All Time Classics: Blue Velvet(1986)

 

Blue Velvet

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Laura Dern, Dennis Hopper

Writer and Director: David Lynch

I was lucky enough to get to see this in theaters a few weeks ago for it’s 30th anniversary.  It’s the kind of movie that would have shocked people more than Psycho if it was released in the late 60’s.  I’m sure the tale of Norman Bates would have still freaked out people too.  But this one is just slightly more disturbing.  Even though it’s setting is modern, well modern as the mid 80’s can be.  Blue Velvet has the look and feel of a late 50’s mystery drama.  Even some of the characters behaver and act like the ones in movies of that era.  It’s setting is this idealistic small town and the dangers that lurk underneath.  Even if you have never been there before, you know about towns like this.  It’s kind of hard to describe what an experience it was watching this in just words.  So instead I’m going to share with you a few images combined with famous quotes from the movie.   There may be some minor spoilers so I’m giving you all a fair warning now.

 

The opening credits with Angelo Badalamenti’s score is one of the best movie themes ever.

Radio announcer: –“It’s a sunny, woodsy day in Lumberton, so get those chainsaws out. This is the mighty W.O.O.D., the musical voice of Lumberton. At the sound of the falling tree, it’s 9:30. There’s a whole lotta wood waitin’ out there, so let’s get going“.

 

Detective Williams: “That’s a human ear all right.”

Jeffrey:(Kyle MachLachlan) –“Do you see that house? I used to know a kid who lived there, he had the biggest tongue in the world.”

 Dorothy Vallens(Isabella Rosselini) – [singing] “And I still can see Blue Velvet through my tears.”

Jeffery Beaumont- “See that clock on the wall? In five minutes you are not going to believe what I’ve told you.”

Dorothy Vallens: “What are you doing in my closet, Jeffrey Beaumont?”

Dorothy: –“Hello, baby.”

Frank:-“Shut up! It’s Daddy, you shithead! Where’s my bourbon? Can’t you fucking remember anything?”

Frank Booth: -“Baby wants to fuck! Baby wants to fuck Blue Velvet!”

Frank Booth:  “Don’t you fucking look at me!”

Dorothy: – “Do you like the way I feel”

Frank: –“Hey you wanna go for a ride?”

Jeffrey: –“No thanks.”

Frank: – “No thanks? What does that mean?”

Jeffrey:- “I don’t wanna go.”

Frank:- “Go where?”

Jeffrey:- “For a ride.”

Frank- “ A ride! Now that’s a good idea!”

Ben(Dean Stockwell): “To your health.”

Frank:- “Ah, shit, let’s drink to something else. Let’s drink to fucking. Yeah, say, “Here’s to your fuck, Frank.”

Ben:- “If you like, Frank. Here’s to your fuck.”

Frank Booth: “Don’t be a good neighbor to her. I’ll send you a love letter,[shouting] straight from my heart, fucker! You know what a love letter is? It’s a bullet from a fucking gun, fucker! You receive a love letter from me, you’re fucked forever! You understand, fuck? I’ll send you straight to hell, fucker!”

Seeing Frank beat the living hell out of Jeffery seemed like a good time for this girl to dance.

Jeffery Beaumont “It’s a strange world”

Dorothy Vallens “He put his disease in me.”

Jeffrey Beaumont: “Why are there people like Frank?”

Sandy Williams – “I had a dream. In fact, it was on the night I met you. In the dream, there was our world, and the world was dark because there weren’t any robins and the robins represented love. And for the longest time, there was this darkness. And all of a sudden, thousands of robins were set free and they flew down and brought this blinding light of love. And it seemed that love would make any difference, and it did. So, I guess it means that there is trouble until the robins come.”

Watching this in theaters was astounding because of the way it looks. Lynch along with cinematographer Frederick Elmes make really good use of the 2:35 widescreen aspect ratio. They can have entire scenes play out in just one shot and it is beautiful to see on a big screen. If you are not a fan of David Lynch because you think his films don’t make sense. This is one I urge you to check out, because while it does have it’s share of style in it. It never gets in the way of the story. Many have claimed this to be a masterpiece and it garnered an academy award nomination from David Lynch as best director. It’s the kind of twisted tale that would fit in the same universe as his television series Twin Peaks did.

Original 1986 Theatrical Trailer.

Review by Siskel & Ebert

Critic’s Pick by New York Times

Episode 82 of Popcorn Poops where Dustin and Jessica debate if this really is a masterpiece.

http://www.popcornpoops.com/2016/05/PP082.html

 

Lana Del Ray ‘s video for her cover of Blue Velvet