No.45
No.45 has a lot going on. We are shown Wendy doing Jack’s job, wearing the same shirt Jack wears during The Interview. We see The Boiler Room, a visual and conceptual reflection of Ullman’s Office, hear about one of Jack’s dreams, and witness a marital spat around the cause of Danny’s mysterious bruises.
American History/Culture
Wendy and Jack fight within The Colorado Lounge: a space that visually shows conflict between Indigenous people and the Wealthy white culture.
Wendy is shown doing Jack’s job, wearing Jack’s shirt from No.5.
The Boiler Room, a male space, shows images of women in sexualized struggle. Pornography as commonplace.
The space she’s shown in i744 mimics elements of the living quarters, connecting this space to what she experiences in “home”
Wendy wears Native American style boots.
The furnishings of The Colorado Lounge speak to conquest in both animals and indigenous cultures.
Domestic Abuse
The whole fight is domestic abuse. Wendy calling Jack a son of a bitch with Danny in her arms is abusive.
Danny’s bruises showing up where Jack’s hand was shown the last time they were shown together.
The last time Wendy and Jack were in this space, Jack was demanding Wendy never come in.
Danny called out for Wendy in No.44, but Wendy comes running when she hears Jack screaming. Jack is like a second son.
Telling Danny that Jack “just has a headache” is yet another excuse to keep Jack from Danny.
The Maze
Kubrick as Unreliable Narrator:
Wendy is shown right below Danny, and while Danny calls out for her, she runs to Jack.
Jack’s dream is an indicator that he has a “Tony” of his own: Tony is described as something that tells Danny information like when Danny is “asleep”. Danny sees things that he will encounter. Jack’s dream where he chopped Wendy and Danny up could essentially be the same thing and seeing the eventuality of No.72 where he gets to be victor.
What Jack says about his dream in No.45 is similar to what Jack confronts Grady about in No.53, but not what Ullman said in No.5.
Jack’s dream is a reiteration of No.41—D:i723 and a foreshadowing of No.72, No.79
How Jack describes his dream in here is similar to what Jack confronts Grady about in A53, but not what we’re told about Grady by Ullman in No.5.
Fatalism
The fight Wendy and Jack engage in is a continuation of the tension mentioned during the scene with the Social Worker / Doctor and “The Incident” where Jack dislocated Danny’s shoulder.
The Elevator
Jack’s seat in The Colorado Lounge is right in front of The Elevator.
Color Palette reflection:
Black + Red, in the elevator, the double doors styled as the elevator, signify rage + violence.
Black and White Photos:
The blocks of photos speak to the wealthy settlers of the space (especially in contrast to the Native American/indigenous imagery and patterning), and foreshadows No.53, No.91.
Patterns:
Indigenous patterns in the rugs (left side)
Striped patterns in the rugs (right side)
Behavioral: Wendy “waking Jack up”.It occurs in No.24 with her bringing him breakfast in bed, here, and No.47 where he’s been seated at the bar of the Gold Room.
Ghost Story
Jack’s dream as an indicator of his sanity (and how it’s dwindling), but that would mean No.7 and The Incident happened where he was influenced but alcohol, but not ghosts.
Cabin Fever
Jack’s dream as an indicator of his sanity (and how it’s dwindling), but that would mean No.7 and The Incident happened where he was influenced but alcohol.
The scene begins with Wendy in The Boiler Room. The camera cuts to Jack screaming in The Colorado Lounge, and then back to Wendy as the camera follows her to run to him. The rest of the scene plays out within The Colorado Lounge as Danny joins his parents.
The Boiler Room
The Colorado Lounge
Wendy
Jack
Danny
Pendercki’s The Awakening of Jacob
Kubrick uses the same sound as Danny talks to Tony about why he doesn’t want to go to the hotel, and within Room 237.