Re: Jamaica Inn, a comparison between the different versions -- The Robert Newton Chatboard

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Subject: Re: Jamaica Inn, a comparison between the different versions

Author:
Susan

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Date Posted: 02:02:19 09/14/06 Thu
In reply to: Eva Dan� 's message, "Jamaica Inn, a comparison between the different versions" on 12:33:12 09/12/06 Tue

Thanks for doing all that work, Eva. I have the Miracle DVD too, but my prerecorded VHS is on the "Hollywood Gold" "Excelsior Collectors Edition" label manufactured and distributed by Madacy Entertainment Group, Inc. (allegedly 98 minutes). I also have a version recorded off the TV so long ago that it's in Beta format! I never imagined there were so many different versions out there ... and that possibly none of them is complete! I'll have to compare my tapes with your descriptions when I get a chance.

"The big bit missing from this tape is from (DVD counter 1:29:2) where the law has caught up with the gang at the inn and is handcuffing them."

I think I've complained before that this bit is also missing from my prerecorded VHS. (The best thing about the tape is the picture on the front cover, which is the one of Mary taking the noose off the unconscious Jem's neck; the box is all B&W with shiny gold trim.) Finding out that scene was missing scene was a real bummer since, first, it has one of the most comically stupid lines in the film, according to Medved and Dreyfuss (characterized as "immortal dialogue"): After the young guy (who looks a lot older than 17 to me) gets done protesting he wants to be handcuffed and hang with the others, he suddenly changes his mind and exclaims melodramatically, "I don't want to die! I don't want to die! Not yet! I'm only a boy! ... You can't hang me! You mustn't! You can't!" But then it also includes one of my favorite scenes, when the camera pans over to Harry as he spits in the officer's face. When the officer slaps him in the face, he smirks and casually restarts his trademark whistle.

"I wonder how Jem's 'To Whom it may concern' note survived the swim? After all, they didn't have zip-lock baggies back then <grin>"

Heh, good point. Another scene that seems really illogical to me (does it make sense to anyone else?) is where Harry lowers "your old friend Thomas" down into the cave on a rope to bring Jem and Mary back--as if he actually stands a chance against the two of them when they already see him coming. After Jem, with a quick tug, easily knocks him off the rope (rendering him unconscious, which is surprisingly easy to do in old movies with the slightest blow to the head--I've seen a lot of real-life people hit pretty hard in the head--accidentally, of course--and *never* seen a single one lose consciousness!), Harry and two others have themselves lowered down--telling the one guy left to tie the other end of the rope around "a bit of rock," as if that's strong enough to hold the weight of three men? And then this guy is lowering them down alone? And what do they expect to accomplish once they get down there? Not to mention how ridiculous the whole thing looks; how are those two guys holding onto him?

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Re: Jamaica Inn, a comparison between the different versions

Author:
Sue G.
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Date Posted: 15:20:01 10/13/06 Fri

Something bothers me about the most romantic scene in the whole Jamaica Inn film. That is the scene where Jem and Mary escape and end up in the seaside cave. First of all, that scene didn't even exist in the book, so it was just created for the movie. Then there is no explanation as to what happened during that night. Mary wakes up and, all of a sudden, discovers Jem sound asleep, bleeding from a head wound, with one arm around her and the other one near a knife. She wasn't hit on the head, was she? She acted as though she didn't know how she got there or what happened to Jem's head or why he had a knife with him! And apparently she didn't remember falling asleep next to him either. Then she is suddenly terrified of him after saving his live, escaping with him, and then sleeping with him all night!!! It just appeared to be thrown in the movie to create some romance. Or some scenes have been cut out that would have expanded on it a little more. Am I missing something about that part of the movie?

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