MovieChat Forums > Shining Through (1992) Discussion > Griffith's character a bit like Palin - ...

Griffith's character a bit like Palin - underrated, mocked--

posted 15 years ago by acheapmom
10 replies | jump to latest

Griffith's character - with her soft voice and lack of official spy training - seems improbable, but she proves she can think on her feet and thus is allowed to spy in Nazi Germany by her new boss (and romantic interest) played by Michael Douglas.

She has an unofficial resume' - she can quickly think on her feet and act!

Yes, appearances and speech can be deceiving!!! Woe to the Nazis - who failed to look past the surface...of this frail appearing woman with the childish voice.

In situations where most East Coast grads of fancy schools (Harvard OR Vassar) might fail, Griffith survives---to successfully complete her mission with the aid of Michael Douglas's character. (Note - Except for maybe the last few minutes of film, Douglas is assisting HER!!!)

This film - and "Working Girl" - illustrate the blue collar young woman who might be educated but who gets snubbed by both women and men because she is not from the "correct" East coast families or "correct" fashionable colleges.

[–] mstytz 15 years ago

Exactly correct, great film.

[–] carlie1964 15 years ago

I really enjoyed this film because I felt everyone filming was on the same page..NO diva's, the actors were running with the great energy that was in the movie.

People type cast MG and she is not the same persona as 1992, yet she really nailes this character and I just love this film. (And that's OK, Stewart Smally agrees)

Do you believe in destiny?

It may have already happened

[–] antimatter33 15 years ago

OMG I almost fell off my chair - praising a bad movie by comparing the main character to a pernicious narcissist in hooker heels! Yep the red lip-schtick and blank expression is just about the same! Can you see Russia from Berlin? You could in 1945!

-drl

[–] despyria 15 years ago

Which is unlike Palin that can't think much less quickly.

Revolutionary Road was the real Best Picture!

[–] grant-graham 15 years ago

Someone needs to rid herself of a rather large chip on her shoulder... and perhaps learn history and the workings of the real world.

First off, much of the early success of the OSS was in no small part due to East Coast grads of fancy schools (Yale in particular).

Second, the movie is a farce. There was no OSS at the time Pearl Harbor was attacked, which destroys the credibility and story line of the Michael Douglas character.

Third, in "Working Girl" the protagonist is hardly unique. Wall Street is populated by many non-elite school grads, though their rags-to-riches stories are typically through trading rooms. When you're handling money, no manager cares about your educational pedigree; they just want you to make money.

What makes your post transcend into silliness is your comparison of a two-dimensional fake character to... Melanie Griffith. Palin's problem isn't her educational pedigree; it's being ill-informed on pertinent economic and international political topics after graduation.

[–] Rick-34 14 years ago

Any actual spy who spoke German as poorly as Griffith's character does would be quickly escorted to SS headquarters.

Um...no, you're right! We should use Sarah Palin as an undercover spy! Yeah, that's a great idea!

[–] waldenpond88 13 years ago

I agree!
"Shining through" and "Working Girl" are my favorite Griffith movies.

[–] 13 years ago

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