Black Dress?


I just saw this film last night for the first time, and I rather enjoyed it. It was an odd picture, but an entertaining one at that. Yet there was one thing that stood out to me that may or may not mean anything: at the opening murder, when Rod Steiger (my apologies for not remembering his character's name) carries the woman into the bathroom and walks out, closing the door behind him, there is a black dress on a hanger dangling as the credits begin. Later on, another one of the victims -- the prostitute from the bar -- is wearing a black dress. And at the very end, when "Moe" and Steiger are fighting in the playhouse, one of the portraits of his mother -- the one where she isn't in costume -- shows her wearing a black dress. I was just left curious whether or not the black dress was one of the reasons he chose his victims, because his mother wore one as well. As I said, this could be -- and probably is -- nothing, but I'm interested to hear your thoughts on the matter.

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This movie has obvious allusions to the Boston Strangler case as the killer generally talked his way into his victims'homes by ruses or charm (or both)and in one case left when he discovered the woman wasn't alone (as happened in the movie). I think it gives the best feeling for the climate of the Boston Strangler crimes.

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