1. Sign-up to become a member, and most of the ads you see will disappear. It only takes 30 seconds to sign up, so join the discussion today!
    Dismiss Notice

The Ending of "Kiss Me Deadly"

Discussion in 'Archived Threads 2001-2004' started by Kenneth, Aug 19, 2001.

  1. 1 Aug 19, 2001
    Kenneth

    Kenneth Supporting Actor

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 1997
    Messages:
    757
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I just finished the DVD of Kiss Me Deadly which had been in my backlog for awhile. I am curious about one thing though. I will put my question in spoilers:
    Spoiler:Did they still not understand nuclear material that well in 1955 or was the ending an artistic statement on the apocalyptic aspects of nuclear fission? I am pretty sure that nuclear material doesn't just spontaneously combust like they showed.
    I am curious what others think. Thanks.
    Kenneth
     
  2. 2 Aug 20, 2001
    Andy Sheets

    Andy Sheets Cinematographer

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2000
    Messages:
    2,376
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    110
    It's an artistic statement. Classic Pandora's Box kind of thing. I love this movie, much much more than the novel, mainly for the more downbeat take on Mike Hammer and those characters [​IMG]
     
  3. 3 Aug 20, 2001
    Darren H

    Darren H Second Unit

    Joined:
    May 10, 2000
    Messages:
    447
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Robert Aldrich, who directed Kiss Me Deadly, said in several interviews that he was attracted to the material because it allowed him an opportunity to skewer the conservative hysteria of the McCarthy-era. He saw Mike Hammer as an amoral, fascistic, any means necessary anti-hero. Aldrich made some really interesting films in the mid-50s, all of which were financed independently and distributed through United Artists. It allowed him some freedom to be considerably left of the the Hollywood center.
    The nuclear element of the film is a MacGuffin (and is rumored to have been the inspiration for Jules' briefcase in Pulp Fiction).
    ------------------
    "I am a pitbull on the pantleg of opportunity." -- g.W.b.
     
  4. 4 Aug 20, 2001
    Kenneth

    Kenneth Supporting Actor

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 1997
    Messages:
    757
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Cool. Thanks for the explanation. Yeah, I thought of both Pulp Fiction and RepoMan when they started "peeking" in the box. A great movie.
    Kenneth
     

Share This Page