MovieChat Forums > Impact (1949) Discussion > This movie dumb

This movie dumb

posted 12 years ago by paumike
16 replies | jump to latest

I would have made the writer(s) do a rewrite. If I were a studio head I would never have given the green light to this monstrosity.

The biggest loose end, never confronted or cleared up, was why did the authorities not question the "Belkins" movers? They witnessed the idiot coming up the hill and jumping into the main character's car and driving off to his doom. This would have cleared Walter Williams' name. They (the movers) also called the authorities about Williams' suitcase found in back of their truck. It is dumb to think they would not have told them they were at the scene of the accident.

Okay, so you say, how would this have proven the wife had something to do with it? It wouldn't have!

Well, they should have never had this scene in the movie — because everything we see in a movie should mean something or move us closer to a truth. If it connects to nothing it is a waste of time and should not be apart of the script.

This film made no sense.

[–] jawebster2000 12 years ago

Was it a "Belkins" van or a "Bekins" van? As far as I know, there is no Larkspur, Idaho either (but there is a Larkspur, CA) and it makes no sense that the husband could love a woman who has utter contempt for him (how do you hide contempt?) and why didn't the wife's lover see that the Donlevy character, Walter Williams, was merely knocked unconscious and not killed (goodbye story line) and why was the tailgate of the van left down and why wasn't Williams recognized by someone in Larkspur from all the newspaper photographs (I was raised in an even smaller town and we had newspapers) and who would believe that Williams was only 25 years old and not closer to 50? Lots of questions and I agree, lots of things in the movie didn't make sense, but overall, I think it was an enjoyable movie and for me, that is what matters.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] rp69 12 years ago

Good point about the movers not being interviewed as witnesses.

Another plot hole. The ppolice never implied exactly HOW Williams was responsible for Torrence's death. One person in a car(Torrence) hits a fuel truck head on. How would a would be killer stage such a thing? Was he supposed to know the fuel truck was going to be there at that precise moment, steered toward the oncoming truck and jumped out of the car at the last minute? Resulting in the bump on the head? That's one hell of a longshot.

Other than that, pretty good little movie.

[–] Bitterblogger 12 years ago

Yes, we're somehow supposed to believe the movers coincidentally happen to park a moving van on a barely adequate shoulder (remember Williams cautioning Torrance about the long fall) to . . . watch the spectacular fire resulting from Torrance's crash from several hundred yards away (instead of driving closer to a safer spot to see if aid could be rendered), so that the groggy Williams has somewhere to hide when he comes to(ostensibly hours later). The crash doesn't cause a road closure/checkpoint (had that happened, someone would've spotted Williams in the back), but perhaps instead they sleep overnight in the van which would account for being around when Williams does wake up(?!)

[–] talos128 10 years ago

Thought the same thing. Funny how all the cars seem to drive on the wrong side of the road a lot on the mountainous region. And I've never seen a tanker truck explode from a front end collision with a car, and as a retired cop, I've seen tons of them over 40 yrs.

[–] balducci2 11 years ago

"The ppolice never implied exactly HOW Williams was responsible for Torrence's death."

They did explain it. They claimed (as you suggested) that Williams drove head on into an oncoming vehicle and jumped clear at the last minute. But any truck would have done. In the eyes of the police, he just got lucky that it was a fuel truck.

I agree about most of the other plot holes, but that did not prevent me from totally enjoying this classic movie.

[–] geoffzman04 11 years ago

The entire prosecutions case was laughable at best...witness police/DA statements prior to and throughout court proceedings.

Indeed, can't imagine audiences buying any of it then or now.

It's a pity because the story/plot could have been tidied up into something perhaps significant to watch.

The actors must have been disconcerted to play such a loosely constructed plot.

Though even today...Hollywood never ceases to baffle the common sense mind!

[–] heyuactor 9 years ago

This movie was made before Perry Mason courtroom dramas/mysteries hit the TV screen and showed what carefully plotted stories should be...

"Did you make coffee? Make it!"--Cheyenne.

[–] marhefka 10 years ago

The biggest plot hole was Williams driving head on to a truck and jumping clear at the last minute.

Actually, the first part of the movie had an ingenious plot. It started going downhill when Williams turned himself in.

[–] danashley 9 years ago

I had exactly the same reaction. Once Walter left Idaho, it became silly. The trial was unrealistic with the defense attorney basically testifying without objection, introducing evidence out of the blue like the key and luggage with not a peep from the prosecution.It went from a strong B Plus to C minus.

[–] srklondie 11 years ago

ppolice?

[–] JackBluegrass 10 years ago

Baldy stutters?

E pluribus unum

[–] srklondie 10 years ago

He do!

E Pluribus Anus

[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

Paumike exits jungle. Sees moviefillum. Thinks it dumb. Don`t match up with life in jungle. No banana. Dumb-dumb.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] srklondie 11 years ago

He hasn't had a whole lot to say in the 13 years that he's been a member. In any case, I like ' Impact ' a lot; enough to purchase the dvd.

If you watch ' Jaws ' backwards, it becomes a film about a shark who throws up people until they're forced to open a beach.

[–] bear022013-588-696101 9 years ago

Outstanding movie.Required viewing for ALL men.