Ten Little Details I Love About Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me

If you’ve been following Twin Peaks Blog for the past two years you’ll know how much I adore David Lynch’s feature film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.  After debuting at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1992, New Line Cinema released the film in the U.S. on August 28. I’ve written extensively about many aspects from this film, from stellar performances by Sheryl Lee and Ray Wise to highlighting numerous film locations throughout Washington state (and a few in California). As my neverending research continues, I thought I’d share 10 little details that make this film extra special to me.

LYNCH ON LYNCH

In the essential “Lynch on Lynch,” author Chris Rodley asked David about his reasons was for making the film (page 184):

“I couldn’t get myself to leave the world of Twin Peaks. I was in love with the character of Laura Palmer and her contradictions: radiant on the surface but dying inside. I wanted to see her live, move and talk. I was in love with that world and I hadn’t finished with it. But making the movie wasn’t just to hold onto it; it seemed that there was more stuff that could be done. But the parade had gone by. It was over. During the year that it took to make the film, everything changed. That’s the way it happens, sometimes. And then there’s this thing about turning on people. It’s so natural, in a way. It happens to so many people.”

While some critics and fans panned the film when it was originally released, more than 25 years later it’s now considered one of Lynch’s finest.

Reevaluating the film in 2017, Guardian critic  Martyn Conterio wrote, “A quarter of a century on, the film is being rightly rediscovered by fans and critics as Lynch’s unsung masterwork. It took a long time, and it took its toll on its maker, but Fire Walk With Me has finally come in from the cold.”

TEN LITTLE DETAILS I LOVE ABOUT TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME

I’m inexplicably drawn to this film. It’s my favorite Lynch film, with The Straight Story a very close second. The 1992 release reminds me of a dreamy, late summer Sunday afternoon and every time I watch it, I’m wrapped up in its warm embrace.

AGENT SAM STANLEY’S BOW TIE

Costume designer Patricia Norris made a fantastic choice giving Special Agent Sam Stanley a bow tie. Just look at the little black and white diamonds on a red background.

Interestingly, Cheri Reed who was the Set Costumer would later go on to design costumes for Christopher Nolan’s Inception (a film I saw eight times in theatres).

CABLE BENDS STEEL AND BOWLING CHAMPION

We all know that Deer Meadow Sheriff Cable can bend steel with his bare hands.

But take a closer look at his office. He also appears to be a champion bowler with a trophy proudly displayed on his bookshelf next to his desk. I wonder if he bowls in a league. Any guesses about his team’s name?

SAY GOODBYE TO JACK

When Special Agents Desmond and Stanley visit Hap’s Diner, they speak with Jack (played by C.H. Evans). He’s wearing a name tag that says, “Say Goodbye to Jack” with the “Hello” crossed out.  I’m not going any further with this; there’s nothing good about it.

LET’S DANCE

When the long, lost Phillip Jeffries enters the FBI Office, check out his shoes. Looks like David Bowie put on his red shoes and danced the blues.

In his deleted scene at the Palm Deluxe Hotel, you can see the tips of his red shoes while he waits to enter the scene.

LICKING FINGERS

The “Girl Talk” scene at Donna Hayward’s house opens with Laura Palmer licking her fingers. Why? There was more to the scene as described in this article.

The scene would have included Eileen Hayward checking on the girls before they started talking about the sweetness of James.

EILEEN HAYWARD rolls through the living room in her wheelchair and makes a quick check of the nut supply. 

All we got in the theatrical cut was Laura licking her fingers.

PALMER’S KITCHEN

As Laura returns home with the framed image from Mrs. Tremond, she slowly looks around her home. The camera gives a brief glimpse at the Palmer’s kitchen.

It’s literally the same kitchen from the Pilot Episode and something rarely seen in the series. A couple of appliance upgrades took place since filming of the Pilot took place on in March 7, 1989. The footage from Fire Walk With Me was most likely shot around September 25, 1991.

Today, the kitchen looks completely different. Special thank you to the wonderful Mary Reber (a.k.a. Mrs. Tremond from Part 18) for her hospitality.

“SPRING FORMAL” AT THE ROADHOUSE

When Laura Palmer visits The Roadhouse, check out the painting behind her. It’s titled, “Spring Formal” and was painted in 1958 by American visual artist Norman Yeckley (1914-1994).

You will also see this painting at the Double R Diner set.

RAINIER ALE

After the wild night in Partyland and The Power and the Glory bar, the camera pans across the ground dotted with cigarettes. Two beer bottles from Rainier Brewing Company are included in the mix.

Rainier Beer was born in Seattle, Washington in 1878 before Washington was even a state. Following in his father’s footsteps, founder Andrew Hemrich built the Seattle Brewing & Malting Company. Today, they are known as the Rainier Brewing Company, named after the majestic mountain overlooking Andrew’s hometown.

RAILROAD TRESTLE

In an intense chase scene, Mike the One Armed Man is seen driving erratically behind Leland and Laura Palmer. At one point, he passes under a railroad trestle. Today, that trestle, which crossed Reinig Road in Snoqualmie, is long gone.

It is the same trestle that Ronette Pulaski crossed in the Pilot Episode. Constructed in 1916, this bridge was part of “the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific’s Everett Branch (CMStP&P), once an important source of timber and related freight on the railroad. The CMStP&P was better known as simply the Milwaukee Road.”

The railroad once extended toward the Snoqualmie Mill (a.k.a. Packard Saw Mill) which was located less than a mile away (thank you to fellow Bookhouse Boy Jerod Lyon for the directional update).

The trestle was removed sometime in the mid-1990s.

HOW TO SPEAK GERMAN

Late in the film, Sarah Palmer is seen fast asleep with a book by Malone titled “How to Speak German.”

Mike Malone was the On Set Dresser for the 1992 film. He also played one of the FBI Agents with a cast while Agent Desmond was making a bust in Fargo, North Dakota.

Malone would return in Part 13 from Season 3 as the Man in Urinal wearing a seersucker suit.

He also served as the On Set Dresser for Season 3 and can be seen several times in the Behind the Scenes videos.

Do you have a favorite detail about this film? Please share in the comments below.