Thwarted

[poliphilo]

I was watching a movie last night and about five minutes before the end the disc started to stutter, then seized up completely. I tried everything I could think of to get beyond the impasse, but nothing worked. It seems like the end of the film just isn't there.

I've never had this happen before. Usually when a disc is a dud it announces the fact from the word "go".

The movie was Bunuel's Diary of a Chambermaid. Jeanne Moreau is a hard-faced city girl who gets the better of a village full of fascists, rapists, liars and cheats by being smarter than they are. At least I think she does, but how can I be sure? The last I saw of her she was making an advantageous marriage to the thoroughly despicable colonel-next-door...

But what happens next?

I seem to remember a story (maybe it was by Thurber) in which a guy reads a mystery novel only to find that the final pages are missing. It becomes an obsession with him to discover the ending. He scours libraries, second hard book shops, all to no avail. Finally- probably when he's on his death bed- he learns that the author of the book died without finishing it.

Well, I'm not in danger of developing that sort of thwarted obsession with Chambermaid. Other copies are available. The ending is out there.

Even so-

Even so, I've now got this itch that needs scratching.

Comments

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

Some thoughts:

- I suppose you've already checked the disk and the holder for dust/lint? One small thing can cause a seize-up

- While you are waiting, write us your own ending and take bets on the real one...

- I'm sorry!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes I hoiked the thing out of the player, gave it a good polish and put it back and it still wouldn't go.

Well, I'd like to think she divorces the horrible old colonel in short order and walks off with half his money, but since there was only a few minutes left to run I don't suppose there's time for all that to happen.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

I had such pity for you that I went out and searched for the entire movie plot, but it was not to be found.

Maybe she shoots him.

Are you going to order another copy just for the five minutes?

(I recommend The Incredible Adventures of Wallace and Gromit.)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I probably won't buy it. I'll rent it from Tesco.

As it happens I caught one of the Wallace and Gromit films just the other night- the one with Wendolene and Sean the sheep.

[cdpoint.livejournal.com]

The butler did it.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Well yes, actually he did, (the manservant anyway) but I'd got past the point where the police come and take him off.

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

It wasn't the same type of movie, but the same thing happened with Shrek II when I watched it at my folks' house. Check for fingerprints, dust, lint...and good luck.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I couldn't see any lint or dust or fingerprints or anything, but just to be sure I gave it a good rub down. I think there's got to be something fundamentally wrong with the disc.

[zen-punk.livejournal.com]

Ah, but what about scratches? Those will stop a player in it's tracks. If things like that happen with other discs, it could be a dirty lens on the player. That's a fairly simple fix - pop the cover off the DVD player, and swab the lens(little jewel-looking bit) with a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol, then dry it off with the other end(gently, of course.) Most people are squeamish about mucking with electronics, though, so I'll understand if you'd rather not do that personally. If you were to still have problems with the player after cleaning the lens, well, DVD players are cheap nowadays :)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think it has to be the disc not the player. It was just that one section of the disc that wouldn't play. I skipped back a few sequences and those played perfectly well. Still, I'll give it another spin and see what happens.

Thanks for the advice on cleaning the lens. If there's any problem with other discs I'll give that a try.

Yeah, I'm always amazed at how cheap DVD players are.