The Kid Who Puts His Fingers In His Ears Before the Gun is Shot
https://youtu.be/sAhKLfzDHcI
What a pirrock.
He probably didn't think anyone would notice.
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MovieChat Forums > North by Northwest (1959) Discussion > The Kid Who Puts His Fingers In His Ears...
For some reason I noticed him on my first watch. He spoiled the moment for me!
shareHe was an undercover agent who was in on the whole setup. But his nerves and lack of experience got the best of him, and he flinched.
shareHa.
The theory is that the kid had gone through earlier takes and knew how loud the blanks were going to be, and got ready.
I think it works "dramatically" because sometimes kids see things and they "freeze up" and can't tell anyone. The boy SEES this woman draw her gun, its a "real moment." He can't yell, so he puts his fingers in his ears and holds on.
IMHO.
Very doubtful that Hitchcock would miss this. It's more likely a bookend to an early scene where the man at the table doesn't hear..
shareIn the next scene when the ambulance drives Roger into the "woods" where he meets Eve, one of the trees that the car he is in passes by very visibly wobbles. Apparently the scene was on a staged set where the trees were all props "planted" at distances apart that would allow for the cars to drive in, the characters to stand and interact, all while in a forest.
I guess it's possible no one noticed until far into (or after) post-production, but maybe Hitchcock just thought it was funny and left it in. I imagine he did the same with the scene with the boy plugging his ears before Eve fires her gun at Roger. Whatever the reason, it's interesting that these two visible gaffes happened in back-to-back-scenes.
The other interesting thing is that when the shot occurs, there's a cut to farther away, and the kids hands are down on the table. It must have been multiple takes.