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Allusions to other works within Twin Peaks -- Edition 3
Note: these are not meant to be read as a definite link to all these works;
some may be coincidences. In general, most are lighthearted jabs, but some
have real value in solving the mysteries of Twin Peaks. Actually, these are
more likely "footnotes" rather than "allusions". (List originator and editor:
Dave Platt [DGP], Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
(Contributors: DGP; Col Needham (CN), HP
Labs, Bristol, U.K.; Rocky J Giovinazzo (RJG), U Mass.; Jason Snell, Unversity
Of California, San Diego(JS), Dan Parmenter (DP); Joakim Petterson,
Stockholm, Sweden (JP); RIch Haller, Eugene, Oregon (RH); Leslie D.
Zettergren (LDZ); Lois T Casaleggi (LTC); Barb Miller (BM).
Except where indicated, notes are made by DGP)
SEASON ONE
(In chronological order starting with 1000):
1. The Bird: Blue Velvet ends with a shot of a robin with a bug in its
mouth.
2. "Twin Peaks": Supposedly a fairly obvious sexual reference, I hadn't
heard it used before, although SPY's "Separated At Birth?" book (published
1988) commented on the "Twin (widow's) Peaks" of Bob Eubanks and Butch
(Eddie Munster) Patrick. As well, for a town even more obssessed with
lumber, TP has nothing on Lumberton from Blue Velvet. Also, Blake Edward's
1962 thriller "Experiment In Terror" features Lee Remick as a bank clerk
terrorized by a psycho into stealing from her employers. She lives in
Twin Peaks (in San Francisco) and the psycho's name is Red Lynch!! (CN)
Finally, Entertainment Tonight ran two separate stories on Snoqualmie, WA
(where the TP pilot was filmed) and Twin Peaks, CA (where Lynch is
rumoured to have some land), both of which have grisly murders in their
past.
3. Harry S. Truman: Not only in reference to the former U.S. president.
The name of the man who lived near Spirit Lake under Mt. St. Helens and
refused to move from his home despite the warning of volcanic eruption was
named Harry Truman, as well (JS).
4. The name "Laura": In the 1944 movie Laura, a girl named Laura is
killed, only to turn up as someone else. Also in the film, the villian's name
is Waldo (!) Lydecker (!!), and a gun is hidden in a clock, a la the poker
chip from One Eyed Jacks. As well, in a coincidence David Lynch would
probably shrug off, the film starred Dana Andrews, whose initials bear a
resemblance to TP's own Dana Ashbrook. A Laura Palmer is credited with
writing a piece on the fall of Saigon for Rolling Stone. Also, note possible
connection with Laura Dern.
5. Andy the crying deputy: In an (early 1990) arc of Wiseguy revolving
around a murder in a small lumber town, the police officer that found the
body cried upon its discovery. It was later revealed that the officer himself
was the culprit. (This is probably not a coincidence. The plot of the TP pilot
was well-known within TV circles. Further proof: the town's name was
"Lynchboro"). Last thing on this: the Globe tabloid reported a week before
2006 that Andy killed Laura and was going to murder Lucy, who was planning
to have an abortion.
6. Leland Palmer: There are two very small (pop.30 and 25 in 1963)
towns in Washingron State named Leland and Palmer (DGP). As well, an
actor named Leland Palmer starred in Bob Fosse's All That Jazz. (LTC).
7. The song Bobby (and much later James) plays on the jukebox is from
the Lynch/Badalamenti Industrial Symphony. It's called "I'm Hurt Bad".
8. Ronette on the railroad tracks: Possible redux of Isabella
Rosselini's nude wandering in Blue Velvet.
9. James The Biker: In an Interview interview, James Marshall said
that David Lynch actually told him to think of James Dean while acting.
10. Nadine's oneeye: Numerous references, too many to list, but
probably the one that applies here is the character on "Days Of Our Lives".
(Actually, The character on "DOOL" is a hardened, tough male loner, but
Nadine does exhibit some tough characteristics, don't you think?)
11. Dale Cooper: Dale's middle name is Bartholomew, marking him D.B.
cooper, a la the famous skyjacker. Kyle MacLachlan's performance is said to
have been inspired by Lynch himself.
12. The OAM: The most famous example of a one-armed man is, of
course, the killer in the Fugitive. On that show, Richard Kimble's pursuant
was named Phillip Gerard.
13. The flickering lights: Apparently an actual hospital goofup, Lynch
liked it so much he decided to flicker the lights himself. However, the
lights-flickering motif was prevalent in Blue Velvet, Eraserhead, and even
Orson Welles' Citizen Kane. As well, a script purported to be the first draft
has a mention of this.
14. The videotape: Numerous, including Sex Lies and Videotape.
15. The reflection in Laura's eye: used on a soap opera in the summer
of 1990, don't know which one. (This is, of course, an homage, rather than an
influence).
16. The fallen deerhead: The first of many possible references to
Fawlty Towers, which of course also featured a hotel with a harried owner
(DGP). Yet it was a moose head in the Fawlty Towers episode(RH). (However,
DP notes that the deerhead was just discovered that way by Lynch, which sounds
at least a little more plausible)
17. "Fire, Walk With Me". Fire, is of course, one of the most enduring
symbols in all religions and mythologies, but a few instances that are
relevant to TP: Lynch's own use of fire in other works (Blue Velvet, Wild At
Heart) as passion or danger, and the relgious rites of the druids. The druids
held wood, mistletoe (which is a parasitic plant), and fire as religious rites.
This suggests ties with TP in terms of the spirits trapped in wood,
BOB-as-a-parasite, and BOB-as-fire.
18. The Log Lady: According to the Rolling Stone Interview with Lynch,
The Log Lady predates Twin Peaks; Lynch was planning an earlier series
with Catherine Coulson starring as the Log Lady.
19. "Falling"/"The Nightingale": The first of a few Julee Cruise
numbers spliced into the action.
(From 1001)
20. "Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedys": An obsession shared by
Cooper, Lynch, and Frost, who wrote a script for Goddess, a Monroe movie
that was to be directed by Lynch.
(From 1002)
21. Ben & Jerry: Twin Peak's largest food freaks share their names
with the allPnatural icePcream merchants.
22. OnePEyed Jack's: another crude sexual reference, fully explained
by Bobby Peru in "Wild At Heart". Also, the Western with Marlon Brando.
23. Horne's Sonnet: Shakespeare, Sonnet No. 18
24. The Dream: Mark Frost has said that the dream imagery (including
the owls) come from his own dreams. The tone and style, however, is pure
Lynch. As commented in the newsgroup before, Lynch is known for his
strange pauses and lags in action at inopportune times. this dates back to
"Eraserhead", which featured many strange, quiet moments. Cooper's
reaction shots hearken back to that film and Jack Nance's lack of emotion.
25. BOB: The name "Bob" is a source of constant commentary. Lynch is
well known for his daily sojurns to Bob's Big Boy.The recently-published Bob
Book characterizes "Bob" as a generally benevolent guy, although it
acknowledges the evil BOB. Among notable BobsI A "Bob" is thanked on Julee
Cruise's Floating Into The Night LP; There is a church of Bob, a.k.a. the
Church of the Subgenius; Drugstore Cowboy, which stars Matt Dillon as a
junkie named Bob, also features both Heather (Annie) Graham (as Nadine!!)
and Grace Zabriskie (as Bob's mother!!) in its cast, finally, there
is Bob Barker, the game-show host who decided to stop dying his hair and
let it turn naturally white (!!). Also, in Amherst, Nova Scotia at the
turn of the 19th century, a young girl named Esther Cox was legendary for
her claims of disturbances by a poltergeist (one that set fire to her barn)
that she called Bob.
26. The Little Man From Another Place: In Nicholas Roeg's Don't Look
Now, Donald Sutherland (grieving over the death of his daughter) pursues a
malevolent dwarf in a red suit. As well, his wife is named Laura, and the
movie's film editor, Graeme Clifford, directed an episode of TP (2005)
27. Venus and Saturn: The statue (presumably of Venus) and the model
of Saturn in the dream sequence may refer to the myth of Saturn, who killed
his children. However, Venus was the daughter of Jupiter, not Saturn. It has
been suggested (by RJG) that BOB=Saturn=bad god, Leland=Jupiter=good god,
Laura=Venus=daughter of good god. Also, BOB refers to his victim's as his
children, therefore making "Jupiter",the son of "Saturn" as well as the
father of "Venus"
28. Talking backwards: apparently a talent known to Michael
Anderson, which was apprently taught to the rest of the actors in the red
room scenes.
29. The floor in the dream sequence was seen in Eraserhead.The red
drapes are reminiscent of the red curtains used in the titles to the biblical
epic movie The Robe. This may have also inspired the blue velvet curtains
used in the opening titles of Blue Velvet.
(From 1003)
30. Madeleine Ferguson: A reference to Vertigo, in which Judy (Kim Novak)
posed as the "dead" Madeleine. As well, Jimmy Stewart's character was named
Scottie Ferguson, giving Madeleine her surname. In Vertigo, Scottie makes Judy
dye her hair blonde to look like Madeleine, a la James making Maddy up like
Laura to catch the killer.) One scene in this movie, in which Scottie is
momentarily confused as to whether he is with Judy or Madeleine, shows this by
having the room spin around them as they embrace, as with Leland/BOB's death
hold on Maddy.The other, fairly _obvious_ reference is probably the only
instance of "identical cousins", namely the main characters from "The Patty Duke
Show".
31. "Johnny doesn't know what day it is": A reference, no doubt, to the
Who's epic "Tommy". Perhaps written in anticipation of a storyline where
Johnny is revealed as a savant?
32. The Bookhouse: There's a posssible connection with a native god
named Bukwus or Bukus(RJG), or even the Roman god Bacchus (JP).If anybody
has anything more to add, please give me a shout.
33. The dream soul: has anybody with a knowledge of Blackfoot
culture been able to trace this legend? I'm not doubting its existence, but
would like to know more.
(From 1004)
34. Jacoby's sunglasses: Count Floyd on SCTV sported Ray-Ban
Wayfarer versions of the same glasses, suitable for 3-D viewing. However,
3-D glasses are Blue-Red, while Jacoby's glasses are Red-Blue. Perhaps the
Dr. can "see deeper" into people with his glasses on.
35. Gordon Cole: A minor character in BIlly Wilder's Sunset
Boulevard, one of David Lynch's all-time favourite movies. (CN and DGP)
36. Phillip Michael Gerard: See note # 12.
37. Bob Lydecker: See note #4.
38. Waldo: See note #4. Also, "The Avengers" had an episode that hinged
on a talking bird or group of talking birds.
39. Hank's Domino: I'm not sure about this one; any suggestions?
40. Owls: The first sighting of an owl in TP was in 1004, when Donna
and James went to where they had buried the necklace. An owl hooted above,
startling the two. There have been brief mentions in this newsgroup of the
fact that according to Whitley Streiber's "Communion", the experience of being
abducted by aliens (or whatever) is often erased by the "covering" memory
of a giant owl.
(From 1005)
41. ITL: While Hank reunites with Norma, Shelly is watching ITL.
Montana is attacking Chet, and Jared is tied up with a blue sash in his
mouth, a la Blue Velvet.
42. "The Third Man": A possible reference to the movie The Third Man,
in which the "third man" (seen carrying off a dead body) turns out to be the
"victim" himself, thus causing some to believe that Laura was not really
dead, and disguised as Maddy.
43. "Into The Night": See note #19.
(From 1006)
44. Cooper's whistling: The tune Cooper blows on his whistle is the flying
saucer's tone in Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. Possible foreshadowing of
the alien stuff?
45. Audrey spying on Battis through the slats in the closet door: Kyle
MacLachlan did the same thing in Blue Velvet.
46. Mr. Neff (Catherine Martell's insurance salesman): A reference to
Walter Neff, an insurance salesman in Billy Wilder's RDouble IndemnityS.
(CN)
47. Barney and Fred (Coop and Ed's secret IDs): 'nuff said.
48. Hester Prynn: As Blackie notes, the woman in "The Scarlet Letter".
49. The cherry stem: TP writer Harley Peyton once claimed that his
ex-girlfriend could actually do this.
(From 1007)
50. Queen of Diamonds: The card that triggered Raymond Shaw
(Laurence Harvey) to kill in The Manchurian candidate. At one point, Rosie
(Janet Leigh) wore a large version of the card at a costume party.
51. "Such stuff as dreams are made of": More Shakespeare,from The Tempest,
Ac IV, Sc I, line 155. The speaker, Prospero, has just presented a play in which all the
actors were spirits (which he had the power to command) and he had become so
caught up in it that he almost forgot that some spirits were plotting to kill
him. He tells the spirit actors to disperse and makes a very famous speech in
which he says that, just as the spirits disappear, so is human life and all the
world transitory. It goes on very poetically for a number of lines and ends
with: "We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded
with a sleep." (BM) Actually, this is much more lyrical than its actual use in
Twin Peaks: the speaker is Ben Horne, just before his tryst with the "new girl".
Just another sign of Horne's pretensiousness, I guess (DGP).
52."Who Shot Agent Cooper?": Mark Frost has been quoted as saying
"We were poking a little bit of fun at the 'Who shot J.R.' syndrome. Of course,
he's wearing a bulletproof vest. I wasn't trying to present a mystery."
SEASON TWO
(from 2001)
53. The Waiter (a.k.a. Senor Droolcup): Another example of Lynch's
tendency towards long, drawn-out, slooooow scenes. The Dell Mibbler scene
is far more excruciating example of this, as noted by many
netters. These scenes are especially agonizing at the tensest cliff-hanger
moments, like right here.
54. The Giant: Not entirely sure. Giants are common in most
mythologies, but does anybody know the exact source of this giant? Lynch
himself said that Carel Struycken was cast as the Giant just because he saw
him one day (DP). My own theory is that since Michael Anderson, the actor
who plays the LMFAP, was in jail for drug posession at the time of the
filming of 2000, the Giant was cast to replace him (DGP). However, I have
been wrong before.
55. "A man in a smiling bag": A product of Lynch's days in Philadelphia,
where he lived near a morgue.
56. The reporter at the site of the burnt sawmill is Mark Frost in an
uncredited role.
57. Leland's white hair: See note #25.
(From 2002)
58. When Shelly and Bobby are parked in Major Briggs' Lincoln, the
"Audrey's Dance" music is playing. Bobby tells Shelly to change the station,
and the music abruptly stops, switching to a blues song. A similar trick was
used in 1001, and may be a cinematic allusion to Diva (1982), where the
"incidental" music became part of the foreground action.
59. Major Briggs' space transmissions: A few may recall the series
Project: UFO from the late '70s (around the time of Close Encounters), which
I believe was based on Project Bluebook.
60. "Just You And I": an article in British GQ suggested that TP is an
attempt to combine every TV series from the past. In that case, James' song
near the end of the show may be an homage to Rick Nelson's songs at the end
of the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Or maybe not.
(From 2003)
61. "She's ready for her close-up now": A paraphrasing of
Gloria Swanson's most famous line in "Sunset Boulevard" (see note #35):
"I'm ready for my close-up now, Mr. DeMille." (CN)
(From 2004)
62. Judge Sternwood: The character who hires Philip Marlowe in "The
Big Sleep" is named General Sternwood (CN).
63. Darryl Lodwick: An overzealous prosecutor in "Anatomy of A
Murder" is named Mitchell Lodwick.
(From 2005)
64. Mr. Racine (Leo's Lawyer): A reference to Lawrence Kasdan's "Body
Heat" in which William Hurt plays a seedy lawyer in a movie inspired by
"Double Indemnity" (See note #46) (CN). (Also, Racine -in TP- is played by
Van Dyke Parks, the avante-garde composer-arranger who worked with
Beach Boy Brian Wilson (DGP))
(From 2006)
65. "Getting To Know You": Rodgers and Hammerstein, from "The King
And I"
(From 2007)
66. "Rockin' Back Inside My Heart"/"The World Spins": See note # 19.
67. The White Horse: Death, or Heroin, for sure, but probably not Troy,
Laura Palmer's pony. According to the secret diary, Troy was brown or reddish-
brown.
(From 2008)
68. "Surrey With The Fringe On Top": More Rodgers and Hammerstein,
this time from "Oklahoma!"
(From 2009)
69. "Leland, the time has come for you to seek the path.": The "clear
light" is constantly referred to as the first step in the ascension to a life-
after-death, and is common to many religions. However, the "void and
cloudless sky" seems to be from the Tibetan Book Of The Dead.
70. "There's more in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in
our philosphy": Hamlet (ac I:sc V, lines 166-167) in response to the
discovery of his father's ghost. In this case, Cooper might not be the Hamlet,
but Truman is definitely the bewildered Horatio.
(From 2010)
71. "Waldorf Salad": This may be stretching a bit, but I honestly
believe this is a reference (as before; see note #16) to Fawlty Towers,
which based a whole episode on Basil not knowing what this was.
72. Mountie King: King was the name of Sergeant Preston's dog.
73. The White Lodge: I am grateful to Jerry Boyajian
for the explanation of the White Lodge. Apparently, in "The Devil's Guard"
(a.k.a. "Ramsden") (by Talbot Mundy?), the White Lodge is a secret order that
tries to create good, of which the Dalai Lama is a member. (I am also grateful
to Janet M. Swisher for printing this fact in "Twin Peaks Frequently Answered
Questions").
(From 2011)
74. The Black Lodge/"The Dweller On The Threshold": When I first saw
this episode, I immediately thought of the "Mirror, Mirror" episode of Star
Trek. In keeping with the theory that TP=every bit of pop culture ever made
(see note #60), and given Cooper's pure goodness, an "evil Cooper" sequence
was inevitable.
75. Roger Hardy at the RR: The only purpose of this scene is, of course,
a MOD SQUAD REUNION!!! (sort of; apparently Michael Cole wasn't available
for Mountie King or some other such role). Not a true reference, but I wanted
to mention it.
76. James and Evelyn Marsh: I don't know what other people on the
network thought of this arc (most probably hated it), but I liked it, in a
strange way. To my mind, the sequence resembled nothing so much as a
James Dean movie, thus bringing James' character to its logical fruition. The
dialogue in these scenes ("It's not the bike, it's just where it can take me...
Sometimes I just go down the highway blind"-Loved it! pure camp.) seemed
stilted and contrived on purpose. The existentially-depressed-James may
have gotten a little annoying, but I thought it wasn't nearly as bad as some
people did.
77. "Now is the winter of our discontent...": The first lines from
Shakespeare's Richard III, which certainly aptly describes Ben's situation.
(From 2012)
78. Nicky-as-the-devil: (see note #60) In this case, "The Omen."
79."O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she..." Romeo
and Juliet, Ac I: Sc V, lines 46-49.
(From 2013)
80. The Mark: Major Briggs' tattoo resembles (as many have pointed
out) a variation on the radiation symbol.
81. Spaceships and Owls: See note #40.
82. "The Dorritt Home For Boys": The Dickensian nature of the "Little
Nicky" plot (Orphans, lost lineage,the revelation of hidden origins,
misfortune and serendipity in general) naturally calls for a suitably
Dickensian name for the orphanage.
83. Ben's Civil War fantasy: Dr. Jacoby's explanation of Ben's delusion
(re-enacting a failure to fight against his own inadeqacies) seems plausible,
but why the Civil War? Ben had never before shown any sign of being a Civil
War buff (as well, doesn't it seem especially strange that the owner of the