the plane experiences trouble, and Ed is basically sidelined with worry about her-- as well as the overall situation.

At the end, even Ed losses it-- punching the reporter instead of dealing with the situation.

So all the preaching about "laughing at the little things gets you prepared to deal with real troubles" all goes right out the window when the couple actually experiences it.

AE36

[–] hobnob53 9 years ago

Exactly right, ae36. I always assumed this was intentional -- showing up the hollowness of this frankly obnoxious couple and their "joiner" view of the world, very typical of 50s America (and before): people -- husbands mostly, but wives dragged along too -- who formed silly clubs and came up with inane rites and ceremonies to fill their time and serve as an excuse for parties. Most of it was shallow nonsense that didn't hold up in the real world.

Anyway, as has been said in response to the OP's question, Ed only lost it when the photographer's flash bulb suddenly panicked his jittery, unstable wife. Entirely understandable.

Was Mrs. Joseph's name Clara? I don't think they ever mentioned it in the film. The only things we ever heard her called were "Mrs. Joseph" and "Mommy" (in the hotel room flashback, when Ed's bow tie snaps and lands in his drink). Mrs. J. was kind of a prig, wasn't she? When in another flashback they're stuck writing hundreds of post cards while it's raining, he goes to sip his cocktail and she angrily raps on the desk with her pen to force him to put it down and resume his writing efforts. Hope he told The Good Neighbors about that!