Talk:Two Seconds

Photo "bud and john" (meaning bud clark and john allen), isn't bud and john its tony and john. Tony is the dance hall owner, played by J Carrol Naish http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Carrol_Naish 109.145.114.9 (talk) 22:03, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

plot

I think the plot (as written) is wrong in that Shirley didn't 'borrow money from tony to help buds fiance get a job' - that doesn't make sense. Shirley shows john that she has money from tony, which will cover the rent he owes, as they were about to get turfed out. John challenges Shirley as to what she did for tony to get the money. Finally, then realising and accusing Shirley of being a tramp or a whore (as Bud did earlier in the film). When the bookie arrives right after, indicating that he has won on the horses, Tony realises that he now has money to make things even, to give Tony the money, his 'ill gotten gains', and also says, in effect, to the bookie that he will kill Shirley. He's losing his mind. The bookie realises what tony is saying and is trying to calm him (great scene). It's not a case of john seeing Shirley with tony, and then deciding on the spot to kill her for that betrayal. John went to tonys dance hall armed, with the intention of killing Shirley. He'd indicated to the bookie that he now had the money to buy a gun. Tony only wanted the exact money he gained from Shirley via Tony. He thrusts the extra money at the bookie, saying that he didn't want it. He wants to pay Tony back the exact money he gained from Shirley & counts it out. Johns dilemma, was that he realised what he had been living off, a woman of disrepute. He thrusts the money at Tony, clearing his debt, so as to regain his self-respect. He then shoots shirley to stop her corrupting anyone else, tonys fiance or other girls. "you were born rotten, and you'll go on being rotten as long as you live" (and i'm going to stop it).

In john (edward g robinsons) final, epic speech, he is not, as the article says explaining that he should have been killed when he was at his lowest, because he hadn't "avenged" shirley day. He is talking about the money that he had paid off. Up until the point of the arrival of the bookie, tony was moribond, complaining to the doctor about his nerves. He couldn't work anymore after seeing tony fall. Then, he was living totally off Shirley 'here's a buck', she spat, after paying the rent for him. John considered himself at his lowest then "you should have killed me then".

plot since fixed (as @ 2015) 81.157.160.221 (talk) 21:21, 15 October 2015 (UTC)

It really is a brilliant film. It was actually a stage play that Preston Foster (Bud), played in for many years. The end confrontation between john, tony & shirley, is classic stage, I think. That is where Edward G Robinson started out. It's a very dark movie (pre-code). One critic called it the first "film noir".

and the acting of Robinson. From a review that is often quoted, about "two seconds":

"There's a scene at the end of this film that I think you won't soon forget. As La Salle describes Robinson's courtroom speech, "The thinking is twisted. The passion takes him over the edge. He cracks before your eyes. This is Robinson, the great American actor, in the most intense minutes of his film career. He endows the speech with the shape and size of melodrama, but maintains the precision of a ballet dancer. Remaining true to his core, and so in control, he goes to a deep place, without fear, hesitation or bluffing, using himself unflinchingly. No film star ever looked like Robinson, and it's a beautiful sight to behold."

In 101 films, Robinson never received an Oscar. "Two Seconds", for instance, may have been considered to be too theatrical, melodramatic, or low budget. Robinson, in it, is completely unaware. He is John Allen, and it's the story of a breakdown.

109.145.114.9 (talk) 03:49, 23 August 2014 (UTC)

The judge at the end of the film, before passing sentence on John Allen talks about when he was recovered from the building. In the play, as far as I have found out, John Allen after killing Shirley Day fled to the construction site & reclimbed the skyscraper, partly built (to commit suicide?), but was talked down by the police. Judge (in the film) refers to that scenario as a mitigating factor or regret, I think, that sustained from the play plot. The play ran for some time on Broadway prior to be filmed (Preston Foster playing the same role). It was a full play, the origin/source/publication of which I cannot find. They play must be more expansive than the film. 81.157.160.221 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 21:27, 15 October 2015 (UTC)

photo in article isn't preston foster and edward g robinson it's j carrol naish and edward g robinson

fixed 81.157.160.221 (talk) 21:29, 15 October 2015 (UTC)

Cultural references

You won't see any legs in this show = reference to dance hall girls. Witness to execution to young man about to see the execution, at the start of the film. 81.157.160.195 (talk) 14:50, 23 January 2015 (UTC)

In the dance hall (Shirley Day is a taxi dancer), she pushes away a client who gropes her with "who do you think you are, Holmes?" Holmes? Must be a reference to something, known to the audience in 1932. Does anybody know.

Edward G Robinsons wife, at the time, Gladys LLoyd is reportedly in the film, credited as "woman". I believe she may be one of the taxi dancers. Which one?

Some reviewer says that Shirley day referring to John Allen as a "swell hoofer" is a reference to James Cagney, who was a very good dancer. Even though hoofer = dancer. Why Cagney?

"You, you made a rat out of me" (Robinson to Shirley Day Character), later in the film "you can't let a rat live and kill a man" (Robinsons monologue to the judge, at the end of the film). Could be referential to James Cagneys "rat", which Cagney used in "Taxi" (same year). Cagney did not say "dirty rat". 81.157.160.195 (talk) 14:50, 23 January 2015 (UTC)

In Job/Buds first (happier) conversation on the girder Bud says something "next you'll be getting some "Q pines" (sounds like) and study books. 'Don't be going soft on me". Reference to what? 81.157.160.195 (talk) 00:13, 25 January 2015 (UTC)

"Q pines" (sounds like). Been analysing that a alot. A cultural reference. Contemporary, lost. Been able to replay film and get references (I found reference to 'La Tonia racetrack" (Kentucky racetrack since gone). What is that one - would love to know. Lost to time forever? An understanding between the actor and the audience of the day. Slight reference passed knowingly between characters in the film and to the audience in 1932. 81.157.160.221 (talk) 21:35, 15 October 2015 (UTC)

reference = "kewpie" branded doll, around then Aspidistra9812 (talk)

Radio

The radio "Buds radio", that features quite heavily in the film, is a "Radiola Super VIII." Compass dials turned a drum antennae within the base of the unit. The top of the unit had an integral speaker horn, one of the first of it's kind. An expensive set, obviously for promotion.

Music

One identifiable song is "Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians - Too Many Tears" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csr0kFQHquQ Shirley Day tunes Buds radio into that, right after the scene of Bud falling to his death.

86.169.93.62 (talk) 01:43, 23 October 2014 (UTC)

Product placement

"Mandarin Chop Suey sauce" at home, heat and serve http://i.imgur.com/sQXQYuq.jpg the same window display, for promotion (found via google images, frame of the shop window, separate promotional photo found online, providers unaware of origin), is a contemporary shot of the shop window within the film, which must have been taken for propagation of the product. In the film scene here, outside the dance hall, when Bud is letting the two girls down. Right after they were talking about food, hunger - 'looks like we don't eat') http://i.imgur.com/Kr3x4nv.png slight delay while the window display is shown.

Tony & Bud walking past the same shop, on the way to meet Guy Kibbee to pick up his bet winnings, that is outside Tonys dance hall. It appears to be the same window display - the above photo is a photo of it, for promotion of the sauce. They pass three chinaman dressed in a traditional way, by the door of the store. http://i.imgur.com/5kbzecd.png Promotional photo above sourced from a site that seems to be gone now, about old brands. Photo is same window as in the film, exactly. Enjoy MANDARIN Chop-Suey Chow Mein.81.157.160.195 (talk) 13:33, 23 January 2015 (UTC)

Have been trying to work out the last line of the advertising poster "made in "xxxxx american Kixxx (obscured)". This may seem obscure but that seemed to be a major product placement / promotion.

Blurb will be "made in american kitchens" - although the sauce is chinese chop suey - they have americanised it (cook it at home) It's chop suey (which originated in NY) sauce, take it home and cook your own (as now) 81.157.160.221 (talk) 21:46, 15 October 2015 (UTC)

Edward G Robinson, that year, played a chinaman with other white actors, as chinese people (chinese people weren't used), in the First National film that was made before "Two Seconds", that being "The Hatchet Man" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hatchet_Man

31.48.111.241 (talk) — Preceding undated comment added 16:20, 26 December 2014 (UTC)

Credits

Guy Kibbee (much smaller part, the bookie), is shown before Preston Foster in the actor credits, at the start of the movie. Wonder why. 81.157.160.195 (talk) 02:32, 31 January 2015 (UTC)

"Flies" (you can't escape)

John Allen talking to Bud at the start of the film, in happier times: "I don't know. When you get up here and look down on them, you get a different slant on the whole thing. You know, they only seem like a crawling bunch of little flies. Look at em. Look at em crawling down there: the banker, the lawyer and the fancy dame. All the rest of them, thinking of doing good things. Making speeches, getting into the papers, cheatin an hating each other .. I bet you god gets a big laugh out of this old world". Bud: "Don't talk that way about god when you're standing on a six inch girder!". Later Bud says to John outside the dance hall John says 'I didn't notice' after Bud saying "see thats a nifty leg" referring to the ankle of one of the girls outside the shop window, before he meets Shirley Day. Bud in response, "Lay off of that fly stuff, you're down on the level now" (street level). In the speakeasy, drunk with Shirley Day he looks around disgustedly "nobodys any good in here, they're all just flies". That disgusted, drunk restaurant monologue is later reprised by Al Pacino in "Scarface", "Scarface" being a partial retelling of "Little Caesar" (Mervin LeRoy directed, Edward G Robinson film from the previous year). The original Howard Hawks "Scarface", starring Paul Muni, was filmed in the same year as "Two Seconds". 81.157.160.195 (talk) 04:19, 31 January 2015 (UTC)

Stage Play

The stage play was more extensive. There was a scene at the end where John Allen flees back to the building site and climbs the scaffold after killing Shirley Day. This is referred to in the film, by the judge as a mitigating factor with regard to the mental state of John Allen.

Opening Date: Oct 09, 1931 Closing Date: Nov 1931 Total Performances: 59

Production Stills show plot extensions, unused

There may have been further scenes with Robinson in his cell which were left out of the film. A production still shot shows Robinson being led out of his cell. This isn't in the film, that only shows Robinson being led in through the door of the execution chamber ( http://i.imgur.com/1FVldou.jpg ). Scenes of Robinson in the cell may have contained dialogue as the play has a character listed as "screw".

81.132.99.199 (talk) 07:44, 24 October 2015 (UTC)

Here's another. Can't work out how this fits in. Shirley Day at the Jail? John Allen has murdered her when he's in the jail. Relating to what. BFI has this as from "Two Seconds". Can't link to BFI - image to imgur (here) http://i.imgur.com/sqxMSyx.png Police station. If so, why, what for? & shes's wearing a beret. Via http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b6b94330c

not even sure if that still is from the same film

81.132.99.199 (talk) 07:06, 25 October 2015 (UTC)

vandalism

article vandalized. all cultural references. entire written plot, removed

fixed

Aspidistra9812 (talk) 23:35, 7 December 2022 (UTC)