The photo


Who was in the photo? Not in the movie plot; I mean who was actually in it?

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You mean the poster for the movie?


I think it's James Garner and a doberman....

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Hello eye3,
'the photo' in question is the one Garner finds in the deceased woman's beach house, it's of a woman's bare backside. (and a kind of wide end at that!)The rump belongs to either the deceased woman or one of her lovers. BUTT, the point of the discovery by Garner, is to throw us(the audience)off because we get to see a flash of Ross's fanny after she finished fornicating with Garner! I thought the split tail kind of looks like it could be her (Katherine Ross) bottom in the picture. (sorry Ms. Ross)
Did you miss the part when Garner asked her(Ross)if she was 'with' the deceased woman?..and she got upset, I mean she got REALLY upset with Garner! She was so LIVID with him that he would EVEN think it much-less ask her, that she'd NOT see him or answer her phone when he called her!
So, you see it was a MAJOR plot thing...or would it be a character thing(?) I get those two mixed up sometimes, but that's why, at the end, he tells his deputy over the radio to pull her over and give her a ticket! See, Garner figures she'll come to him to protest the ticket, which he'll tear up and they'll end up playing poker.('Neat')
Or will she disregard the ticket and leave him to play solitaire?

Actually, this movie is based on a true story & I heard that in real life, the 'butler' did it.

Peace-out,
Neo Peckinpah

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Interesting reply, Neos_gonzo. Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention, but they could have better tied the photo to the story.

What confuses me is: Who took the picture of the couple on the beach? The story suggests the victim was lesbian (though also pregnant with her husband's child), so why was she frolicking nude with another man?

James Garner also mentions that other photos were taken that better identify the victim, but we don't see these, presumably to keep the PG rating.

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Abel explains who took the photo right after they put the cuffs on Mrs. Watkins. It was taken Jenny Watkins, the victim. She was bisexual and was pregnant with Mr. Watkin's (the vet) child. She is not IN the picture. The picture is of Mr and Mrs Watkins.

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You obviously haven't seen the movie. There is no flash of Ross's rear end and he does not tell his deputy to pull her over.

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Correct. He asks the sheriff to let him know where the cab carrying Ross goes.

"Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."
-Dennis

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Not so fast, Rickee--- There is a brief glimpse of the naked Ms. K. Ross as she slips out of the bed when Murphy has Garner pinned down. It is very clear that she is nude, but Able is not looking at her. She next appears dressed only in Able's oversized shirt to lead Murphy away on a leash.
I agree, the concept of giving her a ticket at the end of the movie is a fantasy on the part of the above poster...didn't happen in the film...but it IS quite clear that he hasn't given up on Kate yet...and by asking for a tail to follow her in the cab, he is going to pursue her yet. A very nice unanswered question as to whether they get back together again. I'm betting yes, he will woe and win her back...but that's just my take on it.
Finally, I agree, the nude polaroid photo was of the Dr. and Wife, taken by Jenny Cambell before her death. The Vet, while trying to clean up any evidence, missed that one among the playing cards, but is the figure seen running up the beach when Abel tumbles that someone is in the house with him.
I doubt the cottage was on the back lot. I think they dressed a small cottage that was marked for demolition to appear as the location, but burned it down as part of the plot. It was never intended to stay-- the interior use of "Flare Squares" was a decorating fad in the 1970s... as were most of the furnishings from the period!

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In the plot the photo is of Mr. and Mrs. Watkins, the vet and his (bisexual) wife. Abel explains this just after the sheriff puts the cuffs on Mrs. Watkins and takes her to the squad car. He also explains that the photo was taken by Jenny Campbell.

As for who is "actually" in it, that would be a pair of anonymous models. Why do you care?

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