Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
What happened to Jack's eagle feather?
ednbarby:
I agree. However, I think the fact that Jack shot an eagle in the short story shows how much of a revolutionary he is, and I'm thinking that's what Annie Proulx was going for. One very observant and sensitive friend who recently saw the movie on my recommendation (and still thanks me every day) said that the only thing that didn't quite make sense to her from a historical standpoint was how Jack, raised the way he was in that place and that time, could be so secure in his sexuality and not have the least little bit of guilt or fear. She applauded that, but just thought historically that it was inaccurate. I told her my theory that he is a revolutionary - that he was always living way ahead of his time and place. She still was doubtful. I cited the "Well, *I* won't" line re: beans vs. sheep. She was still doubtful. Then I said, "Well, in the short story, Jack shoots an eagle and wears one of its feathers in his hat." She goes - "Ah - you're RIGHT."
Still, considering the added scene showing Jack being a bad shot and considering that McMurtry and Ossana felt they were probably being revolutionary enough without giving certain idiotic audience members yet another reason to vilify Jack, it makes perfect sense not to include it.
Jeff Wrangler:
Agreed, Lynne and Barb! An eagle would be a lot more difficult to hit than a coyote or an elk or deer!
I don't have a copy of the story with me here at work; I wish I could remember whether or not the story has anything to say about Jack's marksmanship. I do remember from a discussion on the old board that the eagle feather wasn't in the original New Yorker version of the story.
Kd5000:
Oh gawd yes, ppl were saying "were the sheep mistreated on the IMDB.com board." Half of them were computer simulated. Can only imagine what an eagle feather would have done. DID THEY KILL AN EAGLE FOR THAT FEATHER, PETA would have issued a statement.
Poor Jack
He can't shoot well.
Has to get Ennis to help him get his truck started.
Must not have been very good at rodeoing. Mare thru him and damaged his harmonica.
Has issues with a can-opener. Remember the can popping open.
If Water Walking Jesus was a sample of his singing, I'd say he can't sing well either.
Obviously he has a problem changing flat tires, depending on your perspective.
Still love the guy... Glad he didn't have buck teeth in the film.
Was he really good at selling farm equipment? Maybe he was good at being a charmer... "they've got very good interpersonal skills..." :D
Jeff Wrangler:
Was he really good at selling farm equipment?
He was the best combine salesman they had. (Hell, he was the only combine salesman they had.)
;)
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: Kd5000 on April 11, 2006, 03:55:35 pm ---
Has issues with a can-opener. Remember the can popping open.
--- End quote ---
I think that part of his problems with the can opener had to do with the fact that Ennis was undressing near him. A little distracted/ nervous maybe. He also seems to be left-handed, which can make can-openers designed for right-ies a little tricky.
OK, I just introduced the feather topic (yes out of curiosity), but also because I'm curious about some of the little details from the book that got omitted in the film. I'm also curious about things that have gotten displaced (including dialogue). Clearly, much of the dialogue from the motel scene in the book got spread out a bit to some of the different campfire chats in the film (including the story about Earl, the "if you can't fix it, you've got to stand it" line, etc.).
Here are two things that stood out to me or seem interesting in terms of dialogue. On Brokeback during their first chat on the mountain side after the first tent scene, in the movie it's Ennis who says it's a "one shot thing", but in the book it's Jack who says that. And, in the last argument scene in the film Jack says "there's never enough time, never enough" in his frustration with Ennis, but in the book that line comes from the narrator describing their love making. I guess the meaning remains about the same in this second example.
And, I've been wondering how the filmmakers wove that beautiful line from the book about Ennis being so happy he could "paw the white out of the moon" into the imagery of the film. Moonlight seems to be a general symbol of happiness during their love scenes, etc. But, I've been thinking that the general idea of that sentence in the book is conveyed pretty well in the 'prayer of thanks' moment when Ennis is so contented gazing 'up there in heaven' perhaps thinking about pawing the white out of the moon...
Also, at the Thanksgiving dinner when Ennis tells his story about his rodeo experience he says he 'didn't have no wings', which seems to be perhaps a displaced reference to that awesome line in the book about the time Ennis punched Jack. "Ennis had suddenly swung from the deck and laid the ministering angel out in the wild columbine, wings folded."
OK, I know I'm way over-analyzing things, and maybe stretching a bit. But there really are more examples of things from the book that seem to pop up in alternate places in the film. Interesting.
:D :-\
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