was anyone else confused by the frequent mentions of how hideously ugly was? apart from being a bit pale, he looked perfectly human to my eyes. he really hid away his whole life and stayed away from people because of that? if I saw him on the street id think "he needs to get a little sun" and not think anymore about it. what the heck am I missing here?
shareHe had pasty white skin with black circles around his eyes and his hair plastered to the sides of his head. Always wore gloves. Always scuttled around in a black suit, like a weird funeral director.
But it's more than appearance--I think people (humans) could sense there was something off about him (remember Angela said she was terrified of him, even though he treated her kindly).
Time of your life, huh, kid?
In the short story this segment is (loosely) based on, Shadmocks are hideously ugly. It makes Angela's dilemma all the more stressful, as she has to fake being attracted to a monster. (The end scene in the study would also have made more sense, when she shrieks she could never love someone like him.)
It's anyone's guess as to why they chose to cast the rather good-looking James Laurenson and slap some clown-white on him. But he does an excellent job, portraying the Shadmock with the right amount of pathos. You can really feel his loneliness. This story's my favourite in the film, I always felt sorry for poor Raven.
PS - SPOILER ALERT!!
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He hides away from the world because of what happens when he whistles. I think he's afraid he'll lose his temper, and the results could be dire. Just watch how badly he felt when he roasted that cat.
DAD!! Tom Cruise won't come out of the closet!!!
In the short story the Shadmock was very good looking, and the woman lusted after him. He also was not wealthy, but a servant. The plot of the short story in no way resembled the plot in the film, except for his dire whistle, which he used to protect the woman from his family.
In the film the Shadmock is supposed to be ugly--he mentions once wearing a mask so people wouldn't see his face--but I agree that they failed here. The center part and white makeup make him look somewhat odd but he's by no means hideous. His kind personality makes up for a lot.
There is another short story by the same author that features a Mock (not a Shadmock) who is ugly and loves a pretty girl--you might be thinking of that story, FeydRautha. In the end he maims her to make her as ugly as he is, and then taunts her about it.
Time of your life, huh, kid?
Of course - "The Mock"!! How could I have mixed those two up? As I think I say on another thread, it has been a very long time since I read these stories. (The book's available on Kindle, I think I'm gonna cave and download it to my tablet...)
Thanks, akroagate. Nice to meet another Chetwynd-Hayes fan on the boards.
DAD!! Tom Cruise won't come out of the closet!!!