The book was a lot less funny, and gave a much better view of Victorian society. So the killing of Clean Willie comes across as less of a surprise. For instance, in the book, Crichton explains in detail how Willie tears his hands up escaping from prison. But his hands don't hurt, since he burned them to a crisp climbing chimneys as a chimney sweep. That sort of thing used to happen. The bank manager is not seduced by Pierce's girlfriend, but by a prostitute - a twelve-year-old. That was the age of consent. Public executions really were that big of a celebration. Lest we look too harshly on the Victorians, I have to wonder how many people would love to attend an execution today. One could certainly make a profit selling tickets.
shareI actually enjoyed the realistic public hanging. The crowd were obviously into the spirit of the occasion. It appeared fairly authentic to me.
shareThe hanging was one of the more disturbing ones i've ever seen on film. It looked very realistic and the crowds' applause felt creepy accurate.
I loved the murder of Clean Willie. The movie did it so nonchalantly. Like, see this guy here, looks like a good guy. Just a getaway driver? He's an assassin. Handsome charming leading man murders people who cross him. The movie drew almost no attention to it but it happened. I like how they did that.
"I said no camels, that's five camels, can't you count?"
Willie was a rat after all...what could he expect?
share