Sunday 14 October 2007

Of Human Bondage


Handcuffs are restraint devices designed to secure an individual's wrists close together ... Without the key, the person cannot move their wrists more than a few inches (centimetres) apart, making many tasks difficult or impossible. [Source: Wiki]

Helena and I watched The 39 Steps yesterday. In the film Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll spend a night handcuffed together. Presented with this classic 1930's tour de force of British cinema, the 9-year old film buff's critical faculties were working overtime. "How would they go to the toilet?" she asked.

I was impressed by her insight into the director's intentions, since this is exactly what Alfred Hitchcock found amusing about this part of the film. The actors hadn't met beforehand, and AH "lost" the key to the handcuffs whilst the crew went to lunch, forcing them to get to know each other. Finally when nature called, he relented and "found" it.

Another crew member wasn't so lucky on an earlier film. AH bet him that he couldn't spend a night in handcuffs (possibly also locked in his car - there are different versions of this story).

Would you take that bet? It really doesn't sound so bad.

Except of course when you're then tricked into drinking a nightcap laced with laxitives...

Got to go...

19 comments:

Bee said...

You know, I've always wondered why in earlier TV shows and movies the actors never use the bathroom handcuffs or no handcuffs.

Bee said...

Who told you about the laxitives in the nightcap!??!

Brian o vretanos said...

Film Bathrooms:

The mens' room in "12 Angry Men" is notable for its lack of toilets or urinals.

The scene that they tried to ban in Psycho was the one where Janet Leigh flushes the toilet (never mind brutal unprovoked multiple stabbings)

Laxitives:

Oh, have you used that one as well?
Or were you going to? I hope I haven't ruined an evil plan...

Bee said...

I'd have slip the laxitives into their coffee and I don't know if I want to mess with "heaven's elixir"...

Jean Knee said...

reminds me of a story. in high school I talked someone into making elax cookies. There was a coach I couldn't stand so I tried to give them to him. Knowing me, he wouldn't take any. So only two other people would take one, and I liked both of them. Everyone else refused my cookies. why do you think that was?

Last year I saw one of the guys who actually ate a cookie at a wedding and he said I hadn't changed at all and tried to run away from me. My bff Jean-Uh and I chased him all around trying to tell his wife high school stories about him. WE once also ripped his pants off him, he told the principal on us and the principal didn;t believe him...good times

Looking back on it now, WTF was I thinking trying to exlax a teacher????

Bee said...

Brian, the clock on your blog says it's 6:40. Where are you?
And if you tell me to get a life so help me I'll...

Bee said...

jean knee, I'd eat your cookies!

Bee said...

Hmmm... that sounded pretty bad!

Brian o vretanos said...

Timekeeping:

6 - 7 is the main RIK News. I know, it's inconsiderate of me to not be here every second of the day just to reply to you ;-)

Anyway,

Jean Knee: it looks like you have a willing victim.

Bee: Please feel free not to elaborate on why you want to erm, relax with Jean Knee's baking.

Jean Knee said...

now remember, I got someone else to bake them, I just passed them out. to two people I liked, they should have known better.

I'd be too afraid to give you one of those bee. you might kick my arse in.

I love columbo. I get made fun of due to my columbo love. I can't help it, that guy is just so persistent and I never know where his glass eye is looking, ya know

Jean Knee said...

oh yeah, we went to a Greek food festival last night. An Egyptian guy we were with kept saying how it wasn't authentic, so we started calling him Greek. then he would shriek, "I'm not Greek!, I'm Egyptian!".
ha for him because he is an American but I didn't point that out, it was too fun saying Greek and hearing his shriek

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee:

I'm certainly not going to make fun of you. I have all of the "original" Columbo episodes on DVD, and I can't wait for the later ones to come out. He's the best!

Oh, I almost forgot, one more thing...

Brian o vretanos said...

Greek Living:

You've reminded me that I still haven't found a shop that sells Ouzo all year round - it's easy to get at Christmas, for some reason. Still, I've always got plenty of Retsina - it's about the only still white wine I can drink.

Don't know much about the food, though ;-)

Jean Knee said...

the food is great, even if it is not authentic

are you Egyptian by any chance?

Greek.

Bee said...

I can find Ouzo all year round here in Chi-Town!
They have a little Greekville with awesome food.

What I'm looking for is authentic sa.kɛ (Sake) still haven't found one that curls my toes...

Bee said...

Sorry this was supposed to be reversed Sake(sa.kɛ).
It's late (4:36!) I'm sleepy...

Brian o vretanos said...

Ouzo:

Thanks, Bee, now I know where to go. that's really useful ;-)

Egypt:

Never been. Don't own a sarcofaghus. Or a pyramid.

Sara said...

Hello Brian, I thought it was time I popped over for a little visit. With regard to your question regarding the handcuff test; you bet I'd do it. I love attempting to escape from bondage. It helps having weedily thin wrists! :-)

Brian o vretanos said...

Magdalene:

Thin wrists: That's how Madeleine Carroll does it in the film.

I suppose you could hide a key in those gloves ;-)