MovieChat Forums > Panic in Year Zero! (1962) Discussion > Milland's character was pretty unsympath...

Milland's character was pretty unsympathetic to the women folk

posted 15 years ago by Eric-1226
18 replies | jump to latest

Well, at least in a few places. Like the scene where he instructs Rick, his son, on how they're gonna' run the blockade. I guess it didn't occur to him to warn the wife and daughter in the back (in the camper-trailer) to duck for cover, 'cause there just might be some angry return fire from rifle-totin' towns people as they crashed through their blockade.

And in the part where father and son free Marilyn Hayes, who had obviously been held captive by murdering rapist thugs, Milland basically tells her to put on some clothes and get lost.

Nice guy!

"I've always tried to teach you two things. First: Never let them see you bleed. Second: Always have an escape plan." - Q

[–] etsis 15 years ago

I agree. He treated them like they were empty headed idiots. If he wasn't yelling at them because they didn't do what he said fast enough, he was just ignoring them.

[–] Eric-1226 15 years ago

Yeah, I thought he was especially obnoxious towards Marilyn, because he was telling her to get out... of her own house!

I mean, I can see him being tough and unforgiving due to the extraordinary circumstances, but some of his actions really defied belief. Good thing Frankie Avalon was there to provide some balance. And comic relief.

"I've always tried to teach you two things. First: Never let them see you bleed. Second: Always have an escape plan." - Q

[–] MsSweet 15 years ago

He acted like a typical male from that era. I wasn't shocked or surprised by that at all.

[–] simplemines 15 years ago

Yeah, he sure was a "typical male from that era." He showed his love for his family by taking care of them, he forced himself to be calm and rational to save their lives while they were engaging in the luxury of hysteria, and because of him, the entire family survived.

I wish there were MORE "typical men" like that these days!

[–] Doc-McCoy 15 years ago

"Yeah, he sure was a "typical male from that era." He showed his love for his family by taking care of them, he forced himself to be calm and rational to save their lives while they were engaging in the luxury of hysteria, and because of him, the entire family survived....I wish there were MORE "typical men" like that these days!"

Agreed. It's true he was pretty harsh, but as the film went on and circumstances became tougher, so did Milland. He explained several times why he had to be that way.

"I don't drink, I don't smoke - two out of three ain't bad" - Bob Crane

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] etsis 15 years ago

No. This was a fictional story with fictional characters. The women were portrayed as helpless, stupid nobodies. That attitude came from the movies creators, not real life.

[–] TheHungryAndAngryShow 9 years ago

Agreed. I would have to say she was one of the most annoying and simplistic women to walk the planet, without him she would have been dead in no time. She wanted to invite over the neighbors who have no food for dinner so she could show off their amazing stockpile and feel superior, while they would be planning on how to kill her.

[–] LCShackley 15 years ago

Au contraire, I thought he behaved perfectly sanely, considering that his mouthy wife wouldn't stop her moralizing and nagging.

[–] uhriaheap69 11 years ago

I agree, the wife and her constant flipper lipping along with daughter was a little too much !

[–] colagada 10 years ago

A few points:

It would have been difficult for Harry to warn the women without alerting the townspeople that something was amiss. The blinds were drawn on the camper, and the women were probably resting inside.

Harry told Marilyn to get out of the house and away from Carl, who wouldn't have been pleased to find her there and his companions dead. Being hardened against outsiders, he wasn't going to take her with him; Rick had to object, inferring that they needed to take her along for her safety.

If you watch the early part of the film, Harry is actually a fairly pleasant person. The blast and all of its implications put him into survival mode. Harry made rational decisions based on the situation at hand. He knew that it was dog-eat-dog, every-man-for-himself world, and he was bound and determined to help his family survive, at any cost. He had no qualms pouring gasoline on the highway, because the cars on the highway gave him the courtesy of letting him cross. Time being short, he had to get to his destination before it was overrun by others. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

The character of Karen was portrayed as a whiny helpless girl, not uncommon for TV or movies in that era. Ann refused to accept reality and kept preaching ethics and morals. Harry had to be gruff with both to keep them in line with reality.

[–] the_expeditersd 11 years ago

Hopefully Karen didn't hatch one of dem Bad-Boys!

[–] NutzieFagin 11 years ago

I'm sorry to disagree so I am going to play Devils Advocate.

First Harry was a male character stereotype of the 1950 / 1960 male head of the household. Breadwinner and father protecter, he would likely call most of the shots. The male character did not really soften up untill the late or mid 1960's.

Secondly, remeber, World War 3 had just broken out---How calm would you be? Anne was always talking about civilyzation still exists...News Flash! I don't know if she had a sheltered nice life, but if that situation occured and if the last piece of food was between you and the other person--guess what would probably happen! Anne's attitude may have been annoying somewhat, but there has to be a mediator IF civilization would ever get back to "normal"

Was he mean to Marilyn? Yes! But remember he did not know her at first. Sure he was probabky shocked to find her. She looked obiviously raped or used for sexual purposes. But maybe she was one of the beatnik's girlfriends? He didn;t know at first that it was her house and they murdered her parents. Sure she told him, but could you believe ANYBODY from there word? I'm sure trust developed later as she stayed with the family. Rick did feel sorry for Marilyn but I get the feeling his later thoughts were "Oh Boy, here's a girl I can date--possibly procreate for the future generations" It was the same with the Johnson's---He said he couldn't trust no one--but he did give them a break by allowing them to stay in his trailer--later at Ann'e persuation- he was going to join forces or maybe help them.

So Yeah! Harry may have been kinda nasty with his family at times, but he knew he had to practice some measure of control in order to survive.

[–] ck1-5 11 years ago

Why does everyone keep referring to those two saps as "beatniks"?

[–] generalusgrant 11 years ago

This is an absurd thread. Nuclear war has just broken out-- who wouldn't be a crab and "unsympathetic" in such a hellish circumstances!?? Damn!

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] FranLovesBetteD 8 years ago

I want to believe that he was acting under a HUGE pressure, feeling totally responsible for their welfare, and that he thought that the only way to convince them to follow his indications was through being "rude". A "please do this or that" wouldn't have worked quickly, IMHO. Being an ultra-sensitive person myself, I know that sometimes, when particularly depressed or stressed, I won't react if I don't get an "order" through a firm voice.

Let's not forget that there are also some scenes in which he "relaxed" a bit and even was affectionate and proved to them the he cared about them. And what I liked most about the character was that he explained and justified all his actions, sooner or later. Honestly, had he been a softer guy who showed how afraid he was, I don't think they would have trusted him all that much, and of course the character wouldn't have been much interesting.

Animal crackers in my soup
Monkeys and rabbits loop the loop

[–] brooksshows 8 years ago

He WAS pretty brutal.

Son: Dad, should we check on the women?
Dad: We'll let them out later...

lol

They spent a lot of the movie hunkered down in that trailer while the men did men-folk stuff!