MovieChat Forums > Soldier in the Rain (1963) Discussion > Wondering about Eustis Clay's dog... [sp...

Wondering about Eustis Clay's dog... [spoiler warning]

posted 12 years ago by Eric-1226
4 replies | jump to latest

Okay, we learn later in the film that Eustis Clay's dog dies, so Eustis goes to that bar to drown his sorrows. Then we see the two evil MP guys - Priest and Lenahan - in a booth nearby, and both of them seem to be devilishly gloating over the fact that Eustis is really suffering.

So, are we to surmise that the two MP's had something to do with the dog dying? Did they get together and hatch a plan to kill Eustis's dog, just to "even up the score" with him?

It's tough to think it could have gone down like that, but I was wondering if that was the conclusion other viewers might have come to?

Feel free to discuss...

[–] zuzupetal_99 12 years ago

That never crossed my mind - I'm sure they wouldn't hunt down a fella's dog! I think they just heard about it. Besides, usually people are stationed far away from home so his dog was probably in another state anyway.

In any case, my favorite line from the movie, is at the end, when McQueen's friend is lamenting over Gleason's death in the film and how sad it was. And McQueen says something like "yeah, but he's got a damn-good dog!" and smiles. I loved that.

"Are you going to your grave with unlived lives in your veins?" ~ The Good Girl

[–] Eric-1226 12 years ago

Yeah, maybe you're right, perhaps I was reading too much into that scene, but... those two MP guys really were a couple of bastards, so i couldn't help but come to the ugly conclusion that they somehow had something to do with Eustis's dog dying. But later, I watched the film again, and I got the feeling that the dog basically died of old age. So maybe the two MP guys just heard about it ahead of time, and they arrived at the bar in time to gloat over Eustis's pain and suffering.

Well, it was a pretty emotional scene. lol

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

Although I'm a dog lover myself, it's difficult to feel sorry for Clay on the passing of a character with whom we never see him. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall seeing Donald. He's only referred to by name.

[–] sazoon 8 years ago

Clay was dreaming about Donald, and we saw the dream - just for a few seconds, I think. It looked like he was a beautiful Irish Setter.