[Alert: Spoilers] The last scene from Orson Welles’ The Lady from Shanghai takes place in the crazy house. That is, in the house of mirrors set in the amusement park that was once known as Playland at the Beach in San Francisco. We'll examine exchanges of dialogue in the final part of the film between Elsa and Michael. Elsa Bannister, the femme fatal, is played by Rita Hayworth. For this part, Hayworth's well-known luxuriant auburn tresses are trimmed short and dyed platinum blonde. Michael O'Hara, Elsa's lover and would-be knight errant, is played by Orson Welles. Welles is also the director of the film.
Yes, how to understand and come to terms with evil is indeed problematic for Christians. (E.g. theodicy). What you are doing reminds me of cinematic/filmic exegesis. The idea that some of the many problems and questions regarding the Gospels - what did Jesus really say and do - can be solved by looking at how film makers had to stage the scenes to make them make sense to audiences. Film criticism applied to the great issues and themes of Christianity.
Enthralling essay. By some curious coincidence I had been writing (in a rather more fragmentary fashion) about a similar constellation of images just yesterday.
My only small quibble would be factual. Bikini was not first atomic bomb test, but the first after the war had ended.
Yes, how to understand and come to terms with evil is indeed problematic for Christians. (E.g. theodicy). What you are doing reminds me of cinematic/filmic exegesis. The idea that some of the many problems and questions regarding the Gospels - what did Jesus really say and do - can be solved by looking at how film makers had to stage the scenes to make them make sense to audiences. Film criticism applied to the great issues and themes of Christianity.
Enthralling essay. By some curious coincidence I had been writing (in a rather more fragmentary fashion) about a similar constellation of images just yesterday.
My only small quibble would be factual. Bikini was not first atomic bomb test, but the first after the war had ended.
Thank you for your kind and helpful note. I have edited to reflect your correction. Much obliged.