The hidden secrets in 'Pulp Fiction'...

[Pervert]

In some films, yes. In others, it's simply obsessing. Knowing what was in the case might be interesting, but it doesn't matter to the story you're watching.

Watched North By Northwest again recently. Logic would say, if you've lured Cary Grant out to a back road in the middle of nowhere and plan to kill him, have a guy with a knife, or a gun, waiting for him---not two guys in a cropduster. With Hitchcock, it was all about the scene, setting up some iconic moment that would thrill the audience, rather than worry about what's more likely to happen.

[JamesW]

"In the Bible it says that if you make a Faustian Pact with the Devil and you lose, he will remove your soul from your body by making a single cut in the back of your neck."


The Faust on which the Faustian pact stories are based lived from 1480-1540.

Since the Bible was written between 1500 BC and 100 AD, it seems unlikely that it contains anything about Faustian pacts, the earliest known Faustian pact story not being published until 1587 (1587 AD that is).

It would be interesting if someone could produce such a Biblical reference, but in the meantime the claim about the single cut also looks suspect.

The real life Faust was found dead with his body grievously mutilated, leading to speculation that it was the devil's work.

The first published Faustian pact story in 1587 ends with Faust found dead in his room and with the walls and floor splattered with Faust's blood and brains, evidently a result of the devil taking his soul.

Where does the story about a single cut come from?

[mrchapel]

He discussed in when Grindhouse came out and said it was a mcguffin and asked what the fuck a plaster on the back of someones neck has to do with their soul. The plaster was due to Ving Rhames cutting himself.

[JamesW]

Yes as I said above, the plaster on the back of the neck was a make up girl's decision and was put there when she saw a scar on the actor's neck. It was nothing to do with Tarantino or any of the production staff.

[max_tranmere]

All of what I said I remember reading in a magazine. It was all written by an American film historian. Even though I read it a few years back it was as if I read it last week. I remember all the detail. Regarding the actor cutting himself and the plaster being seen so prominently in the film, that seems a bit odd. QT likes to be a bit differnt so some of the scenes he films aren't filmed in the traditional way - like in that scene with Marcellus and Butch you never see Marcellus's face, only Butch's. You just see the back of his head. For the plaster to be very visible, because the actor happened to cut himself, seems a bit unlikely I think. It was the most prolific thing in the scene. If it wasn't written to be part of the scene, Tarantino would surely have not shown the back of his neck - but the side of his head or his face or something. You could see the back of his neck right in front of the camera all the time, with the plaster extremely visible. That suugests it was intended to be seen as something significant.

[JamesW]

The story about the soul being removed by a single cut to the back of the neck seems to be a complete invention.

I think this is known as fabricating evidence.

Why would anyone think the soul was in the neck anyway?

[Robches]

As Caractacus says, the thing in the briefcase is just the McGuffin, it doesn't matter what it is, it's just necessary to get the plot moving. It's more interesting if we don't know what it is, because then we can speculate about what it might be.

[one eyed jack]

I seriously doubt the plaster was just left there. These guys are making a multi million dollar movie. Whether it has a deep meaning or not, the plaster was left there deliberatly.

A bit like that Nelly rapper who wore a plaster on his face. I had no idea why he did but I'm sure there was a reason for that too.

Maybe the plaster looked more interesting and made the big guy look vulnerable.

One thing for sure it stood out with his back towards us as he talked to Bruce Willis about "muthafuckas ass aging like wine" and pride. "Fuck pride!"

[JamesW]

Robches is exactly correct.

Tarantino thought it would be more interesting if the audience didn't know what was in the case.

(The original idea was that the case would contain the proceeds from a jewel heist. This would link the film to RESERVOIR DOGS which also concerned a jewel heist. The audience could wonder whether the films were meant to be connected. But not disclosing the contents of the case was eventually seen to be even more fun).

[max_tranmere]

Reservour Dogs and Pulp Fiction are connected. Vic Vega, the evil guy who cuts the policeman's ear off, is the brother of Vincent Vega (played by John Travolta in PF). Also, you hear a radio advertisement for 'Jack Rabbit Slims' in RD when they are driving in the car. 'Jack Rabbit Slims' is the restaurant in PF where Vincent and Mia (Uma Thurman) enter the 'twist' competition.