Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[imchongjun]

Hello, teachers.
I am a bit puzzled over the following metaphorical expression:
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"Gracious, what a weird film this is!"

The fantastic absurdities of Tarzan proceeded on the screen, tearing celluloid passions to tatters....
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This is a comment on the first Tarzan film from a novel written in 1919. I wonder what "tearing celluloid passions to tatters" mean. Does this mean something like "the film proceeded, failing to measure up to the audience's expectations"? Does "passionss" mean "interests" or "expectations"? I appreciate any comments. Thank you in advance.

[Philo Kevetch]

Interesting use of 'linoleum laurels', don't you think?

[imchongjun]

Hello, Philo.
Thank you for your comment. But I am afraid your answer is for a previous question of mine (I know understnad what "Ridpath" means thanks to your help). I hope you would help me again in this question.
Imchongjun

[CP]

I think the movie reviewer was trying to say that Tarzan's lust for the luscious Jane was just short of ravenous, although of course they had to keep their shirts on, literally (for Jane) and figuratively (for both) to get past the Hayes Code. Old Tarzan saw Jane and thought, "Me like!" And Jane saw Tarzan, out there in the wilds, free of Victorian convention, and felt the same. The audience, new to the experience of moving pictures, must have been thrilled back then.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[Philo Kevetch]

Im Chong-jun

Having responded, and having received no acknowledgement, one might well be unsure as to wether or not ones' response was recieved or of any particular value to the person having made the query. Indeed, one might well be hesitant to respond to future queries given such uncertainties.

"tearing celluloid passions to tatters" - Interesting use of language, don't you think? Philo

Hello CP -

Interesting take..

Could it be more of a "pan" (as in 'chewing the scenery') on the part of the snobbish (protagonist) bookseller?

As always, a pleasure to read your posts. Philo

[CP]

Well, Philo, now I understand why you call him a snobbish bookseller!

I Googled the questioned text, and the first response sent me to a Web site for The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley, and specifically Chapter VIII, "Aubrey Goes to the Movies, and Wishes He Knew More German." This, evidently, is what Imchongjun has been reading, the source of the question about walking the ineffable Titania down the street. The three then go to the cinema and talk all through a Tarzan movie. So it's not a movie review at all, but a scene from a novel.

Here I will quote a few lines from the book, thanks to the magic of the Internet and cut-and-paste. :

"I think that book must be valuable," said Titania. "Somebody came in this afternoon and wanted to buy it, but Mr. Mifflin wouldn't part with it. He says it's one of his favourites. Gracious, what a weird film this is!"

The fantastic absurdities of Tarzan proceeded on the screen, tearing celluloid passions to tatters, but Aubrey found the strong man of the jungle coming almost too close to his own imperious instincts. Was not he, too--he thought naively--a poor Tarzan of the advertising jungle, lost among the elephants and alligators of commerce, and sighing for this dainty and unattainable vision of girlhood that had burst upon his burning gaze! He stole a perilous side-glance at her profile, and saw the racing flicker of the screen reflected in tiny spangles of light that danced in her eyes. He was even so unknowing as to imagine that she was not aware of his contemplation. And then the lights went up.

"What nonsense, wasn't it?" said Titania. "I'm so glad it's over! I was quite afraid one of those elephants would walk off the screen and tread on us."
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[Philo Kevetch]

CP - The OP has asked for explanations from this text in previous posts.
I was actually rather surprised that someone was reading it.

For me, the plot line and characters are not the reason the story is enjoyable, but rather the 'richness' of the language of the era.

As stated by Lorikeet in another thread, the language continues to change
and seems (IMHO) to be losing ever more of that richness. Philo