Pulp Fiction - what was in the briefcase?

[fyrfytrhoges]

I just got done watching this movie for about the 20th time and one question I have never gotten an answer on is what the hell is in that briefcase?

archosman, I expect you'll chime in sooner or later!

 

[radrd]

Marcellus Wallace's soul.

 

[fyrfytrhoges]

is that speculation on your part or did you get that from somewhere?

 

[Sol_Zhen]

Ever seen the film Kiss Me Deadly? Watch it, or at least the last couple scenes.

Tarantino is a film geek and the briefcase was a tribute to the ending of that classic film noir flick.

Marsellus’ soul? The jewels from Reservoir Dogs? Whatever. It was a tribute to Kiss Me Deadly and something that film fans will argue about. That's why it's there.

 

[fyrfytrhoges]

who did the film kiss me deadly and why was it a tribute, did tarantino have a fascination with the movie?

 

[Sol_Zhen]

Tarantino has a fascination with many movies. He's a film geek and lots of his scenes are derivative from other films.

He takes a lot of influence from the classic American film noir films and Kiss Me Deadly is one of the classics.

Rent it and see.

If there’s enough clamoring, maybe I’ll dig up some screen caps and show you.

I’m talking about the shot and the use of light in the case here. The contents of the case are purposely vague and not definable. Just like the shots of the trunk in Repo Man also paid homage to Kiss Me Deadly.

 

[radrd]

I read it on several different sites, and it makes as much sense as anything.

Here is what I read on one site, but it's on a lot of them...

The most persistent theory, though, (most usually attributed to a friend of a friend who saw it posted on a message board by someone whose brother had read a report of a radio interview with Tarantino himself) is that it is Marcellus Wallace's soul. It is an ancient belief that when the Devil takes a person's soul, it is removed through the back of the head. When we see the back of Marcellus' head he has a Band-Aid covering the precise spot indicated by tradition for soul removal. Perhaps Marcellus sold his soul to the devil which would also explain why the combination to open the briefcase is 666.

http://mjf_hollywood.tripod.com/movi...lpfiction.html

 

[Sol_Zhen]

What is actually in the case is irrelevant and moot. I’ve seen this debate on several other movie forums.

I’m talking about the reason Tarantino had a light in the case and why the shot is in the film. I’m sure it’s left ambiguous to stir the imagination.

And Ving had the band aid there because he has a birthmark that doesn't photograph well.

Tarintino is playing with us, but look at the shot from a filmmaker’s perspective.

 

[fyrfytrhoges]

you guys are quick tonight!

already some controversy, I did notice the bandaid on the back of wallace's head but did not notice the combo to the lock on the briefcase as being 666, guess I have to look closer next time!

 

[Sol_Zhen]

Ha!

These are still on my server from the last time I had this discussion:

Remind you of both Repo Man and Pulp Fiction?

 

[fyrfytrhoges]

cool link radrd!

 

[fyrfytrhoges]

sol zhen, what's the premise of kiss me deadly?

 

[Sol_Zhen]

Crime flick

 

[fyrfytrhoges]

guess I'll have to check it out, you guys are WAY too knowledgeable about this stuff so late at night.....

 

[radrd]

It's only 10:00 on the West Coast. Plus, Pulp Fiction is my favorite movie, and I too wanted to know what was in the briefcase at one time.