MovieChat Forums > Homicidal (1961) Discussion > Question about marriage... spoiler

Question about marriage... spoiler

posted 16 years ago by starline
10 replies | jump to latest

This movie was on TCM today...and I watched it. The movie was pretty good...lots of details...lots of clues. :)

Actually it was pretty funny and had me laughing. The clock that warned you to leave was really funny...lol So was Warren. In fact... the funny "actor" playing warren...gave it away... that he was a she...so of course I had figured it out.

But did I see...and maybe I'm remembering wrong...but was there a wedding photo of warren and emily together? Which of course would have been next-to-impossible. But I remember thinkin' ...What...did they have photoshop... lol But someone else said...No warren just had a pix of Emily alone.

Why did "they" even bother to pretend to be married? What difference did it make.

I understand all the little details about the deceased parents...and Helga raising "warren"...and why she and the justice of peace had to die... and Meriam too... and about the doll...and even about "denmark"... and sex changes back then...

But I'm not sure why it was necessary for Emily to get married at all... Why couldn't emily just kill the Justice guy when he was alone. It seemed silly to involve other people... like the justice's wife...and emily's "groom".

Oh well...all in all it was an entertaining old movie. :)

[–] thefabslv 16 years ago

I watched it yesterday on TCM, too... Wild wacky stuff!

I think the marriage thing came from the twisted mind of "Warren/Emily" - probably due to him/her feeling bitter and believing that "they" would never truly find love and a life partner. (Things are much more "forward" today than back then. ;-)

There were all kinds of little quirks going on... Like his/her midnight schedule on a specific date for the wedding, etc. Even that bogus wedding ring was engraved with the date on the inside. Why??

Bottomline... "they" were nuts. *LOL*

[–] rpniew 16 years ago

I look at this as one of those movies that could be remade today, with better actors, better makeup, and a somewhat more skilled screenplay. It really wouldn't be a difficult matter.

[–] vpilutis 16 years ago

I agree that whole part WAS overdone, but in any case why didn't the bellhop TRY
to stop her?

[–] nvasapper 15 years ago

Would you want to put yourself in the way of a homicidal psychopath with a razor-sharp surgical knife to try and stop her? I sure as Hell wouldn't.

[–] freudified_n_funkified 16 years ago

"Bottomline... "they" were nuts. *LOL* "

Exactly! I don't know if it's exactly what was intended, but I like to see it as this girl had to masquerade her whole life as "Warren" and then "Warren" in turn fractured off into "Emily" - so the false identity had a split personality (and probably a sex change) ... and then married it! I think it's open enough to a little bit of liberal interpretation. While "Warren" was aware of his/her true gender, I kind of like to think he wasn't aware "Emily" was himself gone a-murderin' until the end. Just makes it more twisted.

Man, Robb White and William Castle must have just sat around trying to figure out ways to trump Psycho. And in that respect, they kind of did. Ed Wood probably ate his heart out too. A lot of fun, and pretty daring for '61.

[–] thefabslv 16 years ago

Ooooooo! I like it!!

And you're right... considering all the really BAD "B" movies that came out in the late '50s, early '60s, this one was a LOT of fun and over-the-top morality-wise for that timeframe. Good times! :-)

And now for something completely different...

[–] lnyk 15 years ago

I guess Helga took Warren/girl to Denmark to becaome a boy.Warren became Emily to recapture his old identity.Was Warren was to inherit a fortune at his 21st birthday,or marriage? The Justice ,Helga ,and the mother knew the truth.

[–] badnomad 15 years ago

Warren needed Emily as a scapegoat, so the murder of the Justice of the Peace HAD to be public. Emily could then get the blame for the other murders and then "diasappear". Warren would never be suspected and could enjoy his/her life with the 10 million dollars. I liked how Warren said even 10 million wasn't enough to be his (father's) son.

[–] dwkelly 15 years ago

I also liked the subtle nuance of how Emily finally snapped when the justice went to kiss her. There's an implication that all her gender-bending totally messed with her view of sexuality. She seemed repulsed by the thought of being kissed by another man. I have a feeling this film was a strong inspiration for the film Sleepaway Camp.

--Daniel W. Kelly, author, "Closet Monsters: Zombied Out and Tales of Gothrotica"

[–] Blondfashionisto 14 years ago

I thought she didn't want to kiss him as he was not attractive; unshaven and had been drinking...

After all, she picked out the 'cute' Bellboy to be her hubby...And, she wanted to go on a picnic with Karl...

‘Six inches is perfectly adequate; more is vulgar!' (Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Re: An open window).