Silk and Shoes

Askos in the form of a lion, Etruscan, 340-300 BC

HI. OH MY GOD. I'M SO GLAD THERE ARE MORE IT'S SO NICE. It definitely feels like there's not enough of him anywhere, which might be a little bit of a bias but also... where is he. Why is there so much merch for everyone else and then Jack gets forgotten. Little guy d:(

GOOD NEWS. SORT OF. BAD NEWS: I LIKE A LOT. He's just so silly and then so... you know. In no particular order:

I love his "here we go gathering nuts in May" moment. I so desperately wish there was footage of Claude Rains doing it where we can actually see him, even if it's just him recording the lines and not doing the skipping, because I think it would be delightful

Similarly, I love the part after he's robbed the bank and he's going "There you are! A present from the Invisible Man! Money! Money! Money! Money! Ups and down the city road, in and out the eagle, that's the way the money goes, pop goes the weasel!" (then proceeds to just repeat "money" over and over again). Again, I desperately wish we had a recording of Claude Rains where we could see him, even if it's just him doing the lines

The whole bit where, to show how far gone and stressed Jack is, he says 'damn' under his breath

It seems like everyone likes the "Power, I said! Power to walk into the gold vaults of the nations, into the secrets of kinds, into the Holy of Holies; power to make multitudes run squealing in terror at the touch of my little invisible finger. Even the moon's frightened of me, frightened to death! The whole world's frightened to death!", but... it is good, even if it gets most of the attention.

Same for when he's talking to Kemp and goes "We'll begin with a reign of terror, a few murders here and there, murders of great men, murders of little men--well, just to show we make no distinction. I might even wreck a train or two--just these fingers around a signalman's throat, that's all." It's very popular and also... just very good at showing his state at the moment!

"You've driven me to near madness with your peering through the keyholes and gaping through the curtains, and now you'll suffer for it! You're crazy to know who I am, aren't you? Alright! I'll show you! There's a souvenir for you, and one for you! I'll show you who I am--and WHAT I am!" it's just so funny. He really does just start stripping. And it WORKS.

The whole bit where he's like "I've no time now but, believe me, as surely as the moon will set and the sun will rise, I shall kill you tomorrow night. I shall kill you even if you hide in the deepest cafe of the Earth. At ten o'clock tomorrow night, I shall kill you!" I don't know why I'm so obsessed with this but. Yeah! Sounds about right, Jack! This sounds like the kind of threat I'd say in an absurd voice to, like, my cat

And then the whole "I hope your car's insured, Kemp. I'm afraid there's going to be a nasty accident in a minute. A very nasty accident... You will? That's fine. Just sit where you are. I'll get out and take the handbrake off and give you a little shove to help you on. You'll run gently down and through the railings, then you'll have a big thrill for a hundred yards or so 'til you hit a boulder, then you'll do a somersault and probably break your arms, then a grand finish up with a broken neck! Well, goodbye, Kemp. I always said you were a dirty little coward. You're a dirty, sneaking little rat as well. Goodbye." He'd do so well as a Doofenshmirtz-type villain that has wacky monologues but doesn't actually die. I'd pay money to watch a TV show where he got to do that, actually

I also really like when he realizes Kemp is in the study (HE'S SO MUCH LIKE MY CAT THERE FOR REAL). Messing with the door and the little step in. I love it. And leading into when he realizes there's a car coming and is like "oh. you called the cops." before Kemp explains that it's Flora and Doctor Cranley. And he goes calm like a cat being held by the scruff of his neck.

"We are partners. Bosom friends!" said so ominously. Beautiful line delivery. No notes.

"Here's your blooming bicycle."

"Don't stare at me, you fool. Look in front of you. Come on! Get a move on!

"Had to take some exercise to keep warm. Killed a stupid little policeman. Smashed his head in."

Him getting all comfy for bed. Taking off the sunglasses and the robe and bandages and just being a CREATURE. I don't know why--I really like the practical effects in the movie, and this really shows it well, I guess! Also the little tiny bounce on the bed that he does there is really fun

Honestly I think this entire movie is just an absolute gem. I adore it so much

ALSO!! The quotes you picked out are SO GOOD. I absolutely love the “here’s your blooming bicycle” and the “there’s going to be nasty accident in a minute” I love how Rains combines Griffin’s humour with the eerie scenes, it adds so much to the character and you’re absolutely right about wishing we had behind the scenes of Claude Rains’ acting!!

I particularly wish it for the Kemp car crash scene and for the “at ten o clock tomorrow night, I shall kill you!” because the latter one I remember it scared me SO BAD. He’s such a good actor!

Oh and the “you’re crazy to know who I am, arent you?” Is definitely my favourite scene. How do the visual effects look so good?? And so much better than they do now?

I had almost forgotten about the bank lines to tell you the truth!! I have to say I do love it when he’s running around town and causing chaos.. I think my favourite scene has to be the “crazy to know who I am” just becauss I love the line delivery and it’s this buildup of tension and then this mastery of visual effects and all these characters huddled as they watch Griffin unveil himself, it’s so good!!

I’m absolutely going to make merch of him, also >:)

AAA THANK YOU!! You’re SO correct—there’s such a fine line between the humor and the terror, and he balances it so well; trying to articulate it to someone who hasn’t seen the movie before is difficult but there’s such a specific way that he makes you laugh before you go “oh. Oh.” As what’s happening really sinks in. They really don’t have the time to waste with characterization, too, so every line that he has, Rains really has to show us the multiple facets of Jack Griffin and the situation as a whole. Griffin isn’t humorless, but it’s about the way he shows it + when it’s happening! The entire movie is just a masterpiece in my opinion though shskdbdjdbdjbx

YES. YES!! I wish we could’ve seen both of them doing that whole exchange it would’ve been so cool—and even more chilling, I bet. Because YEAH, Jack really is terrifying there! This is Serious™️ and he’s committed to it, for better or worse, and the way that he says the threat… god. GOD. he’s got nothing and everything to lose. He’s desperate. He’s going to do it, and we can’t stop it.

AND YES. YES!!! GOD. I’M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THAT SCENE. Having Rains basically strip like that, and then having everything do what they need them to do?? That’s very technically difficult! You have to have so many working parts working exactly as you need them to for it to work! If there’s ever a day I’m not impressed by it assume that I’ve been abducted because it’s such a beautiful example of the power of film and effects. the sheer dedication and commitment and how well it still holds up today just… cannot be understated? So many people are too reliant on CGI—CGI itself isn’t bad, don’t get me wrong—but sometimes . Sometimes suspension of disbelief and practical effects are better. Now I’m getting scared imagining them remaking the movie exactly as-is except using CGI. I don’t know—I wasn’t on the effects side of film, I did sound and lighting (for, like, a year, haha), so I can’t speak on all of it—but it’s incredibly impressive and I shudder to think of where we’d be without that work that was put in.

PLEASE. PLEASE DO. I WOULD 100000% BUY IT I LOVE HIM… I have two of the figurines of him (I only have one at the pool with me right now) and I’m so obsessed with him. He’s my best friend my rotten soldier my good-time pal etc etc etc I would LOVE to see more Jack Merch

Oh you absolutely nailed it with how little time there is to fill things in character-wise and how well Rains does it! It really is hard to explain if you haven’t seen the movie but it’s such a huge part of why I love old movies! Not a second goes to waste, it’s brilliant, especially in this film!

Desperate characters are everything to me, I really just love to see my curiosity and drive for life echoed in characters if that makes sense? I love how complicated people are, and how this movie shows that! I just love Griffin and his personality, it just makes me so happy.

Totally agree with you about CGI! My dad loves the film The Thing (1982) and I was shocked to learn they use CGI and not puppetry?? Because the effects in that film are stunning??? I do love the puppets in Little Shop of Horrors and I think I’ll always prefer practical effects, though man, CGI (as you said, when done well) can look fantastic! The whole undressing scene and then having Griffin pick things up? It’s so cool!!

I will absolutely make merch !!!! I’m thinking lil keychains… I really have to draw him more, I haven’t drawn him in like .. a year? Maybe a standee since I love those hehe

scientists are still scrambling to figure out what “zigazig ahh” is so that they can give the spice girls what they really really want

the spice girls are getting impatient

Pack of Beakers

Goth Beaker

The Beaker snitching and pointing out the photographer

The Beaker that’s about to unload on the photographer

The terminator strut before the ass whooping and you know he’s moving at speed because of the blur