BLUE VELVET
US, 1986, 120 minutes, Colour.
Isabella Rossellini, Kyle Mc Lachlan, Dennis Hopper, Laura Dern, Dean Stockwell, Hope Lange, Jack Nance, George Dickerson, Brad Dourif, Priscilla Pointer.
Directed by David Lynch.
Blue Velvet quickly became a classic film, a story of suburbia and its white picket fences and flowers, lawns and hoses, but quickly symbolically going underground with insects and a different world – symbolising what was soon to emerge, an underworld of brutality and sexual violence.
By the time of Blue Velvet, director David Lynch had a strong reputation, with Erasehead 10 years earlier, films like The Elephant Man and Dune. His reputation was to continue strongly, especially with Twin Peaks and films like Lost Highway. His straightforward Straight Story was a pleasing exception.
The film is set in a fictional north-western American town of Lumberton, homes, a hardware store, police offices. With the hero, Kyle MacLachlan? as Jeffrey, finding a severed ear and pursuing his curiosity, the film becomes a mystery with morbid undertones, Isabella Rossellini as Dorothy, a lounge singer, whose husband and son have been abducted. Dennis Hopper is at his most manic as the criminal, Frank, who abducted the pair, treats Dorothy as a sex slave, has some hangers on including Brad Dourif and Jack Nance, visits an effete man, Dean Stockwell, who holds the husband and son (and strikingly mimes Roy Orbison’s In Dreams).
Laura Dern is the daughter of the police chief, who is persuaded by Jeffrey to investigate the case.
The film is often graphic in its presentation of Dorothy’s suffering and abuse, Hopper’s Frank a monster of irrationality.
The film opens with a picket fence, flowers, and, after all the drama, returns to everybody at peace and the flowers, the fence and a genial fireman driving in slow motion passed the house and waving.
1. The status of the film? Considered a classic? The career of David Lynch? This film as pivotal in his career? Indicating themes, indicating style?
2. The title, the velvet of the credits, the singing of the song, by Roy Orbison, by Isabella Rossellini? In the club? As background? A mood? The use of In Dreams and Ben miming it, other uses?
3. The famous opening, the flowers and the white picket fence, the suburban homes, the street, the fireman and his waving? The repetition of this scene at the end?
4. The transition from normal to eerie? Insect life underground? The father, hosing the garden, the tangle, his being hit, to hospital?
5. Jeffery, his age, studies, return home, working in the store, the two assistants, especially the blind man? The customers? An ordinary life and work?
6. Jeffery’s finding the ear, his reaction, going to the police, the interview with the detective, visiting the home, wanting more information, the detective’s wife and her welcome, Sandy coming out of the house afterwards, talking? Then meeting, the difficulties with her boyfriend and his attack? Jeffery and his proposal to go into the house? Finding out about Dorothy Valens, the police investigation? The young man and his curiosity, venturing into dangerous areas? The risk for Sandy? Pretending to be the bug man? Seeing the policeman? Taking the key? Sandy not having to be a Jehovah Witness?
7. Jeffrey’s curiosity, persuading Sandy to go to the club, Dorothy, her singing Blue Velvet? The going to the apartment, Dorothy arriving, Jeffrey hiding in the closet? Dorothy and her behaviour, stripping, Jeffrey watching? Getting the gun, threatening Jeffery, urging him to strip, the sexual encounter? The phone call to Frank, calling him sir, subservience, this situation of her husband and her son?
8. Frank, in himself, madness, violence, language, sexual abuse, physical violence and slapping, the attack, not wanting Dorothy to look at him, the abrupt leaving?
9. Dorothy, her appeal to Jeffrey, his comforting her, her dependence? The effect on Jeffrey? Talking with Sandy?
10. Jeffrey, the photos, the police officer, Frank in disguise?
11. Jeffrey, the visit to Dorothy, her telling Frank that he was a neighbour? Going for the ride, Frank’s taunts, the brutality, Frank’s associates and their violence? Going to see Ben, his effete behaviour, crooning In Dreams, punching Jeffrey? Dorothy and her reaction? Taking the girl from the club, her dancing on the roof of the car during the brutality? Dorothy and her son in the room, the women in charge? Jeffery being dumped home?
12. Jeffrey, at home, the concern of his mother and aunt?
13. Jeffrey, at the police station, sighting the police officer, drinking from the fountain? The discussion with Detective Williams? The photos? Sandy, her father’s reaction?
14. Arriving to take Sandy out, her mother’s concern? The police officer arriving, Jeffrey covering? The dance, Sandy’s boyfriend, the car chase, the confrontation and the violence?
15. Dorothy, naked in the street, taking her in, talking, Sandy upset by Dorothy’s dependence on Jeffrey, her mother getting the coat?
16. Sandy phoning, forgiving Jeffrey?
17. Jeffrey’s return, the officer and the husband dead? Frank in disguise, searching the house, calling out to Jeffery, Jeffrey getting the policeman’s gun, shooting Frank?
18. The solution to the mystery, the return to peace? The two families together, the older women talking, Jeffrey and Sandy? The father back from hospital? And the reprise of the opening with the fireman, waving, the picket fence and the flowers?
