MovieChat Forums > Nightmare Alley (1947) Discussion > Is Stan supposed to be illiterate?

Is Stan supposed to be illiterate?

posted 13 years ago by Adam_P_L
4 replies | jump to latest

I'm halfway through watching the movie, but I just noted that he tells Lilith Ritter "I thought this looked like one of those joints" when she tells him that she's a psychologist. But couldn't he see her name and "Consulting Psychologist" on the front door?

A lot of people might not pay attention to that, but Stan is so perceptive and notices everything. Can he not read? He talks about a horrific upbringing in an orphanage, so it doesn't seem like anyone cared much about his education.

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[–] Itsamoomoo 9 years ago

I did notice that while watching the film recently. You might be right.

[–] Daverat 9 years ago

Has anyone read the book? I'm about to get a copy so I can't say yet. it would make sense.

[–] debbie_lough 9 years ago

He can't be. He signs into the hotel just after he and Molly are married - and with a practised hand, not the writing of somebody who can sign his name and that's it. And it can't be Molly signing in, because it's a man's hand.

Agreed the line doesn't make sense in conjunction with the sign, though - maybe a set designer not thinking it through?

[–] tika313 9 years ago

He also looks up Ritter's number in a phone book.