Daily Dialogue — January 23, 2012
Dick: What are you sore about? We got no beef. It’s us against them.
Perry: This is between us. It’s got nothing to do with them.
Perry’s Father: Look at me boy! Take a good look! ’Cause I’m the last living thing you’re ever gonna see!
— Dick (Scott Wilson), Perry (Robert Blake), In Cold Blood (1967), screenplay by Richard Brooks, based on a book by Truman Capote
The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is flashbacks, suggested by Alexander Gorelik. Today’s suggestion by Teddy Pasternak.
Trivia: During the scene where Perry Smith (Robert Blake) is summing up his life, the rain on the window is reflected on Blake’s face so that it looks like he’s shedding tears, and the effect was lauded by many reviewers. That effect wasn’t planned — the set was hot that day and a fan was being used near the simulated rain; it accidentally blew the water against the window, resulting in the shadows of the falling “rain” passing over Blake’s face.
Dialogue On Dialogue: Teddy provides some illumination on the flashback:
Here’s the classic “crying window” scene where Perry tells the story of his father saying those words to him. An explanation of sorts what was going through Perry’s mind that night and why we see the flashback before the murders.
More from Teddy: “Perry’s line ‘This is between us. It’s got nothing to do with them,’ takes on a whole new meaning thanks to a great use of flashback.