MovieChat Forums > Carrie (1976) Discussion > Lovely and touching scene with Carrie an...

Lovely and touching scene with Carrie and Mrs. Collins

posted 9 years ago by Milo-Jeeder
19 replies | jump to latest

While I do like "Carrie" for its shock value, the supernatural elements, the whole prom massacre and such, one of my favorite scenes is when Mrs. Collins talks to Carrie in a very motherly way, comforting her, telling her that she is a beautiful girl and telling her to do something with her hair (to uncover her face basically). I always found this scene very sweet because it makes me think that Carrie is receiving maternal love, which is something that she doesn't seem to get from Margaret (which is not the same as saying that Margaret didn't love her daughter in her own twisted and harsh way)

I especially love the last part of the scene, when Mrs. Collins prompts Carrie to look at herself in the mirror and it seems like she (Mrs. Collins) is teary, because she really feels bad for Carrie and all the abuse she's enduring. I absolutely love this scene. I love the fact Mrs. Collins presents herself as a very strict woman, who doesn't hesitate to put everyone in their places when needed, but at the same time, she is very sensitive and sympathetic.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3305/614/1600/BettyMissCollinsCarrie.jpg

I really felt quite distressed at not receiving an invitation - Maleficent

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Milo-Jeeder 9 years ago

I agree. After that talk with Mrs. Collins, it seems like Carrie gets some courage and determination to stand up. The fact that Mrs. Collins is killed during the prom massacre is one of the most tragic aspects of this story, in my opinion; especially because Carrie thinks she was laughing at her, just like all the others.

I really felt quite distressed at not receiving an invitation - Maleficent

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] timothy-5 9 years ago

Everybody shown laughing really was laughing at Carrie. It's just that to amplify the effect of the cruelty, a kaleidoscope effect was used (making it look like 100 of the same person). But in order to achieve that effect, a soft-focus lens is needed. Since dreams and daydreams are often filmed in soft focus, some people interpret it as Carrie's daydream.

[–] yajji 8 years ago

Everybody shown laughing really was laughing at Carrie. It's just that to amplify the effect of the cruelty, a kaleidoscope effect was used (making it look like 100 of the same person). But in order to achieve that effect, a soft-focus lens is needed. Since dreams and daydreams are often filmed in soft focus, some people interpret it as Carrie's daydream.

I disagree, I think it was part of Carrie's imagination and that the belief everyone was laughing was just a result of her mum drilling it into her head ("they're all gonna laugh at you!") Yes, some people were laughing, but in reality, I doubt Mrs. Collins was one of them.

[–] dlynch843 8 years ago

Agreed--in Carrie's imagination, everyone was laughing---Miss Collins would never have laughed--we see her real reaction of putting her hand to her mouth in horror/outrage. I remember reading King's novel after seeing the movie, and he had Miss Collins (Desjardins in the book) actually laughing, not being able to help herself. DePalma and Lawrence Cohen did a far better job at creating a moving and sad portrait of a tormented girl, where Miss Collins was kind.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] The_Ultimate_Hippo 8 years ago

Only Norma was actually laughing.

"I really wish Gia and Claire had became Tanner" - Honeybeefine

[–] knight-in-black-leather 8 years ago

If you watch the scenes where she closes the gym doors, you will see others laughing as well. When she closes the doors, we are back in reality because that is really happening and not just in her mind like when she "sees" Miss Collins laughing and "hears" her mother's words over and over.

This is a faithful saying...Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

[–] The_Ultimate_Hippo 8 years ago

What I don't get is why people on this board seem to think that Mrs. Collins and the entire gym was actually laughing at her? It's blatantly obvious that Carrie thinks they are laughing at her when in reality it's only Chris, Norma and maybe one other person. Billy and Freddy had nothing against Carrie, they just went along with it because of their girlfriends.

"I really wish Gia and Claire had became Tanner" - Honeybeefine

[–] knight-in-black-leather 8 years ago

I agree that Miss Collins was definitely not laughing, neither were the teacher and principal. Some kids (not all) did laugh though, but they're laughter seemed to be the result of nervous energy than actually finding the prank funny. They had just witnessed their prom queen being doused with blood, so they didn't know exactly how to react. As it states in the book, it was a horrific sight, and they could either laugh or cry and after so many years of Carrie being the brunt of the joke, nobody could bring themselves to cry for her.

This is a faithful saying...Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

[–] dlynch843 9 years ago

This scene is my favorite, too. From the very beginning of the scene, when Miss Collins first sees Carrie hidden away, the way she says 'Carrie?'....and then says 'Carrie' again with heart-breaking sympathy. Her talk with Carrie is filled with good knowledge "....it's this attitude you have about yourself, always mopin' around, with your head down." It's not a rebuke at all, because she says it with caring. Lawrence D. Cohen wrote a good scene and the two actreses performed the scene beautifully.

[–] I_Love_Hutch 9 years ago

I was pleased to read this post because for all of the suspense and dazzle and full blown pathos this movie has to offer, this quiet little scene has always been my favorite. This scene is so sweet and so unobtrusive in the way it touches, and I'm not ashamed to say that it usually makes me tear up a bit.

The two bits that I find most moving are when Miss Collins says "That's even better. He's really cute, huh?" and Carrie with all that pain of sadness says "I know who he goes around with. They're just trying to trick me again, I know." The girl has been beaten down from every direction, and over time she has pretty much been forced to accept that, for her, happiness will always end in betrayal. She has become too weary at way too young an age.

The other part that just kills me is the same bit that the poster above me cited... when Miss Collins says "Carrie" the second time. The way she says it. There is genuine sympathy that breaks the heart. Poor Carrie, scared and all alone. You just can't help but want nothing bad to ever happen to the girl again. And the scene also made me love Miss Collins.

[–] dlynch843 9 years ago

Nice post. I'm glad more people are discussing this wonderful scene.

[–] Candyhearts27 9 years ago

Yes! This is one of my favorite scenes in the movie. I love the music in the movie and the friendship between Carrie and Miss Collins. I only wish---

*Spoilers*

It had a happy ending. :(

[–] KingTrump 8 years ago

It's a nice build up to the next scene with Sue and Tommy being questioned.

[–] jefgg 8 years ago

I just thought of something horrible. What if Miss Collins came on to Carrie? She would not have been the first high teacher to have an inappropriate relationship with a student. Gym teachers are notorious for it. It would have created one more huge villain.

[–] I_Love_Hutch 8 years ago

That would have been one subplot too many.

[–] LadyDi4476 8 years ago

The girl has been beaten down from every direction, and over time she has pretty much been forced to accept that, for her, happiness will always end in betrayal. She has become too weary at way too young an age.

I know. That's what makes the blood scenes all the more painful. It solidified any notion of her being tricked. She was on cloud 9 thinking she was being accepted by her peers and that Tommy might actually like her and then the blood falls on her. With Norma laughing she just snaps. It was the last time she would be betrayed or tricked ever again. That is until she goes home to Mama...

-Di