MovieChat Forums > The Painted Veil (2007) Discussion > Does Waddington Ever Catch On...?

Does Waddington Ever Catch On...?

posted 9 years ago by bkzsmith
7 replies | jump to latest

....to Kitty? That she had an affair with Charlie? And that she was dragged as a "volunteer" to the cholera scene by a punitive husband? He seems to, when she presents him with the phonograph record and casually mentions she has a letter to post, and he's certainly inquisitive and intelligent in certain scenes, but she's pretty close-mouthed. The scene of him drinking as the rain pours and his girlfriend is smoking, the scene where he's whistling waiting in the convent show a kind of detached jadedness with life and maybe he just shrugged off what she was all about.

[–] La_Cenerentola 9 years ago

He definitely caught on to it when he saw that she wanted to send a letter to Charlie; hence, why he said to her that Charlie's wife referred to all the women who flirted with him as "second-rate." It was Waddington's way of letting Kitty know he knew what was going on and what he thought of her, considering his high opinion of Walter.

That's why Kitty took the letter back, tore it up, and cried. She knew that Waddington was on to her and would read her letter and destroy it or give it to Walter. There was no way he would send it to Charlie.

[–] cgtt7 9 years ago

I've watched this movie so many times and just love it. This time when I watched it, I wondered if Waddington was trying to help Kitty and Walter reconcile. This time, I interpreted Waddington's comments when she wanted to mail the letter to Charlie as a warning to Kitty, i.e. don't waste your time writing to him because he's a jerk and don't give his wife the satisfaction of letting her know that you fell for him.

I thought Kitty was crying because she finally understood the hopelessness of her situation.

[–] KatrinaW 8 years ago

She knew that Waddington was on to her and would read her letter and destroy it or give it to Walter. There was no way he would send it to Charl

While he was definitely on to her (he knew about the Townsends proclivities, after all), I doubt he'd either read the letter or give it to Walter. I definitely think he felt sorry for her, and knew about the difficulties Kitty and Walter were having.

[–] MarblesLove 8 years ago

That's why Kitty took the letter back, tore it up, and cried. She knew that Waddington was on to her and would read her letter and destroy it or give it to Walter. There was no way he would send it to Charlie.

I agree with the other two. I think he was definitely on to her but he wasn't saying he was going to read it or give it to Walter. He was subtly letting her know that Charlie wasn't worth her time. I also don't think he though that much less of her. I actually thought he was pretty understanding.

Once upon a time there was a magical place where it never rained. The end.

[–] simplemines 8 years ago

It was Waddington's way of letting Kitty know he knew what was going on and what he thought of her, considering his high opinion of Walter.

I don't think Waddington thought badly of Kitty, but he did like the doctor very much, and he was letting Kitty know about Charlie's reputation. It wasn't because he disliked Kitty; he actually seemed to get her (and her relationship with the doctor) from the get-go. It was because, wise man that he was, he knew that the Charlie road was the path to misery (and he was right.)

[–] simplemines 8 years ago

....to Kitty? That she had an affair with Charlie?

Of course he did. That's what his entire monologue was about, when she tried to get him to post a letter to Charlie in Shanghai. Remember, he knew Charlie, meaning he knew all ABOUT Charlie and his history of casual affairs.

[–] scorpiowriter 7 years ago

I felt that Waddington was trying to WARN Kitty that she would only have her heart broken if she sent the letter. Charlie was a piece of trash. And Kitty's ultimate revenge is that the little boy will never know his biological father (I believe they deliberately chose a child actor who looked a lot like Charlie so that he would be haunted by it, as per the final scene).