Delmar's widow - The first person to wrong Rambo?

Actually he wasn't " sent " at all but rather, abruptly turned his back and began to walk away immediately after handing her the picture he had been carrying. This is where we see her demeanor shift significantly, gazing at it affectionately, even appearing oblivious to Rambo at that point.

I think her embitterment in that scene was entirely plausible. Wasn't there a lot of that going around concerning that war? The film begins and ends with that premise.

Your presentation is interesting but kind of a moot point. Your words, " in another kind of film it may have been played out...." is telling. Yes, but not this one.

So, to answer your question, it appears as a "negative" but is actually a very effective ' hook,' wasting no time in grabbing the viewer's attention, creating the momentum of what's to follow. By the time he explodes in the jail, we're completely empathetic with his character and feel he's justified.

I think it's also noteworthy that, just prior to meeting the widow, as he's approaching the house, it's the only time in the film we actually see Rambo smiling broadly, appearing very happy.

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Ha, I went back to check that out - but you can't just watch that without watching the first showdown with Teasle, then the police station scene, then the chase, then... well, next thing you know, I've watched the whole thing again

Haha, that's not surprising. First Blood has unbelievable pacing and editing... the momentum of it just makes it such an entertaining and watchable movie. I could watch FB once every couple of weeks and never get bored.

Anyway, re the widow / mom, I couldn't really say - she does look a bit older, but not way

It's just way she acts. She just seems very motherly, like the way she speaks and the way she is dressed. Delmar would've been the same age as Rambo, and that lady looks older.

Either way, like you say it sets the scene up nicely, and as Rambo goes on to say later "There are no friendly civilians"...

I think the 'no friendly civilians' was aimed at Teasel, but Rambo at least understood what she was saying, and knew her bitterness was not directed at not him. I reckon had Rambo not decided to walk away voluntarily after giving her Delmar's picture, he would've been invited in.

I think a lesser film would've had Rambo welcomed with open arms and invited inside at least, but First Blood was smart and just had him out of there as soon as he got there - emphasizing how Rambo is always continually on the move alone - theme of the movie ie "It's a Long Road". He's got no time to stop and have friendly chats. It suited the opening narrative perfectly. Colonel Trautman is the first and only character to warmly talk to and embrace Rambo - it's perfect that way.

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I'm all for understanding her bitterness but she had no reason to be a bitty to Rambo though at all. It's not his fault Delmar got the cancer; nor is it his fault they were even in the war together to begin with. She was just being a rude C word and was rather disrespectful. Maybe it was her personality in general but she could have handled that so much better.

I've seen plenty of widows and mothers who lost sons and husbands before due to both war and fate but I've never seen one that bad.

I'm sure Delmar would have been angered she treated John that bad; it seemed they were the best of buddies. She could have at least gave him lunch or something. He wouldn't have been so moody or hungry when he got to Hope and wouldn't have had the incidents happen.

But then again it makes the movie work too; the whole world's out to get him pretty much.

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