On August 28, 1992, my favorite David Lynch film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, celebrates its 30th Anniversary. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve seen this film since my first viewing in October 1993, I’d be dead. It reminds me of a warm Sunday afternoon in late summer, with its mesmerizing visuals, emotionally charged performances and haunting jazz-infused score. For this anniversary, I’ve created a list of 30 things I love about this film.
JAZZY OPENING CREDITS
From the moment the blue-hued television snow danced on Teresa Banks’ 1974 Zenith Solid-State Chromacolor II television screen, I was hooked. During my first viewing I had no idea what was making the image jump around. It was an effective intro into a darker world. Even better was Angelo Badalamenti’s score.
SAXOPHONE OR TRUMPET
For four-years in the mid-1990s, I hosted a Sunday night radio program featuring jazz and blues. So the fact the soundtrack had a jazz-like vibe made my heart sing. The trumpet version of Badalamenti’s “Theme From Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me” is great. I particularly like the unreleased saxophone version that was shared in the “Fire Walk With Me” bundle in December 2011. Check out Twin Peaks Soundtrack Design‘s Ross Dudle’s mix of both the saxophone and trumpet tracks on Mixcloud.
SAM STANLEY’S MACHINE
Special Agent Sam Stanley is so proud of his “SPECIAL MACHINE.” The script from August 8, 1991 contains an exchange that I wish they would have kept in the film.
As Desmond is doing this, Stanley takes out his SPECIAL MACHINE. Desmond looks up from his work and notices.
STANLEY
Solved the Whiteman Case with this.
DESMOND
That’s what I heard.
STANLEY
No one could find those splinters without a machine like this. And no one has a machine like this.
DESMOND
That’s good.
I’m assuming the exchange between Desmond and Stanley was filmed, especially since Stanley gushing about his machine to Special Agent Cooper was included in The Missing Pieces. We all have that thing for which we are most proud. I do wish I could find the original prop (which may be a modified oscilloscope).
WHERE ARE YOU?
“OR-E-GON!” It’s the only way I say the state’s name today. The day I found the mural behind him was a good day.
ELEVATOR PAUSE
Please tell me I’m not the only one who waits a few seconds after an elevator door opens before I step out of it. I can’t be the only person who does this.
HOW MANY CHALFONTS?
Two Chalfonts.
I did love visiting the former Riverside Mobile Home Park in Snoqualmie, Washington.
LELAND’S REALIZATION
Ray Wise’s performance in this film is incredible. His emotional range was award-winning stuff, especially in this scene after Leland yells at Laura to “wash her hands.” The look that washes over him, paired with a train whistle drone in the background, moves me every time.
WASHING HANDS
Speaking of washing hands … this brief scene of Laura Palmer washing her hands was shot at a home in Everett, Washington.
Thank you to wonderful Mary Reber (Mrs. Tremond in Part 18 of Season 3) for tolerating me while I photographed the same bathroom in September 2019. It was like an out of body experience visiting the home. Mary is a blessing for what she has done for the Twin Peaks fans. Thank you!
MANY MYSTERIES
“Life is full of mysteries, Donna.” I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve quoted that line. Interestingly, it doesn’t appear in the script dated August 8, 1991. Lynch probably revised it on set.
CAPTIVATING EYES
This image of Teresa Banks’ eyes (as played by the late Pamela Gidley) captivates my soul. In the film, Agent Desmond stares at the portrait in her trailer. The script has a little more action which may or may not have been shot.
Desmond notices a picture hanging on the wall. Takes the picture down and looks at it thru his magnifying glass.
FAVORITE MISSING PIECE
I know The Missing Pieces were not part of the theatrical release in 1992, but I consider them as part of the film. This “Smash Up” scene with Norma Jennings (Peggy Lipton) and Big Ed Hurley (Everett McGill) may be one of my all-time favorites. It’s the distant music playing on the Chevrolet truck radio. It’s the secret rendezvous laced with heartfelt love. It’s so perfect. Peggy and Everett had such wonderful on-screen chemistry!
I shared my love of this scene on Twitter in April 2017. Peggy Lipton replied in the thread that she “loved doing it Cold night 2 am !!!!”
FINDING LIL
One of the best things to happen this anniversary year was finding the actress who played Lil the dancer. On screen, she is credited as Kimberly Ann Cole which is her grandmother’s name. In reality, she is Kim Bendheim. Fellow Bookhouse Boy Scott Ryan and I recorded a Red Room Podcast about how I found her and Scott’s conversation with Ms. Bendheim. Amazing!
IT’S DEER MEADOW, NOT DEERFIELD
I love everything that happens in Deer Meadow, Washington during the first 35 minutes of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.
I just wish Google and multiple online outlets would update their synopsis of the film. Many list the location as “Deerfield, Wash.” when it should be Deer Meadow. Get on it!
And why don’t we have a spinoff series yet? If Star Trek, Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead can have 10,191 spinoffs, surely we can revisit Deer Meadow.
BLANK FARTS
This line from Jacques Renault (Walter Olkewicz)! “I’m as blank as a fart.”
Walter said that they improvised dialogue in rehearsal, and if David liked it he kept it. At the 1998 Twin Peaks Fan Fest, he retold an interaction with Lynch about the line:
“You know, I asked, ‘I’m as blank as a fart! What does that mean?” He said, “I don’t know Walter. I don’t know what that means. I think it will mean different things to different people.’ So I said, “Well, what does it mean to me? I have to say it.” And he said, “I don’t know.” (Wrapped in Plastic, No. 37)
SPARKWOOD & 21
I loved we finally got to see the intersection of Sparkwood & 21 which was mentioned in the television series.
The real location was SE Reinig Road and 396th Drive SE in Snoqualmie, Washington. The stoplight was added for the scene.
I’VE ALREADY GONE PLACES
“See, I’ve already gone places. I just want to stay where I am.”
It’s another onset revision to Carl Rodd’s dialogue. Harry Dean Staton is the best and I’m glad he returned for Season 3.
BLUE WORLD QUESTIONS
Music was my gateway to Twin Peaks and Julee Cruise’s angelic voice still haunts my dreams nearly 30 years later. Her performance of “Questions in a World of Blue” still makes me cry.
HELL GOD BABY DAMN, NO!
“HELL GOD BABY DAMN, NO!”, Agent Jeffries (David Bowie) screams while surrounded by fellow FBI Agents. According to a post on Dugpa from October 2017, Adrian Belew, who toured with David Bowie, explained the phrase:
“Much thanks to Matthew Mathis for bringing to my attention this scene in Twin Peaks with David Bowie playing a character named Phillip Jeffries.
I hadn’t know of this scene until now, but it’s true the phrase David uses “hell god baby damn!” is something he got from me. Back in the early touring days of 1978-79 it was something I would jokingly shout now and then. David always loved it and tried to emulate it. “How is it, Ade, hell baby…?” He usually got it fouled up but eventually must have learned it because 11 years later when we first re-united for the 1990 tour it’s the first thing he said to me! By then I had forgotten all about it.”
WIND RIVER
For my birthday on September 17, 2019, I spent the day at Olallie State Park outside of North Bend, Washington. This place was used as filming locations for both Lynch’s 1992 film and Season 3 on Showtime.
The crew trekked across the Snoqualmie River in order to capture the scene, something I did that day too. This was one of my favorite film location articles to recap.
WHAT TIME IS IT? AND WHEN DO WE EAT?
“Agent Desmond. It’s 3:30 in the morning. Where are we going to sleep?
“We’re not. You and I are going to get some food.”
DR. HAYWARD’S SECRET MESSAGE
Another scene from The Missing Pieces I adore is when Dr. Hayward (Warren Frost) reads a secret message to Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee):
The Angels will return.
And when you see the one
that’s meant to help you,
You will weep with joy.
NO CREAMED CORN
This scene of the Little Man from Another Place eating creamed corn is why I do not eat creamed corn. My wife asked me the other night if I wanted any creamed corn and I shuttered just thinking about this scene. No creamed corn in this house!
LOG LADY’S WISDOM
When this kind of fire starts, it is very hard to put out.
The tender bows of innocence burn first
and the wind rises – then, all goodness is in jeopardy.
The exchange between Laura Palmer and the Log Lady was shot outside The Roadhouse Restaurant and Inn in Fall City, Washington. Such a beautiful moment.
THE ANGEL PICTURE
I swear I will find the original angel feeding children picture one day. This is my holy grail (pun intended) of Twin Peaks props to find. Fellow Bookhouse Boys and I are getting closer but it will be found. It’s this sort of thing that keeps the mystery going for me. To paraphrase Dr. Jacoby, “I realized this afternoon that my own personal investigation into Twin Peaks, I suspect, will be ongoing for the rest of my life.”
TREAT HIM RIGHT
As Leland and Laura pull into the service station, a “Young Mechanic” (played by James Parks) shares a warning about burning out the engine. In the film credits, he’s listed as Service Station Mechanic.
A YOUNG MECHANIC runs up to their car.
MECHANIC
Mr., Mr., you shouldn’t do that to your engine. You ought to take it easy, Mr., you’re going to burn your engine out.
James Parks is the son of Michael Parks who played Jean Renault in Season 2. You can really see the resemblance.
But it’s the red “Treat Him Right” sign that I look for every time I watch the film.
DUSK AT FAT TROUT
Dusk at the Fat Trout Trailer Park is gorgeous.
One of the earliest articles I wrote for Twin Peaks Blog professed my love of this scene. The colors from and the mysterious surrounding the scene are exceptional.
SHERYL LEE’S PERFORMANCE
Sheryl Lee’s performance in this film is astounding. The scene of her “weeping for joy” in the Red Room captures such a poignant moment. You can actually see tears running down her face.
As one reviewer put it, “Sheryl Lee deserves an Oscar nomination.” I couldn’t agree more.
Thank you to David Lynch, Bob Engels, the entire cast and crew of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me for 30 years of wonderful and strange memories. This film is a gem and I’m glad I will be obsessing over it for the next 30 years or more.
