MovieChat Forums > Taste of Fear (1961) Discussion > Not really wheelchair-bound. so...

Not really wheelchair-bound. so...

posted 12 years ago by lawrenced-544-76959
5 replies | jump to latest

The Octave Doctor

When Penny is in her room and there is nobody else present, why does she continue to struggle in and out of her wheelchair? An example of this is when she gets out of bed to close the windows. For the benefit of the viewer?

Also, if the plan was to send Penny crazy why does Robert confirm to Penny that he's found some candle wax (proving that Penny was correct about seeing her father in the summerhouse). This would have given the game away. Penny would have then known something fishy was going on, and she wasn't imagining it after all.

[–] ATMinotaur 12 years ago

Probably partly for the viewer, to give a twist. Possibly (not seen it in awhile) as a precaution in case someone walks into the room unexpectedly (however unlikely) as she wouldn't be able to explain why she can walk.

[–] novastar_6 11 years ago

Also, if the plan was to send Penny crazy why does Robert confirm to Penny that he's found some candle wax (proving that Penny was correct about seeing her father in the summerhouse). This would have given the game away. Penny would have then known something fishy was going on, and she wasn't imagining it after all.

Because up till what they thought was the bitter end, they didn't plan for Penny to know that Robert was in on it with the stepmother, for that to remain so, he'd have to seem to be coming over to her side.

[–] mrjayberry 11 years ago

I don't think it was ever Roberts plan to drive Penny crazy.

[–] Trippetta10 10 years ago

She may have continued to use the wheelchair even when no one was around as a way to stay in character. I think she actually slipped up when she got into the chair without any help her first morning at her father's house, to Jane's surprise, but quickly covered her tracks when she told Jane she'd crawled.

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In heaven everything is fine.

[–] thegalaxybeing 10 years ago

BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE VERY REVEALING SPOILER HERE. Of course, If you've been following these responses, you've been exposed to some spoilers already

I can definitely accept "staying in character" (while alone) explanation as quite plausible. In her early stages of planning, she likely would've made a conscious decision to do just that thus reducing the chances of her accidentally "letting the cat out of the bag".

My only reservation comes when she seems to be in PANIC after seeing the dead man. I feel that terror would've shifted her priorities and she would have likely bolted. However, having said that, this is no more of a stretch then to believe the characters in a movie like "The Blair Witch Project" would continue to film while sinking deeper and deeper into a very justified PANIC state of mind. It could also be noted that since she's investigating to confirm her worst suspicions, then her apparent fear might be part of the rouse, at least when she's around the others. She might also be somewhat prepared for discovering a body, and cleverly acting more afraid then she really is (IE the character is acting to avoid blowing her cover). All this does make her character rather obsessive, yes?

This does not make the film any less a very good thriller and the director may be forgiven for leading us a little (call it "director's license" if you like) in order to maintain a better sense of suspense and eeriness. I can allow my suspension of disbelief to engage when watching this genuinely spooky story.