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| It All Burns Down |
Watching House of Wax (1953), the big opening sequence where Henry Jarrod's museum and workshop is burned to the ground for the insurance by his unscrupulous, monstrous business partner, Matthew Burke (Roy Roberts), I always feel [and perhaps that was the intention], he is committing homicide as the wax sculptures are shown melting and deteriorating before our eyes. Something about how director Andre DeToth shoots the Jarrod's beloved works of art as they melt away, it is like watching them die to me. The flames incinerating them as Jarrod is helpless to stop it, trying to battle it out with Matthew to stop it all from burning to the ground...it breaks my heart. It packs a wallop, really. And I have to say that Carolyn Jones--although just in this for a wee little bit--has plenty giggle and charm to spare. There is a lot of cruelty in this film, I noticed. Phyllis Kirk with no strong job prospects, trying to make ends meet and maintain a place to stay, is burdened by the apartment complex proprietor to get money or else be kicked out on the street, finds her roommate and good friend dead, finds herself chased by Jarrod (dressed as if Jack the Ripper) throughout Paris streets, eventually tied inside Jarrod's wax factory naked with hot wax about to be poured on her. Jarrod lost his museum and workshop, relocating to a new identity in a wheelchair and Museum of Horrors after being driven mad due to burns and lost sculptures. An artist turned into a monster by a greedy partner just wanting to recoup and spend his "winnings" on women and booze. Cruelty abound indeed.
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