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The Theory Of Quentin Tarantino's Hidden Universe
They aren't easy to pick out, but if you look hard enough you can spot Tarantino's 'scratch beneath the surface' world. Has the creative director set his films in a separate, parallel realm, or is it just one big coincidence?
When it comes to the weird and wonderful world of Quentin Tarantino’s movies, a theory has developed over the years that speculates just that……..that collectively they represent a separate, parallel world to our own. A world where the characters from Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Basterds, True Romance and even Death Proof all intertwine.
In this ‘Tarantino world’, people are obsessed with pop-culture, eat Big Kahuna burgers and smoke Red Apple cigarettes. However, rather than being a separate world, it’s seems that this ‘Tarantino Universe’ is more of an alternate reality; all stemming from Quentin’s alternative ending to World War Two in Inglorious Basterds.
Before I get too far into this I should just point out that this is not my own theory, I’m certainly not clever enough for that. Merely a culmination of many a misspent hour reading various theories and articles.
Ok, so given that Tarantino has talked openly in the past about possibly giving them their own prequel movie, many will already be aware that Pulp Fiction’s Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Reservoir Dog’s Mr Blonde, Vic Vega (Michael Madsen), are in fact brothers in this alternate reality. According to many hawk-eyed theorists however, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
In Reservoir Dogs, Harvey Keitel’s Mr White discusses doing ‘jobs’ with an Alabama; the very same Alabama who finds the love of her life, Clarence, in True Romance.
And it’s the Tarantino written True Romance, which holds the key to this alternate universe. As Alabama & Clarence attempt to unload a mountain of stolen cocaine, they turn to the big shot movie producer Lee Donowitz. Lee Donowitz, son of Donny Donowitz, otherwise known as The Bear Jew (Eli Roth) from Inglorious Basterds. In a fitting evolution, the son of the man who helped end WW2 by gunning down Adolf Hitler in a cinema has gone on to be a movie maker himself, aptly producing movies about war (Coming Home in a Body Bag).
So, as it becomes clearer that all these characters are intertwined; it also becomes clear that they live in a world where WW2 did not end with an under siege Hitler dying in a Berlin bunker. They live in a world where Hitler was machine-gunned to death in a Parisian cinema-come-incinerator. Due to this monumental change in modern history, a softening in people’s attitudes toward ultra-violence has also occurred, and, a shift in the way people view popular culture has also transpired.
Since 1944 the characters of this world have been brought up in the knowledge that the entire Nazi hierarchy was taken out in one act of extreme violence, and has in turn, slightly desensitised the way they view violence. Mr Blonde casually carving the ear off a police officer in Reservoir Dogs, and Jules & Vincent’s reasonably casual reaction to blowing off Marvin’s face in Pulp Fiction are classic examples.
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The fact that the most significant moment in modern history now took place in a movie theatre also provides an explanation as to why everyone is so obsessed with popular culture and movies. The movie theatre itself has become one of the most significant locations in modern history and has become the basis for a far greater importance being bestowed upon the world of movies, music and comic books.
So far so good, all seems to fit into place nicely, but what about Kill Bill and Jackie Brown I hear you ask? Where do they fit in to this universe?
Well, Kill Bill, along with From Dusk Till Dawn are slightly different, both are set in second a world behind this alternate reality, they’re effectively Tarantino movies within movies. In other words, they are films that Clarence & Alabama would watch at the cinema in their world. This concept makes more sense when you consider Mia Wallace’s conversation with Vincent Vega at the Jack Rabbit Slims restaurant in Pulp Fiction. When you think about it, Mia’s failed TV pilot, ‘Fox Force Five’ sounds suspiciously like Bill’s team of assassins from Kill Bill. (While we’re on the subject of Jack Rabbit Slims; Steve Buscemi, the man who refuses to tip in Reservoir Dogs, ironically turns up as a waiter, nice little touch).
As far as Jackie Brown goes, while containing all the classic trademarks of a Tarantino movie, sharp dialogue, eclectic soundtrack, etc.; it’s an adaption of an Elmore Leonard novel and as such isn’t part of this alternate world.
So, this is where we are up to so far, which brings us back nicely to Django Unchained. Given that it’s apparently set in Texas in 1858, any potential links to the mostly modern day, alternate reality, will be tricky for Quentin. Who knows though, maybe Django turns out to be Marsellus Wallace’s great great Granddad, or maybe the plantation produces tobacco for the Red Apple cigarette company.
However discreet or obvious any links may be, I’m confident that given Tarantino has seemingly spent his whole career painstakingly putting together this ‘scratch beneath the surface world’, then I’m sure there will be a link or two in there somewhere; this time round however, given the setting, it might just take a few extra views to spot them.
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COMMENTS
Excellent insight and read.
I read somewhere that Django and Brunhilda are supposed to be the great-great grandparents of a certain John Shaft (her surname in the movie is Von Shaft)
Isn't there also something about Michael Parks playing the same character in both Kill Bill and From Dusk Till Dawn?
Does the alt universe explain why Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick and Titch is referred to as Dave Dee Dozy Beaky MITCH and Titch in Death Proof??
Great piece, that. Loved it.
Pala- He plays the same character in the Grindhouse films in addition to Kill Bill and From Dusk Till Dawn.
Great read. It's also worth mentioning that there's been some cross-pollination of QT's world into Robert Rodriguez's half of the Grindhouse double bill: Red Apple cigarettes, Dr Dakota Block, who turns out to be the daughter of Michael Parks' Earl McGraw.
Something else that came to mind: Jasper, the sleazy hick who owns the Dodge Challenger ("Is it a porno?") is played by the same actor, and has been rumoured to be the same character, as the trucker who wakes Uma Thurman's Bride from her coma in Kill Bill vol 1.
That's Jasper, the sleazy hick who owns the Dodge Challenger in Death Proof...
There's the Tarantino Movie (M1) universe, then there's the Tarantino Movie in a Movie (M2) universe. M2 films are movies that the characters from M1 would see in M1 theaters. And like you said, the generally agreed upon point of divergence is Hitler's death. Tarantino says that some characters can even move between the universes (The Wolf of Pulp Fiction, and Sheriff Earl McGraw from the Grindhouse films and Kill Bill.) But really, the only that that necessitates this (so far) is that Tarantino insists Death Proof is an M1 film. If he decided to make it an M2 film, then everything would align properly. Jasper and Sheriff McGraw would both be in only M2 films. You can find a really good timeline that melds Tarantino's and Robert Rodrigeuz's definitely-connected films together over here: http://www.reddit.com/r/FanTheories/comments/163nep/the_tarantinorodriguez_verse/ And in general you can real a lot more about such fan theories at: http://www.reddit.com/r/FanTheories/
Josh- Thanks for that, never seen Grindhouse, need to get round to it one day
Excellent read. Thanks for the research work.
Execellent read!
Good read Jonny - had to have a couple of goes to appreciate the content - excellent
Great article! I also heard that there was a plan to make a film with the Vega brothers. This will no doubt be scrapped, but if this had been released instead of Jackie Brown people's heads would have exploded!
Django Unchained is set in 1858, but there are some possible family connections with later Tarantino characters. 'Crazy Craig Koons' appears on the Wanted poster which could relate to Captain Koons, as played by Christopher Walken in Pulp Fiction. One of the main characters is called Dr. King Schultz. In 'Kill Bill Vol 2' we see the lonely grave of Paula Schultz. The dates of 1823-1898 puts Paula in her 30's during this film, suggesting a family connection.
More connections here; http://www.imdb.com/list/dDm4plh_u6s/
The German connection between Django and Inglorious has got to be significant somehow.
I just re-watched Pulp Fiction for the first time in about ten years, and thought I'd read up on the Tarantino-verse. There's a connection between Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained that's listed on ^^Leighton's IMDB link and that I found on http://www.slashfilm.com/heres-how-django-unchained-plays-into-the-tarantino-universe/ : Christopher Walken plays Captain Koons in Pulp Fiction, and there's a Crazy Craig Koons listed on Django's wanted poster for the Smitty Bacall Gang.
Is Quentin's universe a place where no one says, 'No Quentin"?
Mr. White's real name in "Reservoir Dogs" is Larry, and Christian Slater's character in "True Romance" is Clarence. Clarence is, sometimes, not often, shortened to Larry. So... Mr. White and Clarence, instead of being with the same woman, are the same person, maybe?
Nice theory but that's all it is. I love Tarantino movies. He's a very skilled writer and director but there is no way he could have come up with an 'alternative universe' from the start. It's just not possible. People are reading far too much in to this... The whole premise of a Tarantion movie is that 'we' the audience are obsessed with pop culture and with his success in the film industry Tarantino himself has become synonymous with popular culture. As a result it makes sence that he's simply refencing his own work and utilising undeveloped characters that were previously axed. It's more of a wink to the audience, an 'in joke' that only the true fans will get. Anyway...There's just far too many holes in this theory for it to work for me. There are too many films that just don't fit. For example Four Rooms, From Dusk Till Dawn, and the fact that Inglorious Bastards and Django Unchained are remakes. Not to mention his side projects, are we to included CSI episode 'Grave Danger' in this universe? If Tarantino has indeed designed an 'alternative universe' (or a mythology built around his charactors) then it must be as an after thought to the success of his earlier work.
In Django (this is not my own theory but pretty much confirmed) there is a TINY connection to pulp fiction; One of the outlaws of the Smitty Bacall gang is listed as 'Crazy Craig Koons' and he is the ancestor of captain Koons in pulp fiction. For kill bill, this is MY theory; The organist in volume 2 is really jules winnfield, i mean he turned away from crime and turned to god so he became a church organist... pretty possible
People keep mentioning no links to "From Dusk tip' Dawn" but Mr. White is in that film, no?
In Reservoir Dogs Mr Big and Mr White refer to Marcellus Spivey who used to move ice for them but was pinched and went away due to bad luck.
also in Reservoir Dogs Mr blonde parole officer was named Scagnettie; Scagnettie was also the cop who was obsessed with Mallory Knox from Natural Born Killers another Tarantino film
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