That's not to mention Georgia's hasty desicion to marry Sam after only knowing him such a short amount of time.
There's no big mystery there. Once Sam heard Georgia was loaded his antennae focused on her. He knew exactly what he was going to do. Besides the money, he thought he could get power, position, and respect by running the newspaper.
Why Helen or anyone would bring up how wealthy someone is in front of a jerk like that or any stranger is beyond me. Then when her sister became interested in Sam's advances, she did nothing to discourage it. Helen wasn't a nice person but she supposedly genuinely cared for and loved her sister. She said she hated her for her money, like it stood between them.
Georgia was insecure about her looks. She asked Helen if she thought she was attractive. She also talked about not having had many experiences with men and how they didn't usually hit on her. Sam's attention was enough to make her lose whatever sense she had. A less attractive actress in the role might have helped but maybe the point was it wasn't so much her looks as it was her insecurity and lack of self-worth that stood in her way. Desperate women fall for jerks all the time.
And let's not even talk about how sad Helen and Sam's relationship was.
Supposedly Sam was such an attractive man women could not resist him. I didn't see it but there were many scenes that supported this premise. Helen would have also been attracted to the dangerous guy aspect of his persona. They connected on that level; they could relate to each other on that level. I imagine there's a comfort level in being around your own evil, soulless kind. Early on Helen was teetering on the edge of being good or bad. Being around Sam pushed her over the edge to the bad side. Someone like that is a horrible influence on people who lack a moral compass.
a pretty defining scene for any film-noir is when Helen meets with Arnett. It's moody, they're dealing, they both know what the other knows and yet are still trying to play each other. It's awesome to put it simply.
Helen was attracted to strong men who could go toe-to-toe with her and who had a bad streak in them. Arnett was just that type of man. They understood each other. Had she been attracted to him physically, she might have taken up with him too. Arenett kind of points that out himself. Helen is taken with Sam's looks so she'll do anything to protect him.
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]
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s-napolitano8
9 years ago
Totally right about when Arnett mentions she'd have taken him to bed had he been more attractive. Just another example of that scene's mastery. They're both just so smug that in a normal circumstance Arnett probably wouldn't have gotten the nerve to infer something like that. He also knew the type of girl he was dealing with; not one to waste good manners on.
As for Sam's unrelenting likability. It's a movie at the end of the day, so it gets a pass, because no matter what he's just a bum. I don't think any woman would've laid down with him but the idea you mentioned how she was on the good or bad line and Sam was the one to push her in the wrong direction. Spot on. She could've been happy had she just met someone else...Or had her sister met someone else. Who knows? Maybe Sam also brought out that infidelity as well.
Final note: Georgia's good looks, as you said, don't help her case of being so easy, but once more, tis a film so another pass.
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mdonln
9 years ago
s-napolitano8 says > She could've been happy had she just met someone else...Or had her sister met someone else. Who knows? Maybe Sam also brought out that infidelity as well.
It's no secret we all influence each other. That's the reason we have to be careful about the company we keep. To their detriment, some people keep forgetting that and associating with people they know, or should know, are all wrong. Georgia knew what she was getting into with Sam but she thought she could handle the situation.
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]
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mackjay2
9 years ago
This film is a kind of study of corruption. Helen is a heartless woman who lacks a real moral center. She is jealous of Georgia and will do anything to have what she has. Sam looks like a perfect match for Helen. His corruption, and utter lack of human feeling turns Helen on. He's the ultimate 'bad boy' that often appeals to both women and men. He just goes for what he wants and to hell with everybody else. But Helen misreads Sam. He never really wants her. She is as corrupt as he is and he prefers those he can manipulate to his own ends. So Helen in the end must die, when Sam becomes aware of her scheme.
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