Excellent video on one of my favorite movies of all time. Probably the most insightful analysis I’ve seen of this film’s story. This was the first analysis that mentions what I’ve been telling people is the film’s plot: Sharon Tate’s fictional neighbor Rick Dalton is one pool party away from his big break. Your theme spoke to me as someone in that transitioning stage to manhood (from being single to married with an upcoming child) despite being a fully grown adult. Onto the video, a few points which make your analysis more meta: That flamethrower scene is real. Leo actually asked for less heat. QT kept the scene in the film. In this case, Rick/Leo are one and the same person. In real life: Leo has no kids, has never been married. He has his wealth & social causes/interests. Leo lives in perpetual adolescence. Brad has a large family of kids and has been married several times. Brad is by all measures a grown up man. Just realized that Leo loses his stutter at the end of the film.

@manningroad

3 жыл бұрын

Great points, Joel, and thank you. I almost mentioned that Rick loses his stutter at the end, but he doesn't lose it entirely, so I left it out as "weaker evidence." But no doubt...his stutter has noticeably improved, so I 100% agree with you. And yes, Rick is one pool party away from being in the next Polanski movie -- I love that line. QT leaves us all these clues about what the story means, and they aren't necessarily things we're meant to consciously perceive as it's happening. It takes some thought to piece together the exact meaning of the movie, which I love. Anyway, thank you for the comment and feedback! Such a great film!

@JoJoJoker

3 жыл бұрын

@@manningroad indeed it is. This video made sense of why some people dislike the film because it has “no plot”. Good job using a really simple and obvious example such as We’re the Millers to compare the difference between story & plot. I always assumed they were synonymous. It’s a great fairytale story. I guess one could say Cliff is the fairy in this tale. Oddly enough the time difference between 2019 & 1969 is similar to the time difference between 1950s westerns & the Old West. It’s truly a modern western in that sense…A modern fairytale western. Only QT could pull that off! I’ll have to check out Gravity & Bookworm now.

@mabusestestament

3 жыл бұрын

@manningroad Yeah man, great video, thanks for making it 👍 A good perspective to view this movie from.

@manningroad

3 жыл бұрын

@@mabusestestament Awesome; thank you!

@manningroad

3 жыл бұрын

@@mabusestestament My pleasure. So glad you enjoyed it.

OUaTiH has much happening with it & the “becoming a man” theory is interesting. I focused on the Actor (popular Celebrity) vs. Stuntman (unknown) dynamic that transferred in to Rick & Cliff’s personal lives. Cliff is confident, physically skilled, able-bodied, but isn’t ambitious in his career. Rick is an emotional wreck, timid & is professionally driven. Rick gets into make believe trouble on a current movie set, while Cliff gets into a real danger with ‘the Family’ at a former production set. Cliff lives like a celebrity, driving a bitchin’ Coupé DeVille & scooping up a chick, while Rick gets dropped off at work, has a nervous breakdown & threatens his own life. Cliff seems to live the glamorous life, while Rick struggles. I’m reminded of the show ‘The Fall Guy’ that I used to watch when I was a kid. the theme song says, “I’m the unknown stuntman that makes Eastwood look so fine.” this stayed in my mind throughout the 2nd viewing I made. Rick & Cliff are a great team, because they have different skills, talents & vulnerabilities. that’s what makes a team a great team. I don’t think that Rick’s plan to cut professional ties with Cliff actually transpired, after the Cielo Drive. I think that experience showed Rick how much he needs Cliff & meeting Sharon, Jay & houseguests plugged him in to a bigger network with the director of Rosemary’s f’n Baby. Brandy may find herself in a few features of her own, after saving All of Their Asses. the Cielo Dr. event will put Rick back into the spotlight & he’ll get Leading Man work & secure a future for Cliff…that’s how I Want to think the guys will proceed. maybe we’ll see the guys again, after Kill Bill 3.

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic and thank you for your thoughts! Cool insight on the juxtaposition of Rick and Cliff's character -- especially love the "make believe trouble" vs "real trouble" example. Also an interesting projection of what may be in store for Rick and Cliff...sounds plausible to me. And Kill Bill 3 would be wonderful! From your mouth to QT's ears!

@JDizzle785

Жыл бұрын

Also to this point, Cliff basically takes out the family by himself and then Rick comes in and kills the last one in the pool (when the movie prop flamethrower no less) once she’s already basically neutralized and then somewhat steals the glory when talking to Jay Sebring. He also doesn’t even mention Cliff when they ask if everyone is okay. Definitely adds to the actor/stunt double dynamic

"Here put these on, don't cry in front of the Mexicans." I love this film!

@manningroad

3 жыл бұрын

Ahahaha. Another great line in the movie!

As a recovering alcoholic and stutterer who used to live in LA. bravo.

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, my man.

Man, your channel is awesome. Seriously, continue do a great videos like this

@manningroad

3 жыл бұрын

Wow. Thank you so much.

In real life a stunt man named Shorty Shea went to the Manson clan compound and ended up murdered. Seeing Cliff drive off safe, a small "once upon a time" relief is experienced. This inside the bigger "once upon a time" relief with Sharon in the end. It's the same story inside the main story, an inclusio. The same can be said for Cliffs flashback has a flashback in a flashback. (The killing of his wife) Quinton is brilliant.

@manningroad

Жыл бұрын

Wow; I did not know that! Thank you so much for the comment. Just looked up Donald "Shorty" Shea and reading about him now. Thanks again...

It’s an interesting perspective. But I believe you’re pretty off. The movie is a love letter to Hollywood, Quinn Tarantino has said that himself. It’s about three people at different stages of their acting career Sharon Tate being on the upward trajectory Rick Dalton floating and slowely sinking down and Cliff Booth really quite at the bottom and not really working. The story is about someone in a mid career crisis and they resolve it by getting introduced to the neighbor next-door. in the book this really catapults his career because everyone loves the idea about the cowboy actor actually killing these hippie weirdos. if you read the book it explains that Rick Dalton is bipolar. And drinks to help cope with it. That’s why he has these emotional swings. When the Sam shakes Rick‘s wet hand he doesn’t say I’m used to it with “you” he says I’m used to it with “Yule”. this is referring to an actual actor that Sam worked with at the time. It was common for actors to dunk their head and ice water as part of a beauty regimen. Paul Newman popularized it. The relationship between Cliff and Rick is really one of someone in Hollywood who doesn’t necessarily have any real friends, and befriends someone who actually works for them. That’s my Cliff does all the stuff. When Rick gets back from Hollywood. He’s no more confident, he just has an expensive hot wife and he blew his money on a fancy pad in Italy. And now instead of having Cliff as his pseudo-wife, now he has a real wife and he hast to choose.

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

Dude, thank you for watching and commenting! And that's super interesting about YULE -- I did not know that and will look it up, thanks for pointing it out. And I don't believe I disagree with much, if anything you've written here, nor do I think it contradicts my thesis on what I believe to be the story of this movie, or at least what I refer to as "story." But all great thoughts, food for thought, and I appreciate the feedback!

Thank you for defining the difference between story and plot. That is the hardest thing for me to get people to understand. In the worst case scenario is they tell me the entire film.

@manningroad

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure, James! Story and plot are so closely connected that it can get confusing at times, and there is obviously room for debate on the artist's intention. And sometimes, story and plot are MEANT to be unclear or open to interpretation. But it's fun to discuss, I think, and I thank you for watching and for the comment!

Just found this channel and I’m stoked! You make some very good points here and I’m looking forward to binging the rest of your videos! Cheers

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

Cheers! Thank you for checking out the video and welcome to Manning Road Productions!

About the pushing of the chair. I saw it as a sales technique. An agent is to care for his/her client. The pat on the shoulder is known as the "personal touch" in gaining ones trust. By touching, even casually, the brain registers a common state. I will ease you into the table as I will ease you into the next phase of your career.

@manningroad

Жыл бұрын

Makes sense. I can totally see that. Thanks for the comment...

I am not a Tarantino fan. Nor a fan of Pitt or DiCaprio but I LOVE this film. I stumbled upon it by accident on tv and was instantly hooked enough to hunt down the next broadcast. The details are incredible and every time I watch it I see something else. Hope Q puts out an edition with all the edits returned.

@manningroad

10 ай бұрын

Thanks for commenting! Yes, I hear there are SO many scenes that were cut from the already longish 161 minute film. I'd love to see those as well. QT apparently has other projects in mind in this "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood" world. I'm all for it. I love this movie too.

This is my absolute favorite movie. I've come to pretty much the same conclusions, maybe with a little different spin. I found it to be a story of typecasting. Rick Dalton was very successful as a certain type of character, and it got to the point where he was unable to see himself outside of that mold. Marvin Schwarz describes the problem very succinctly to him at the beginning, and his reaction is telling - if he can't remain within that comfort zone his only option is to take his ball and go home. What he doesn't realize is that he's done this to himself. Schwarz doesn't see him that way. Sam Wanamaker DEFINITELY doesn't see him that way. Jim Stacey doesn't, Marabelle doesn't, and we find at the end that Jay Sebring and Sharon Tate don't. While he was waiting to get invited to a pool party to try to get introduced around, he was already known to be a real talent in wide circles, he just didn't know it. It's a matter of confidence for sure, his unwillingness to hustle, just taking what came his way. I love your spin, as it ties the whole thing together just right.

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic analysis and thank you for sharing. I’ll write more later as I’m out and about but this is great; thanks again.

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

Just circling back to to this comment- and thanks again for posting, I love talking about this stuff. Yeah, I think we’re on the same page. Definitely different spins but in the same ball park. The acting career of Rick Dalton is obviously a huge part of the movie and as I know you agree, I think it’s done so well. Like I talk about in the video, the guy is an awesome actor. We witness that ourselves and as you laid out, the industry respects him. And we see why. The little girl who says “That was the best acting I’ve ever seen in my life” is hilarious because she is so young and hasn’t lived very long, but she’s right: Rick was awesome in the villain role in “Lancer,” and we saw it for ourselves in almost real time on set. Sure, he barely pulled it together after a hard night of drinking, and yes, he had trouble with a nearly impossible line (especially with his stutter), but he overcomes all and delivers an incredible performance. And absolutely, I agree with everything you say here - Rick is struggling with type casting and maybe had less to overcome that he thought, but Rick needed the “manly” confidence to do it. I love this movie as well and all this talk is getting me in the mood to watch it again! Thanks again for sharing your thoughts…and for subscribing! I’m launching a new movie podcast, hopefully this summer. Our first episode is going to be on “The Thing.”

@rpc717

2 жыл бұрын

I heard in an interview with QT once that he felt the future in acting for Rick held a lot of disappointments. I never could understand that, not even a little. Why did he show us so much character growth and in the end even outright heroism if it didn't mean a brighter future? I like to think that Rick got the lead role in Chinatown as well as the male lead in Tess, opposite Sharon of course, and they both got Oscar nominations for that movie.

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

@@rpc717 Interesting. And yeah, not what I would expect to hear at all. I heard QT say that there was no “story” in this movie, that the three main characters (Rick, Cliff, and Sharon) are interesting enough to simply follow a slice of their life. I love the guy, but I don’t believe he is not telling us the story of Rick becoming a “man” in this incredible movie.

Great video Steve. Keep em coming!

@manningroad

4 жыл бұрын

"YOU'RE THE OWL." Thanks for watching, pal.

His name is Dalton...i learned to cry!

@manningroad

4 ай бұрын

I re-watched THE OUTSIDERS recently because I visited a buddy of mine in Tulsa, and we were thinking about visiting the house where they shot a lot of the movie. We did not end up making it, but it was a fun re-watch! Francis Ford Coppola, baby!

Nice work! Love how in depth this is.

@manningroad

4 жыл бұрын

Matthew Breault Dude! Thank you for watching, Matt!

Great breakdown!

@manningroad

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, and I really appreciate you giving this a watch!

excellent video essay! great arguments, great eye for detail, great examples to set up your argument. 10/10

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Paul! I appreciate the comment and thank you for watching!

Thoroughly enjoyed your review. Thanks. Am a huge fan of Tarantino's work as well.

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to watch this. Curious to see what Tarantino does next; there are rumors of a potential Kill Bill 3.

@theevilwithin8946

2 жыл бұрын

@@manningroad Yeah, I've heard that too. That'd be awesome. Hopefully he won't retire after making his 10th movie. We really need him to make more masterpieces.

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

@@theevilwithin8946 I totally agree. Fingers crossed!

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

@@theevilwithin8946 I just heard Marc Maron interview QT and Tarantino said that the reports of him calling it quits after 10 are hugely exaggerated. He all but promised there will be more than 10, so awesome.

SOTD is about Shawn growing up/ taking responsibility.

@manningroad

Жыл бұрын

I agree 100%!

Wow great stuff man! Subbed

@manningroad

Жыл бұрын

Fantastic! Thank you so much. I also just started a movie podcast with my buddy called HOLLYWOOD vs. CLEVELAND. We have one episode out there now on John Carpenter's THE THING (1981).

Great analysis man, you nailed a central aspect of the narrative...…..absolutely love this movie.

@manningroad

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, sir...I appreciate it. I had a lot of fun putting this one together and this movie really got me back on a Quentin Tarantino kick.

@JoJoJoker

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah I just discovered this video. Should have a 1/2 million views. It’s the best breakdown I’ve seen of this amazing movie…essentially what I’ve tried to articulate to myself as to why I like it so much. OATH is so deep and gets better on every rewatch. So many little details, especially the set design, the pic feels like a movie filmed in 1969 with modern equipment. Too many people focus on the plot of the film and not the *story* of the film.

@manningroad

3 жыл бұрын

@@JoJoJoker Thanks, Joel!

The harpoon incident couldnt have been an accident as there was no harpoon loaded in the gun during the scene

@manningroad

Жыл бұрын

Good eye! Thank you for the comment.

@onecoolcustomer4950

Жыл бұрын

@@manningroad No worries, Im actually on the spectrum so I have a good eye for detail. I definitly understood the Pulp Fiction Marvin reference upon first viewing too. Thats what lead me to the conclusion that Cliff probably did end up killing his wife on purpose after the fact upon further viewings. Really good analysis btw.

@manningroad

Жыл бұрын

@@onecoolcustomer4950 Thank you so much! Apparently, in the book that QT wrote about these characters with the same title, Cliff 100% kills his wife. Like, he goes into detail about it. That was surprising to me to learn but I still judge each piece as it's own art. The movie vs. the book, etc. And in the movie, I don't think we are meant to know 100% either way. In the book, different story!

Jackie Brown comes to mind as an interesting comparison. In both JB and this movie there's an ongoing external representation of an internal transformation.

@manningroad

4 жыл бұрын

Awesome. I've been meaning to re-watch JACKIE BROWN. Thanks for giving this a watch, sir.

@JohnnyMalloy

3 жыл бұрын

@@jimpanzee4063 You must be fun at parties

@JohnnyMalloy

3 жыл бұрын

@@jimpanzee4063 Lighten up Francis

It was a great video man, i really loved this movie, u should totally do more movie video essays, maybe even other tarantino films

@manningroad

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for watching! I would love to do another one of these.

brilliant analysis, this video deserves way more attention

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

Dude, THANK YOU. Really appreciate you watching and for t he comment.

You deserve more views and subscribers

@manningroad

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, my man! I appreciate that.

Good points. I'm looking at this movie from a different perspective. I missed some shit when I watched this the first time.

@manningroad

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching and commenting! I started a movie-analysis podcast with my buddy called HOLLYWOOD vs. CLEVELAND if you're interested in seeing some more move talk.

Excellent analysis,very interesting

@manningroad

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching, my friend. We just launched a new series called HOLLYWOOD vs. CLEVELAND and during our first episode, we discuss "The Thing." If you've seen the 1982 Carpenter film, feel free to check it out and thanks again for the comment!

Brilliant analysis!

@manningroad

Жыл бұрын

Wow! Thank you so much!

Please do more of these. My request: Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019, dir. Celine Sciamma)

@manningroad

4 жыл бұрын

I'll think about it! Thanks for watching, Christine!

lovely video

@manningroad

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for checking out the video!

Amazing

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Dustin.

Seriously dude, back again to rewatch. Your video deserves 500K views. Hope it catches on. Some unsolicited advice: Perhaps a 15 minute edit would increase its traction? Most people avoid videos over 25 min. Ex: you make the point with Shaun of the Dead…no need for Gravity and Book Smart (the two I’ve never watched) or The Miller’s.

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Joel...I still have your original comment pinned on this page; so thank you for that as well. And I wanted to mention that my buddy and I are getting close to starting a movie discussion podcast. I realize the last thing the world needs right now is another podcast, but we're just doing it for fun. But I agree, I would love for this particular video to take off. Once I sort of figured out what the story was, all the evidence was right there in the movie -- like, all over the place. One detail I left out --- when you FIRST meet the little girl on the set of Lancer, the FIRST image we see of her are these big cowboy boots kicked up on a stool, which makes you think as an audience, that it is a MAN sitting there. Instead, it's revealed to be this eight year old girl named Trudi. And as I describe further in the video above, that is playing with this idea that Trudi, an 8-year old, is more of a man/adult than Rick Dalton, and indeed, ends up consoling him like a parent as Rick cries. Anyway...thanks again, Joel! (And subscribe if you'd like to be notified of our podcast. A couple months away, I think.)

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

And yes, that is absolutely fair advice. This should probably be two different videos. One generally about movie story vs. plot, and one focused on OUATIH.

@JoJoJoker

2 жыл бұрын

@@manningroad sure! Do a podcast. Can never have enough good ones!

@JoJoJoker

2 жыл бұрын

@@manningroad you’re off to a great start...have enough material for 2 podcasts in just this one episode plus whatever unused material may be left from it!

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

@@JoJoJoker Awesome. We're hoping to have our first episode out in about a month or so!

I think the story is about Cliff. Right?

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

You could make that argument for sure, but in my opinion, it's more about Rick because his character changes the most. Cliff is pretty consistent, as a character, throughout the movie -- Rick undergoes, I think, the greatest transformation.

Fantastic analysis. I've actually been having a problem with a screenplay I've been working on and something you touched on here just made it all fall into place so thank you!

@manningroad

Ай бұрын

That is music to my ears! Thank you for watching and commenting.

I like how you break this down but having just gotten to about 7:30 in, you say the last image of the Jason Sudakas film is the fake family surrounded by a white picket fence. But in reality, the very last shot shows what sure looks like pot growing along that white picket fence. Since they just moved in, who is growing it and what does that bode for people in witness protection from drug smugglers?

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

True, good point, and thanks for the comment! As you said, the camera tilts down from them all sitting down for a meal to four, I think, marijuana plants starting to grow. (There are also four people in their family.) And yes, I think this is a final joke/twist to imply that Jason Sudeikis’ character, while he HAS grown up and now has a family of his own - he hasn’t lost ALL of who he was when our story began, and indeed, he's back to growing some weed for himself and maybe even to sell. Kind of like the end of EASY MONEY with “Monty Capuletti” -- he HAS grown up and matured, received the inheritance that demanded him to do so, but in the last scene, Monty sneaks down to the basement to gamble, drink, and eat pizza with his friends. Similar device, I think, as a final twist. There HAS been change and growth, but we are still who we are.

Really enjoyed the analysis - could have gone without the ten first minutes of talking about other movies Could also not play AS LONG of clips as evidence to your point. Useful for people who have never seen the movie - but through your analysis they shouldn’t have to

@manningroad

3 жыл бұрын

Fair enough. Thanks for watching!

No matter what status we are in life, when we don't need approval from anyone then we are truly like God, greater than any man or woman clinging on to new confidence.

search for the grail

I think Rick’s character was also written to inject some humanity into the western archetype. It can be easy to watch old John Wayne movies, etc. and forget that these people all had human drama, insecurities and tragedy in their lives just like anyone else

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

Good point; I can see that for sure. There's a big difference between the "perfect" heroes that Rick mostly plays on TV versus his real-life self fraught with insecurities and self-doubt just like the rest of us. Thank you for the comment!

Very elucidating. But (plot hole) who stands in a swimming pool while they are on fire? Water extinguishes fire, so the obvious thing would be to duck under the water. Ok, just sayin.

@manningroad

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment James, and I have to admit, that thought did occur to me. I was also under the impression, although I don't know much at all on the subject, that guns don't fire after they've been submerged in water.

The concepts fabula and syuzhet, at the core of Russian Formalism, are much more useful and more precise terms than story and plot. Pulp fiction, I heard, was reedited for the Arab countries in chronological order. That must have been a mess! Using this video's conception of the terms, the story and plot of both versions would be exactly the same. However Tarantino's reordering of time is a part of the syuzhet (plot). Even using story and plot, I think in this video there's some confusion of story with interpretation. Story is independent of interpretation.

Outsiders..

Man, I thought it was Steven Write the comic Radio voice from Reservoir Dogs The movie has no real story other than woman are good and men are bad

@manningroad

2 жыл бұрын

Ha! I get that a lot. “Most people are afraid of heights. I’m afraid of widths. When I take my dog for a walk around the building…I do it on the ledge.” -Steven Wright

Cool movie, Tarantino's worst though imo.

3 жыл бұрын

I think Death Proof is his worst.

@stevem2323

2 жыл бұрын

Worst? Easily his top 3.

Hi, I'm Dave and I'm not a fan of bloodbath revisionist Tarrantino. Far from a masterpiece, this movie is a regressive dishonest Trump era movie, with regressive anti hippy pro establishment themes, which no doubt Vincent Bugliosi, J Edgar Hoover, Richard Helms (then head of the CIA) and Richard Nixon would have loved. The exact movie they would have wanted on the 50th anniversary of the murders, taking up the oxygen, distracting from those people toiling away at getting at the truth of this cult, and it's connections. Then there is Sharon portrayed as a bimbo; Bruce Lee, portrayed as an upperty Asian guy who deserves to be roughed up by big tough Brad. And of course, it's the unusual excuse to portray hideous violence against women but hey it's a Tarrantino movie, so, what's new right? Does it tell you anything about any of the real people in the movie? No. Does it tell you anything about the Manson cult? No. Does it tell you anything about the transformational changes going on at that time in Hollywood, at corporate and director level? No. Does I reinforce stereotypes and prejudices, like conflating the Manson Cult with hippies, which they werent? Yes. Does it reinforce the Trump crowd's belief in big tough white guys kicking ass and solving tbings? Yes. It is my fervent hope that, as some movies do, this movie will be critically reassessed down in the future, as a Trump era film and biases, with regressive themes and bad history. Thank you.