Posted by Wendy B. on September 9, 2001, at 23:15:13
In reply to Fargo and door chimes, posted by Mitch on September 9, 2001, at 22:21:44
You're right, it really IS off the wall!
But, as both a former lit AND film student ---
- my first thoughts have to do with the William H. Macy character, he's the used car salesman. He's got a scheme to kill his wife, and the car chimes may be a constant reminder to him that his 2-bit plot is going to turn around and bite him in the ass. I think this is a kind of homage the Coen brothers are paying to Hitchcock, perhaps, he always tied a song or a musical 'theme' to characters, especially if they were the bad guys, or if they were about to do something scary. If you want a really good example of this, rent Hitchcock's 'Shadow of a Doubt,' (1943, Joseph Cotten stars), a great film by the way. The theme associated with the murderer (Cotten) is the Merry Widow Waltz...
Cars are everywhere in Fargo... the squad car with the pregnant policewoman (Frances McDormand), the cars the hoods drive (Steve Buscemi was one of them), the used car lot, etc. But I don't remember if all the cars chime? or just Macy's character's or Macy & the hoods' cars? Does Frances' car chime? I remember there's a lot of muzak in the background, too.
And why do Frances and her hubby eat fast food all the time? How does that tie into the central theme (IF there is one?? like: "murder is bad"? or something...) I hate talk about themes, anyway... but I love talking about films, so keep it up. I haven't seen Fargo in ages, so you'll have to excuse the questions. Why don't you just tell us what your explanation of the chimes is...
What fun, Mitch!
Wendy
> I know this is really off the wall, and I have watched this movie a dozen times and enjoyed it, BUT, what is the deal with the door chimes on the cars? I know the filmmakers didn't include it by accident, so how does the door chimes play into the central theme of the movie? Any Lit/Film students out there? I have got some really rough ideas, but I can't find any closure with those ideas. Any help appreciated.
>
> Mitch
poster:Wendy B.
thread:11058
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010909/msgs/11065.html