One thing I remember from my original viewing of Twin Peaks in the early 1990s was the unexpected long shots of things like trees, traffic lights, and the ceiling fan at the Palmer house. Prior to Twin Peaks, I hadn’t seen these kinds of shots in a television show. These lingering images added a sense of mystery and created a pace I long for in today’s busy world. This Setting the Stage article examines the Palmer’s ceiling fan as seen in all three seasons of the show and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.
The ceiling fan appears in seven episodes throughout the series including the Pilot, 1002, 1006 (a different fan), 2002, 2007 and 2010. It also plays a key part in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and we see it return in The Missing Pieces. It must have been considered important enough in 1991 as it received it’s own Star Pics card (#61).
The back of the card only lists that it appeared only in the Pilot and first season, most likely because the cards were produced before the series ended. I love how the card explains the significance of the fan since we learn much later that the fan and the appearance of Bob in Laura’s bedroom are connected.
SEASONS 1 AND 2
The first appearance of the ceiling fan is in the Pilot Episode when Sarah Palmer climbs the stairs looking for her daughter who won’t answer her calls.
Sarah checks Laura’s bedroom and another room down the hall.
Unable to find Laura, she descends the stairs to make some phone calls. This image will be seen multiple times throughout the series.
The scene cuts to the first close up shot of the ceiling fan. We’ll get additional close up shots later in the film.
When Sheriff Harry Truman visits the Palmer House with Doc Hayward, there is a brief shot of the ceiling fan as seen from the bottom of the stairs. Sarah hears Deputy Hawk and her husband Leland in Laura’s bedroom.
Toward the end of the Pilot, Sarah is seen resting on the couch. We catch a glimpse from her dreams of the darkened staircase from earlier in the episode. This is the final appearance of the fan in the Pilot.
In Episode 1002, we see a darkened image of Sarah Palmer descending the staircase with the fan while Special Agent Cooper dreams at The Great Northern Hotel.
In Episode 1006, we see Maddy Ferguson quietly walking down the stairs with a different fan in the background. This scene was shot on a set versus the Pilot Episode which was shot at a home in Everett, Washington. As you can see, the fan is a completely different color. This is the only appearance of this particular fan.
Special Agent Cooper dreams again in Episode 2002 of the staircase. This time, a slow motion of image of Sarah running down the stairs is shown just before an out-of-focus image of Bob is seen.
A close up image of the fan from the Pilot episode is shown again in Episode 2007. This is seen just after Sarah Palmer slithers down the stairs and into the living room.
The final appearance of the fan in Season 2 is from Episode 2010. This brief recycled shot from the Pilot Episode is shown just before food is placed on the table at the Hayward House.
TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me returned to the home in Everett, Washington for many interior and exterior shots. The first time we see the fan (and it’s shadow) is just before Laura Palmer exits her bedroom.
In a scene reminiscent of her mother, Laura runs down the stairs on her way to visit Harold Smith.
After turning from Harold’s house, Laura is seen leaning against a wall along the stairs. An image of the fan is superimposed over her as Bob tells her he “wants to taste through her mouth.”
The fan is called out by the Grandson when his grandmother and him confront Laura outside the Double R Diner. He tells Laura that the man looking for the book with the pages torn out is “under the fan now.”
As Laura cautiously explores her house after hearing the Grandson’s words, there is a unique shot looking directly up at the ceiling fan.
Later, as Leland Palmer enters Laura’s bedroom to apologize, we can see the ceiling fan behind his shoulder.
We can see the fan as he crosses then leaves her bedroom.
As Laura dreams, we catch a glimpse of the pull cord for the ceiling fan. I know it’s not the actual fan but it’s part of it.
Another look at the ceiling fan from the iconic shot from the bottom of the stairs is seen just before Leland Palmer opens his bedroom door.
After opening the bedroom door, Leland switches on the fan.
A close up shot of the fan soon follows. The sound catches the attention of Laura Palmer who is covered up in bed. She knows that Bob may soon appear at her bedroom window.
The next morning, the fan is seen in the background as Leland Palmer attempts to speak with his daughter about the previous night. She knows who he really is and avoids him at all costs.
The pull cord is shown again as Leland watches Laura descends the staircase.
THE MISSING PIECES
The Missing Pieces offers a few additional shots of the ceiling fan. Similar shots appear in the theatrical release.
SEASON 3 – PART 11
The final time we see the ceiling fan is in Season 3 on Showtime. In Part 11, Deputy Hawk checks on Sarah Palmer after she has an incident at a local grocery store. Two shots of the moving fan are used. The first is seen through the bedroom window (assuming this could have been Laura’s room). The second is a close up shot of the spinning fan blades. I was delighted to see the fan make a brief cameo in Season 3 since it played such an important role throughout most of the series.
Related Articles:
- Vacant Peaks – The Palmer House – Part 1
- Vacant Peaks – The Palmer House – Part 2
- Vacant Peaks – The Palmer House – Part 3
- Vacant Peaks – The Palmer House – Part 4
- Setting the Stage – Palmer House Exteriors
