MovieChat Forums > Porgy and Bess (1959) Discussion > Let's Talk About The Movie..SPOILER ALER...

Let's Talk About The Movie..SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!

posted 15 years ago by HillieBoliday
3 replies | jump to latest

SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!

I know previous posts have addressed the unavailabilty of this very fine movie;
but for those of us who have had the plesure of seeing it, let's dissect some
of the characters!

Now about that Bess (fine performance by Dorothy Dandridge); and Crown,
(equally dynamic portrayal by Brock Peters).

I understood why no one else would help shelter Bess after the killing
by Crown. She was a loose, drinking, gambling woman, hanging out with a mean character.

Why would no one else, but the old man, tell that it was Crown who did the
killing?

Obviously Crown was a menace to the community, with a volatile temper, and
what seems like a sharp knife to be used, instead of fighting with fists
to the finish like real men (use to) do.

Even after the old man told "who did it," they took the old man to jail as
a material witness, (first threatening to hang him), until they found
Crown.

Am I to understand that they were going to hold that old man forever,
even if they didn't catch Crown?

Any one out there?

"OOO...I'M GON' TELL MAMA!"

[–] justoldbill 15 years ago

The residents of Catfish Row lock Bess out after the murder for fear of the police connecting any of them, as well, with the murder of Robbins. This is exactly what happens to Peter when he admits he saw the killing. He gets locked up as a material witness so he can identify Crown when/if he's caught. Remember the time and place of the story.

Also, the film takes a much more cautious approach to the character of the detective. In the play and opera, the detective is a much harsher character. He randomly picks Peter as the most likely to break the color wall of silence. He actually points a gun to Peter's head to get a "confession" from him for the murder, threatening to hang him for it. Terrified, Peter blurts out that he didn't kill Robbins, but Crown did. HE SAW HIM DO IT. That's what the detective needs, an eye-witness. And Peter admits as much. It would not be uncommon in the South for such "material witnesses" to be locked up until the criminal is brought to justice, even as Porgy is later locked up for "contempt of court" in refusing to identify the body of Crown.

By the way, Crown doesn't kill Robbins with a knife, but with a cotton hook.

[–] critic-2 12 years ago

The people of Catfish Row apparently kept quiet every time a murder was committed because they were afraid one of them would be implicated in it. Peter was locked up as a material witness because he was the only one who admitted he had seen Crown murder Serena's husband. It's never revealed why they let him out.

[–] justoldbill 11 years ago

The character of the white lawyer, Alan Archdale, who intervenes on Peter's behalf, was written out of the film. Yes, Peter's release from jail is left unexplained.