MovieChat Forums > The Legacy (1979) Discussion > Questions - things I don't get

Questions - things I don't get

posted 16 years ago by txvo
30 replies | jump to latest

I watched it again recently and still don't understand some things:
- Why did the old guy Jason looked fine and walked fine when he picked up the 2 americans but then was bed-ridden sickly shortly after?
- What kind of illness did Jason have that would make him grow claws and fur around his face?
- Who were all those people in the kitchen - were they dead? are they spirits (the nurse was apparently the cat. Was there a reason for this)?
- Why was the nurse mean to Catherine Walsh but was nice to her when Catherine was resurrected as Catherine Walshing("ham")? - no pun intended, LOL
- Why was everyone in town mean to the 2 visitors but then were nice when Catherine was resurrected as Catherine Walshingham?
- Why did all those people (who were criminals) say they owe their life to Jason? Did Jason bail them out of jail or pardon their deaths? Why would he do that if he eventually brought them together to kill them that night anyway? (Reminded me of house on haunted hill)

Thanks to anyone who can shed some light on these questions!

[–] GroovyDoom 16 years ago

It is never explained why Jason appeared normal in the beginning of the film, but it seems to be that he somehow used magic to appear that way for a brief period of time--remember, he never really gets out of the car, and can't do so without help from the servants. Apparently he already knew that Maggie was going to be "the one", and he felt strongly about being the one to greet her personally and make sure she came back to the mansion with him.

I think it's safe to assume that he looked the way he did because he was in possession of Satan's power, and could possibly have been a lot older than an ordinary human being.

The people in the kitchen seem to be "familiars". The nurse was a shapeshifter and she apparently had some form of immortality (she survives even after Sam Elliott 'kills' her), so the entire staff was probably made up supernaturally influenced people. They were all hesitant to embrace Maggie because she was an outsider. They'd never seen her before, so they didn't trust her, and they probably resented the fact that she, being a stranger, was obviously "chosen" by Jason. They also were probably suspicious of the fact that she seemed to be the reincarnation of Margaret Walshingham.

The six who wore Jason's ring were all indebted to him because he rescued them when they were in trouble. Jason used his power and his magic to help them all avoid death and/or prosecution when they committed their crimes, and also to ensure that they had no choice but to do his bidding (lest he abandon them and they would be left to fend for themselves).

I am with you in not understanding why Jason benefitted from seeking out these people throughout his life, bringing them together, and then murdering them one by one. It didn't make much sense. Since "The Legacy" was a book first, maybe the book goes into Jason's reasons for doing this, but in the film it is one element that's hard to fill in with the imagination.

[–] txvo 16 years ago

Thanks acidxian! That was a really nice explanation of my questions! And makes good sense too.
The IMDB boards should have more nice people like you who answer without ridiculing and condescending people.

[–] GroovyDoom 16 years ago

Haha....there are no dumb questions, only dumb answers, and IMDB has plenty of those.

By the way, if you liked "The Legacy" and have not seen the film "Suspiria", I would suggest that you make some time to watch "Suspiria". There are a lot of similarities between the two movies. "The Legacy" is clearly an attempt to mainstream the cult success of "Suspiria", with less than successful results--they also tried too hard to be "The Omen". I do like "The Legacy", but as you brought up in your original post, it leaves the viewer wondering what the heck happened. So does "Suspiria", but for some reason it works, so you can sort of understand what the makers of "The Legacy" are hoping to accomplish, which is creating a film that doesn't rely on much plot but which wows the viewer with a series of bizarre images and gruesome death sequences. Unfortunately, "The Legacy" has a lot more restraint than it should, and I think that's why it's not more widely remembered today. It's a major studio's attempt to simulate a foreign cult horror movie. Still, it's just weird enough to inspire a little discussion, so it's not all that bad.

[–] txvo 16 years ago

Great, I'll have to add Suspiria to my Netflix queue. Thanks for the suggestion!

[–] BearHugs 14 years ago

While Susperia has great atmosphere and is visually interesting, it is far more contrived and illogical than The Legacy. And there are no characters that you instantly like like Sam Elliot and Katharine Ross.

[–] Alessar 14 years ago

I just watched this -- very early there's a scene where you see an entire roomful of cats, including the white one that turned into Nurse Adams. So I think the entire household staff are actually cats/familiars.

I think the point of the extra 5 people is that they were human sacrifices to sustain the Satanic power being passed on to the one true heir.

The thing about Maggie is that she's somehow the reincarnation of the woman who started the whole thing.

[–] wanganegresse-17-66043 8 years ago

Yes, that's what I thought as well. It also seemed like each of the other five died in a way that was an echo of their original crime or problem that Jonathan Mountolive solved in exchange for their loyalty and ultimately their souls.

[–] soulful01 11 years ago

I have to agree with you about Susperia. It was not a great movie. It was good for a rainy Saturday afternoon though.

[–] soulful01 11 years ago

First, thanks to txvo for asking the question, and thanks to GroovyDoom for answering. I thought it made a lot of sense and tied things together.

I don't know if you were around in the 70s, no problem if you weren't, but there was a supernatural, occult, Satanic, UFO, psychic, paranormal craze going on at the time. Many shows and movies of the decade either had themes that involved some level of the paranormal, or had episodes with a paranormal or eerie theme. Even detective shows (Charlie's Angels, Nancy Drew & the Hardy Boys, etc.) and comedies (Alice, Laverne and Shirley, etc.)occasionally got in on the action. There were also shows like "In Search Of" with Leonard Nimoy and the "Night Gallery" with Rod Serling. There weren't as many channels then, so if something worked for one network or studio, it was more than likely going to show up on the others. Anyway, my point is, the Legacy was following a successful genre of the decade rather than trying to copy one of the films you mentioned. Also, the book came after the movie. It was promoted by the studio. The book was based on the movie rather than the other way around, as is usually the case. However, I have a copy of the book, and it does make for good reading.

[–] zalman1972 9 years ago

a very interesting and informative reply soulful01

[–] Dan_Garten 9 years ago

Interesting thread.

[–] stones78 9 years ago

Suspiria is crap and boring.

[–] RevMrBlack 13 years ago

Jimmy Sangster wrote some pretty clever scripts for Hammer, but he really dropped the ball here. Don't get me wrong, I still love the movie for nostalgia's sake, but a lot of this was just laughable. I rewatched it last night. I love how, even though they've been trying to escape the whole movie, they're suddenly okay with it all...even to the point of laughing it off. "You're getting hard to handle, slim." Lulz.

[–] ncsr11 9 years ago

The people in the kitchen seem to be "familiars"?

What is a familiar?

Thanks in advance.

[–] GroovyDoom 9 years ago

I meant it in the context of witchcraft. A familiar is a being that serves a witch, and they are frequently shapeshifters (the classic image of a cat sitting on the back of a witches broom). The people in the kitchen were probably really not people, the same way the nun was really not a woman, she would often appear as a cat.

groovydoom.blogspot.com

[–] ncsr11 9 years ago

Werecat; and the suckling off the 'cold green familiar tit'.

If you haven't yet, which I can't imagine, see Rod Zombie's, Lords of Salem.

Do you know any grotto leaders' names?

[–] GroovyDoom 9 years ago

I did see "Lords of Salem", I liked it. It got a little too "Ken Russell" at the end, but it had a great concept. And Meg Foster was amazing! I don't hate on Rob Zombie like a lot of people do. I haven't liked all his movies, but I think he's a unique director. I wish he would give us more style and suspense instead of violence and brutality. I love his visual style though, and in "Lords Of Salem" he got away from the redneck stuff he was doing in all his previous films.

groovydoom.blogspot.com

[–] ncsr11 9 years ago

I guess when I asked if you knew any names of grotto leaders, you could have replied, 'Jason Mountolive'.

[–] WriteJoe72 13 years ago

Actually each time one of Jason's 6 guests dies horribly Maggie gets a bit more "power" so to speak as she is eventually going to take in Mountolive's soul. Towards the very end she is the one causing the gun to backfire and explode in the Frenchman's face. Other hints are they she warms up the fireplace right when Sam Elliot starts to get scalded; she is talking to Clive when he starts choking to death and she leaves the room just before the German guy gets engulfed in flames.

One of the ideas I get is that Jason Mountolive, is actually Satan having re-incarnated himself in human form over and over through the generations since he was originally Judas Iscariot (hung himself on an olive tree mound). There is a lot of hidden Christian and Satanic subtext in the film.

[–] buckikris 9 years ago

I finished reading the book, and after I watched the movie I was wondering what disease he had also? The book near the end said he suffered from Leperocy. The claws I believe was to prove to the audience he was under Satan's power.

[–] zachanscom 9 years ago

what i don't get is how can a prostitute ransom her vagina for 1 million dollars. they honestly expect us to believe you can't get better bangs for 50 cents in mexico?

[–] ncsr11 9 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-Rqdgna3Yw

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] chet19 8 years ago

I could never understand why Maggie and Pete were so accepting at the end. Especially Pete. They spent the whole movie trying to fight the black arts and all those people, then almost instantly at the end, they were like, "Okay, now we have Satan's power. cool."
What I love are the 3 scenes I remember as a kid that always stayed with me. The lady in the pool who couldn't surface. Roger Daltrey choking. And the car ride that kept circling back to the mansion no matter which way they turned.

[–] TheSolarSailor 8 years ago

I could never understand why Maggie and Pete were so accepting at the end. Especially Pete. They spent the whole movie trying to fight the black arts and all those people, then almost instantly at the end, they were like, "Okay, now we have Satan's power. cool."

You clearly see Margaret come to terms with everything that is happening. She gives up on trying to escape as she learns more and more, and finally accepts that this is her destiny. She cannot avoid it. I also think there is a certain level of possession going on when she absorbs Jason's power. Once filled with the understanding of all that has happened in the past, she no longer fears it.

Pete, I think, stays because he is in love with Margaret. He has only two decisions, to leave her behind or to stay. So basically, he stays out of love.

- - - - - - -
I am not a fan. I just happen to enjoy movies. Fans are embarrassing.

[–] ricky-1750 8 years ago

Well, one question was explained at the end. Jason tells Margaret to "find six souls, kill five, and the sixth will inherit her legacy. So, that's why he spent his life "collecting" those criminals, so that he could pass his legacy on to his chosen sixth person.

[–] I_heart_toughguys 8 years ago

Maybe I missed it in the movie, but why was Margaret chosen?

SHOCK ME, SHOCK ME, SHOCK ME, with that deviant behavior!

[–] alifeatthemovies 8 years ago

What I don't get is why was Jacques trying to kill Pete with the crossbow. I get that he thought he would be next to be killed, but why did he think Pete was responsible for all the previous deaths?

[–] zanbuddha 7 years ago

He (Karl, not Jacques) wasn't trying to kill Pete but to scare him. It was obvious he deliberately missed.

Also, I feel that the end (when Pete and Margaret "got together" in the garden) reminded me slightly of Adam and Eve story.

This is the Christian subtext an earlier contributor made a point of. Eve sinned in the garden but Adam stayed with her because he loved her.