MovieChat Forums > The Uninvited (1944) Discussion > Ray Milland and the candelabra SPOILER

Ray Milland and the candelabra SPOILER


If you haven't seen The Uninvited and don't want to know what the climactic scene is, please don't read on.

But, when confronting the ghost, Ray Milland walks up a stairway with a lighted candelabra. After he throws it at the ghost, why doesn't a fire start?

reply

I always assumed the flames were extinguished while the candelabra was flying though the air.

"One road is paved in gold One road is just a road."
---Patti Smith

reply

^^^That is what I always thought.

reply

That, and the candles smashing on the floor probably snuffed out any remaining lit ones.

reply


You know, that bugged me. And how does *throwing a candleabra* make the ghost leave? She's been around for 20 years trying to kill her husband's love-child without success- would it really be that easy to get her out of the house?
_______________________________
I don't need to be forgiven...

reply

It always works for me in real life, except I keep running out of candelabras....

Okay, I don't think it was the tossed candelabra that drove her out, but her realization that none of them was frightened of her anymore, as Ray tells her. Without the power to harm or scare, and her secret known, MM just decides to pull out. Luckily, the Fitzgeralds hadn't gotten around to polyurethaning the floors yet when he threw the candles.

I always wondered where Mary and Carmel went off to. Different planes, I expect.

reply


I agree, that's the explanation we're sposed to go along with, but come ON! It just bugs me to death that discovery of her secret is enough to make her give up.

I betcha Minwax or Thompson's could make a really interesting ad based on their candelabra-scuff-repelling properties. :)
_______________________________
I don't need to be forgiven...

reply

Maybe she went over to haunt Miss Holloway. For old times' sake. Watch her undress and so on.

Would Holloway have gone to prison? Or just the nut house? Or some combination thereof?

reply


I'd think the nuthouse. There's no proof of Carmel's murder, so it couldn't be a criminal asylum, just a "crazy-philanthropists-in-love-with-dead-ladies" asylum.
_______________________________
I don't need to be forgiven...

reply

"I agree, that's the explanation we're sposed to go along with, but come ON! It just bugs me to death that discovery of her secret is enough to make her give up."

Well I think it was the combination of things mentioned in this thread....

But with her secret 'gone' there wouldn't be anything left for her to protect, and with Carmel gone, there wouldn't be anyone left for her to hang out with any longer.

Read My Lips!!!!

reply

It was Ray Milland’s laughter and indication that she couldn’t frighten anyone any longer that made the ghost retreat. The throwing of the candelabra was simply an “act of defiance” to emphasize the point. Without the ability to frighten, the ghost was powerless.

reply

She had an excellent reason to back off and go away; the movie was going to end in about a minute.
Kevin

MaywoodRotaryKenyaProject.org

reply

What would catch fire? The ghost?

~.~
There were three of us in this marriage
http://www.imdb.com/list/ze4EduNaQ-s/

reply