origin of title
I know this movie was based on a novel by Morton Thompson. Does anyone know where he got the title phrase?
shareThere isn't anything obvious on the front pages of the book.
[deleted]
Job 19:25-27 But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth, And at last he will stand up upon the earth: And after my skin, even this body, is destroyed, Then without (Hebrew literally = without) my flesh shall I see God; Whom I, even I, shall see, on my side, And mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger.
Thank you for enlightening me. And thanks to the person who asked the question and those who answered leading up to you. [email protected]
share[deleted]
Others here have suggested Mitchum thought he was God - and in the film Malice the doctor Alec Baldwin says out loud, on the operating table, I AM GOD! I suspect the author used that phrase from the Bible to indicate that when we finally meet our Creator, the surgeon can truthfully say, Hello, God, you and I are not strangers. Except that he says it, ...not as a stranger...
For myself I don't think Mitchum thought he was God. Just felt that he was more talented and dedicated than other doctors. Nor was I shocked that he could fake love for the (?) older nurse who had money for his tuition. Doesn't take away from his life until he meets Gloria Grahame, temptation.
I agree with your view grumpy, that Mitchum did not think he was God. I am just wondering what you mean when you say "Except that he says it, ...not as a stranger." Do you mean that Mitchum actually quotes that phrase in the film? I'll tune into the film tonight and refresh my memory when he says it.
Thanks.
I thought it was about redemption, which is what the Biblical quote refers to. When we at last see God, we are redeemed. His redemption came when he admitted to his wife that he needed help, after the failed surgery on his mentor and friend. The end scene is, in a sense, his beginning.
shareI saw a portion of N as a S last night on TCM - again. I didn't make the earlier post clear -- it was the author of the film who uses the phrase 'not as a stranger' not Mitchum himself.
I think you've nailed it. By the way, I always got Stanley Kramer and Stanley Kubrick mixed up -- making intelligent, thoughtful films. So I said to my grandson 'I forget -- is this a Stanley Kubrick film?' He replied immediately, 'can't be his. He never uses background music on his dialog. We looked on the net and sure enough, it was Stanley Kramer's.
Leonard Cohen is my idol. Civility, harmony, unity!
It looks like we finally got the meaning and essence of the title. When Lucas fails to revive his mentor, Dr. Runkleman, during heart surgery, he finds his humanity and realizes he´s not infallible after all. Yes mne, I agree. When Lucas humbles to ask for help from his wife, it works as a redemption of his soul. It´s a very powerful final scene to see him admitting his need of help from someone he has used, cheated, neglected and under-estimated.
I like to watch Mitchum´s brooding and introspective portrayal of his character. A totally different Mitchum from his tough and bad boy character.
I am very fond of this film. A great debut for Stanley Kramer and what a superb cast. I feel enough inspiration to read the novel.
To the poster who hates this film, my answer is ¨Yes, to Each his Own.¨
Redemption and forgiveness are the themes. I just love this movie. Olivia can act the heck out of any role. Just her eyes, shoulder's shrugging, and body language when she was handing over the keys to their new apartment after they were married had me excited for the happiness of their new marriage. I was expecting him to pick her up and carry her over the threshold.
He made so many mistakes making assumptions about who she was. He forgot that she had so much more life experience than him and she had worked hard for her education, position and respect.
He had moved through life on his looks and ability to smooth things over. He thought he had intelligence but he didn't realise that life requires emotional intelligence.
I think he still was using her once again in the end for sympathy and comfort, as he'd used and abused her all along. Marsh was selfish to the end. I'd have kicked him out. What a rotten, implausible end to a poorly directed movie.
shareWell, you're entitled to your opinion. But I think it's pretty clear, by the writing, acting and music in that scene, that you're wrong.
It is better to be kind than to be clever or good looking. -- Derek
I agree with your comments, wishingwell57. I also love this film.
Olivia de Havilland is an amazing actress and here she once more excells. Luckily, she is still alive, living in Paris.
I am glad that TCM listened to my repeated requests and that they started showing ¨To Each His Own,¨ which I have not yet seen but I will this weekend because a friend recorded it for me. It just showed again yesterday on TCM. Have you seen it?
I love Robert Mitchum in this film. I think he is superb playing this role where he shows his weakness and humanity. It takes a very good actor to be able to do that and be credible and raise sympathy by an audience. The ones who don´t like this film and hate the end, are not in tune, they lack the emotional capacity to feel and experience the depth of the characters and theme. They just do not get it.