Jacob's Ladder - Redux?

[Jan Klimkowski]

Magda - thank you for those highly insightful observations and responses.

Ultimately, there's no right or wrong here. This is Art in the sphere of MK-ULTRA.

I have watched Jacob's Ladder many times. It's a powerful, resonant, film.

My reaction to those deleted scenes is coloured by my knowledge of the film as edited and released.

While his Big Pharma Dr Gottlieb like friend(?) priest is offering to kill the demons for him who could refuse? Such a calming and reassuring friendly voice. Better living through chemistry he says. Said the spider to the fly. As he places the glasses on Gideon's bible. I swear. Would I lie to you? It is scientifically proven. Be reassured. The man in the white coat is in control. Under the watchful if ironic presence of Mother Mary (or some lesser saint?) he gives communion to him via liquid wafer under the tongue. I keep looking at the seedy hotel room and thinking of the importance of set and setting for such a journey.

These scenes change the viewer's perception of The Chemist character in Jacob's Ladder as fundamentally as the restored river scenes in Apocalypse Now Redux change our understanding of the Sheen/Willard character.

Drip. Drip. Drip. Chinese water torture. Or the Jordan river where he is born again? Will any thing of him remain after this journey? Or is he erased. Tabula rasa. On every level. Mind body and soul. The chopper has landed. Welcome back to the seedy hotel room in the seedy hotel where society's useless forgotten men are cast out of paradise. Where nothing has changed. Or maybe not.

Ewen Cameron's tabula rasa.

The arrogance of the MK-ULTRA scientists, knowing what is best, believing they have the right - like Tyrell in Blade Runner.

I can, therefore I will.

Does Jacob/Robbins comes to know the nature of Man through a chemical Trip in a seedy hotel room with Stuttering Sid's compromised apprentice?