In his review Hotangen wrote (1/30/15):
"BTW, the secret Iris guarded is somewhat mysterious. Being referred to as Boy's "purity" has misled today's viewers, but the audience of 1934, especially the males, would have known that Boy had a disease, at that time incurable and considered so shameful that it was spoken of only in confidence with one's doctor."
But the gist of the film is the "unspeakable crime" Boy committed. Can't be murder; he served just a few years.
I haven't read the source book, but I'm speculating he was jailed for "unnatural acts." Homosexuality so shameful he self-defenestrated when his new wife found out.
In other words, this could be an Oscar Wilde situation (also used by Joyce Carol Oates in "The Falls.").
All in all a silly story.
But the gist of the film is the "unspeakable crime" Boy committed. Can't be murder; he served just a few years.
I haven't read the source book, but I'm speculating he was jailed for "unnatural acts." Homosexuality so shameful he self-defenestrated when his new wife found out.
In other words, this could be an Oscar Wilde situation (also used by Joyce Carol Oates in "The Falls.").
All in all a silly story.