JACOB'S LADDER
(1990)

This page was lasted updated on May 29, 2005

My Viewpoint:
Subject: Jacobs Ladder
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005
From: Nile Henri


There appears to me much confusion and unneccesary deep reading as regards the fantastic Jacob's Ladder. When I was a student, living away from home, my friends used to hire this movie all the time and tell me how good it was. Finally one night with a few free hours on my hands I rented it to see what it was all about, and OH MY GOD!!! What a movie! It beats 98% of all Hollywood output as it shines with it's brilliance. How do I know this? Because it flopped at the box office. If the proletariat don't understand the movie because it isn't explained to them in small words, then may they live in ignorance forever.

Those who call the drug story line weak are superimposing their opinion over the necessity of the artistic device.'What's that?' I hear you cry in unison. Well, the writers needed a point on which to hang the story as it were, the drug theme is representative of nothing more than another of those soul wrenching inevitable confusions we all suffer in our lives. That it is not a very strong storyline is neither here nor there, it's a point for Singer to grasp in his search for eternal inner peace.

Jezebel may be a demon, but she's not a monster (although the does get rather violently sexed by one at the house party.) For me, the married life of Singer was the real one before the war, sans history as a manufacturer of LSD type drugs. Jezebel, and his repulsive existence as a postal worker (bringing the message to everyone) is his possible post-Vietnam option. We know many Vets came back and their lives fell apart, our hero is (could be) just another one. Singer went to Nam in an attempt to make sense of life after the death of Gabriel, who isn't credited in the movie, possibly to re-inforce his role as an ever present ethereal guardian to his father.

I disagree with the theory that makes Jacob the creator of the Nam drug for several reasons. It doesn't tie with the style of Singer as a man, nor is it referenced anywhere in the movie, which I have seen many times. There are many visual clues as to the personality of Jacob within the props of the movies, and they don't strike me as the chattels of a mass murdering monster. People have been saying Singer must be the inventor, otherwise how could he know of the drug's existence? Well, he's dying, isn't he? How do we know what they're gonna show us when we pop our clogs? He's on the ladder, yes, the ladder of choice. He is offered two 'lifes' in this interim period, the post-war easy sex party, party, party, don't think be a postman option, or the harder, more difficult path of resolution; understand the death of your son, return to the boring yet ultimately more satisfying married life that was pre-Vietnam. Michael, who we see several times helping Singer is always near at hand, but Singer never seeks him nor follows him. Jacob is a man torn from his life suddenly and violently, he doesn't have the luxury of old age to reminisce, postulate and ultimately arrive at closure, as we are all supposed to do in this life, he must make decisions quickly and correctly, this is the struggle we see in him. The freaking angels can tell him whatever they want. Michael calls Singer AFTER he has suffered many harrowing experiences in his quest for the meaning of life. The devils are everywhere because the allegory is good life bad life, heaven or hell, the choice is ours. The movie's setting can most closely be associated with purgatory, but another facet of this masterpiece is that it should not be seen in within a Christian context. It is a universal message, unfortunately one that many of the general public either cannnot, or refuse to grasp.

One last note, PLEASE somebody, get the reference to Garcero.
Clue: It's an inhouse joke.

The doctor and the stabbing
Subject: Jacobs Ladder
Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002
From: Cyntac

My favorite movie, as it out-smarts me to this day!
Subject: Jacobs Ladder
Happy Easter Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002
From: John

MANIC DEPRESSION
Subject: Jacobs Ladder
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002
From: kevin

Hi
i watched jacbos ladder a few years ago, i can relate to many aspects of the film.I was a British paratrooper for 7years, i developed manic depression or was finally told i had manic depression recently.I had the devil persue me for years, he would stand at the bottom of my bed ,follow me, possess me. Ive had policemen pin me down while i was sudated by doctors.the images ive seen are mind blowing.confusing.terrifing and not to be taken lightly. sometimes i need hosptial, most of the time im ok....provided i stay on the drugs im given. Mental illness is a soul searching and unfair condition.I recently watched a beautiful mind, he was a paraniod skitso. if there is a movie that depicts manic depression....jacobs ladder is the one.thanx Kev....Scotland....take care all.

WHERE CAN I GET SOME?
Subject: JacobsLadder
Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2002
From: lemmy

 All you people who post messages on this site are interested in interpretating what the film is all about.You all rave on about philosophy,literature,psychology.This is ridiculous.Who cares if Jacob was dreaming,brainwashed,on LSD,reincarnated,abducted by aliens and forced to become a spy in the matrix who got lost at a Black Sabbath concert.All of interest to me in the movie was the drug the military tested on american soldiers.Is there any truth to this drug,did it really exist.If this drug is real then i want some.During the second world war the Nazis gave their soldiers drugs like amphetamines and steroids to make them more aggresive in battle;No,the nazis didn't give the soldiers drugs as part of a pagan ritual to expand their conciousness and lead to a road of self discovery.Sorry to disappoint you people.Another film like Jacob's Ladder was Shock Waves.Shock Waves was a science fiction horror film about a bunch of posthumous nazi soliers that stalked a small island.In the film some young tourists turn up to the island in a boat and they end up fighting for their lives as these dead nazis chased them all over the island.The film was made pretty cheaply,all you saw was guys in makeup slowly walking on land,occasionaly underwater.There was a very interesting message at the start of the film.The last time i saw the film was in 1985.From what i remember,the message at the start of the film mentioned something about The nazis carrying out strange experiments on people to create a superman.This message was'nt a fictional part of the film,it was a real account of something that nazi scientists were trying to do back in the forties.If your lucky you might find this movie at your video store.At the moment though,i don't want nazi scientists to turn me into a zombie.What i'm after is the drug used in the film "Jacob's Ladder".If anyone has some can they contact me.I'm sick of pussies who take amphetamines and steroids and drive sports cars to the gym.I want to show them who's the boss.I'm sure if i was on that drug used by soldiers in Jacob's Ladder that i could bench press 800 pounds for reps.Who want's to be exited and paranoid on speed when you can go beyond insane and have the strength of a big baboon on the ladder drug.Steroids is expensive too.This ladder drug might be cheap if it's made by the goverment and what's more,you may only need to take it once,unlike steroids that you constantly need to take in cycles.But if this drug makes you imagine your a postman, who lurks around subways and talk to imaginary sanctimonious chiropractors,like Jacob in the film,then forget selling me some.Even without drugs i can become a taxi driver,go to the circus and talk to a homeless bum who asks me if he can find rats to eat in a garbage can.Didn't the director of this film ever explain what it was about;Why all the interpretation.It was'nt an X-Files movie.Why can't you people just let a person be an end in themselves.Why speculate beyond phenomenom when you can't trust your physical faculties.You people are a Kantian nightmare.If you looked deeply enough into a Muppets film you could come up with all sorts of metaphysical analogies eg:Abonded,scorned and full of confident trust,Kermit the frog,Fuzzy bear and Scooter set off on a journey to make a movie in the promised land.On the way the happy trio rejoiced in their abject poverty and embraced buddhism as they sang "moving right along".It would be interesting to hear a marxist interpretation of the Jacob Ladders film.A marxist could say that Jacobs role as a postman was a bourgeois attempt to control proletarians by making them imagine they are leading a surreal life.When Jacob was hanging around the subway and hallicinating,he could have been coming to terms with the grief of being proletarian.That would explain why he saw deformed human figures on a train.They were proletarians using public transport.The drug he was exposed to could have been an anology for christianity;The opiate of the masses.That would explain why he died in the end like christ.Imagining he was a disorientated poor postman could have been an ascetic act to renounce his fascist bellicose way of life as a super soldier;Like a roman soldier who converts to christianity.You can pretty much read anything you want into the film.I just want the drug for bodybuilding;A real drug that gives you superhuman strength,not some flimsy bouyant metaphysical ananolgy of a drug.I want the real thing.Don't worry about getting caught with it,it's not illegal.Don't talk about it though,you might get commited.Just drop me a line if you have some or know someone who has.I'll pay top cash or exchange the drug for some of my home made alcoholic Ginger Beer.Top quality Ginger Beer;My mates like it.Drop me a line

Response: Life is not in the drugs we take. Temporary thrills at best. It gets old. Sorry I do not post email addies for drug exchanges. My heart goes out to you, somehow. I have not the words. -David

JACOB'S VIETNAM SERVICE
Subject: Jacobs Ladder
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001
From: "Beau Garcia" beau@2die4.com

I watched this movie for the second time and because of a question I had, went surfing and found this Great website: good job and I will try to look into this site.

I have no idea about the interpretations of this movie. But, being a Vietnam Veteran (Army Riverboat, I Corps -- ammo down the northern rivers --- just this side of the DMZ), I noticed that he is in the 1st Cav and the initial scene has his troop in the Mekong Delta (thats very south and near Saigon).

However, when he corners the lawyer to ask him why he is dropping the case. The lawyer more than infers that the Army told him that he never was in "Nam" only on some training excercise in Thailand. To which, like all VVets of worth and offended by being called a "Wanabee" (in effect), Jacob insists that they were in DaNang (that's I Corps and hundreds of miles above the Saigon area): just a minor point.

As a person to play the role of husband, lover and father -- Tim Robbins was a good choice. But, as a 1st Cav "Grunt" -- no way.
Great site and Thanks
(feel free to use my e-mail) "Beau Garcia" beau@2die4.com
Beau (a.k.a. Robert E. Garcia)

MY INTERPRETATION
Subject: Jacobs Ladder
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001
From: Michael petersoncello@yahoo.com

I have just viewed "Jacob's Ladder" for the first time. I had the advantage of having read a number of comments and opinions on the meaning of the film, so I did not find it hard to follow. Still, uncertainties remain, but I'll give some of my thoughts. I've downloaded but not viewed the more complete original screenplay, which I suppose could blow my interpretation out of the water, since it apparently makes some things much more explicit.

I go along with the view that the Vietnam "flashbacks" and the final scene in the Army hospital are the only things which don't happen inside Jacob's head. I also lean toward the view that the Ladder drug is real, and that Jacob himself is its real inventor. But I don't believe that Jacob actually took the drug himself, nor is the drug necessarily the cause of his mistaken stabbing by another soldier in his unit. Someone on this page made a good point that the other soldiers really didn't die, since the hospital at the end is almost empty, instead of full of casualties. I think that "Professor" (as he's called) Jacob came out of the woods at the beginning knowing that the others were about to experience something different from "bad weed", and that the grotesque head wobbling, vomiting, etc. were the real effects of the drug. But I think the drug wore off quickly and the soldiers went on to fight successfully. But Jacob was mistakenly stabbed and feared that it was the result of the drug. So he went into hallucinations, not because he was drugged, but simply because he was dying. But his fears about the results of his own experiment grew into the story line in which (at least in one dream scenario) the soldiers had killed each other.

I don't know if the writer of the story ever studied any Gestalt psychology, but if memory serves me right, Gestalt dream interpretation upholds the principle that everything in a dream somehow is an aspect of the dreamer himself/herself. This is one reason why I support the idea that Michael is a personification of Jacob himself dealing with guilt over what he thinks he's done to his Army buddies.

I don't know whether Gabriel ever really died in Jacob's pre-war life, or if he ever really cheated on his wife, but I think the scenes with Sarah and Jezebel are based upon actual situations in his past, now being employed to sort out his personal issues as he's dying. So what was a high-tech chemist doing working as a postman in his pre-war life? Maybe it was some kind of cover for his real job. Truly a postman with "friends in high places." I don't know whether this film views the angels and demons as real or just a product of Jacob's religiously trained imagination. My impression is that the character Jacob Singer is Jewish, perhaps a relative of Isaac Bashevis? :o) As far as I remember all the Biblical names used in the film are from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) except fellow soldier Paul, but I think that's just because it's the soldier's real name, no symbolism involved. So is Jezebel even a real person in Jacob's pre-war life? Who knows? I've never met anyone named Jezebel, but in filmland anything's possible! Maybe she was real but named something else, "Jezebel" being Jacob's assessment of her real character, though he was attracted to her.

I personally think the "demons are really angels" theology is the weakest part of this film. In my own theology angels are really angels and demons are really demons, and both are real. It shouldn't surprise us that Hollywood would come up yet another warm fuzzy dualistic theology akin to the Force/Dark Side thing. I think Danny Aiello should have gotten an award, though, for his flawless portrayal of Louie the Angelic Chiropractor. So why doesn't he have a biblical name? Maybe because Jacob really had a chiropractor named Louie, and that's that. Unlike some, I think the ending was generally strong, because the previous unnerving twists made me suspicious that the happy ending really wasn't coming just yet. When Jacob and Gabriel really disappeared peacefully into the light, I felt an unusually gratifying relief from suspense. So I think that's a good sign of well-handled suspense.

You may include my e-mail address, but only my first name,
Michael. petersoncello@yahoo.com
Thanks!

LINK TO THE ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Subject: Jacobs Ladder
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2001
From: Florian T

For those who liked the movie, here is the link to the original screenplay, before it was considerably truncated for the final movie version.

http://home.online.no/~bhundlan/scripts/JacobsLadder.doc

The screenplay was much longer than the movie. There is also much more 'action'. It clearly reveals the story, leaving no doubt on what's happening. Unlike the movie, there are no 'other possible interpretations'. In the first scene, we are clearly showed that the soldiers are killing each other, thus taking off the ambiguity on the Vietnam attack.

Personally, I prefered the movie version. The original screenplay was just too explicit and too obvious. In a sense, I think the movie was more 'realistic'. In the screenplay, it is so obvious that Jacob's already dead that I just couldn't believe he didn't find out before the 'end'. The fact that everything is so obvious also reduces th suspense to zero. We are watching the story through the eyes of somebody who already knows, while the movie puts us at Jacob's level. Thus, in the movie, Jacob's feelings are much more powerful on us because we feel the same thing. But for those who thought the movie gave too little explanation, the screenplay will be more than enough. Still, there are some scenes I would have liked to see, like the one that shows Michael dead.

A FEW COMMENTS
Subject: Jacobs Ladder
Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2001
From: Gary

Without a doubt my favorite movie of all time. A great film. I wanted to comment on a few things I have seen written in this forum regarding the storyline and the interpretation of the film. Having read the screenplay I would argue that the "laddr drug" themre is more or less a hollywood addition to try to make the movie more accessible to the great unwashed. A story that was as deep and abstract as a dying man's struggle for life and examination of fundamental questions of spirituality was never going to make sense to the majority of viewers.

Jacob is a PhD. I thought it was mentioned directly that he held a doctorate in Philosophy but I may have simply implied this from the fact that he is reading Camus' exsistentialist work The Stranger when we first see him on the bus. He is not an MD.

Something I have not seen mentioned (but I have not read all of the comments here yet) is that if one watches carfully there is clearly something wrong in the environment. The movie is supposed to be set sometime after Jacob has returned home from Viet Nam. But nothing in the environment supports this. All of the music played or heard is from a time when Jacob was in Nam. The cars in the film are all of that period not post-war. The subway, various businesses - everything is appropriate to a time Jacob would have known prior to entering the war. I would be interested in any contradiction to this observation as I have looked closely for them. I do wonder about the edition of The Stranger that Jacob is reading for example becaueI used the same edition with the same cover art in 1975 or 1976 but I have no idea when that particular edition was released. Regardless, the music that is playd or sung (Please Mr. Postman and the music at the party) is all early enough to be known to Jacob prior to the war I believe.

So what about the rest of it? He is dying. He is an educated doctorate whose guilt over the death of his son has driven him to volunteer for service in an unpopular war. His *only* son Gabriel was hit by a truck. Any father can imagine the horrible guilt and the possibility of it driving one to lose all hope and simply run away from the world. Anyway, he is dying. It seems stabbed by one of his own fellow soldiers perhaps in the craziness of a jungle firefight or maybe not - perhaps that was only added to provide a smoother storyline for the mythical and weak drug storyline. The movie takes us through his dying moments - the "what ifs" of a dying man trying to struggle for life and trying to make sense of his life and impending death. He imagines possible alternative lives that he may have led - one with the young hot Jezzie - someone he never would have normally been with. A sexual, hot-tempered, party girl of sorts. The screenplay mkaes it a bit more obvious that she is in fact a demon of sorts - a temptress. He flashes into a continuation of life with his wife (most likely Gabriels mother) and two sons he never actually had. A stable life. He struggles to live and to fight death and there is where the spiritual aspect of the movie kicks in. He is toured through hell - he is tortured in an attempt to clense him of his sins and to provide him with an opportunity to join his son in heaven. If you get a chance to pick up a copy of the scren play the final scene was much better as written than it was eventually played out on the screen. Jezzie's role certainly becomes much more clear.

Well, anyway - a great film. Unfortunate, in my mind, that the drug theme ws included but one can even tie that in as an attempt of a dying man to find some logical explanation

THE DRUG IN JACOB'S LADDER
Subject: Jacob's Ladder
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001
From: Jim Wolf

The drug in Jacob's Ladder was a metaphor. God, in putting man on earth in search of his true purpose, subjects us to the "drug" of material and physical comforts and temptations here on earth. We become addicted to earthly pleasures and comforts; we forget to find purpose; we forget why we are here. Yes, all of Jake's war buddies were used by the system and experimented on with drugs -- so are we all on the drug: earthly pleasures and physical comforts. Jake needed to realize what was happening to him: he needed to let go, realize it was over -- time to move on. The whole entire movie set in NYC was not real; it was merely Jake going over his life in the period between his wounding and his death.

Notice, in the beginning of the movie, Jezzie references Gabe, Jake's son, as dying before the war. Thereafter, the movie makes you think Gabe died after Jake came home after the war. Gabe did die prior to the war, further confirming that Jake's reminiscences of his son were mere memories. Jake was sorting out his life before he moved on in death.
Jim Wolf 7/30/01

1. NO DRUG 2. THE PHD 3. THE STABBING
Subject: JacobsLadder
Date: Mon, 21 May 2001
From: Daniel dkp0@hotmail.com

Hi, okay just watched the film, again (over here in the uk) and thought i would try to clear a few things up for you people over there. Obviously I the film is up to interpretation but this is how it is for me.

Firstly, There is no drug. As many have said there was no possible way for him to find out after his death.

Secondly he was called dr because he did his phd, people who are medical doctors study at med school. He could have been a doctor of business for all we knew.

Thirdly his friend stabbed him because of the confusion in battle, both looked shocked to see each other and take note they werent with the others in the fight, they werent high on drugs but adrenaline, and they were scared.

And finally when the medics give up on him because he has died, and say he looks at peace they also say something like "what a battle" they would not be saying that if it had been everyman for himself, they would say something like "what a mess" not gleeming with pride at how good a battle it was. Anyway it was one hell of a film (excuse the pun) and if anyone disagrees/strongly agrees email me.
Cherrs, Daniel
Daniel dkp0@hotmail.com

MIND BLOWING
Subject: spiritual films
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001
From: RAFFS

i found you're web site and thought it quite interesting that you were getting such a list together. My nomination would have to be Jacob's Ladder, mindblowing!!

I WATCH IT AGAIN AND AGAIN
Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2001
From: Peter Lightburn Montreal, Quebec Canada

Jacob's Ladder is one of my all time favorite movies.I watch it again and again to pick up on clues on what the film is really about.That scene in the hospital after his car escape was one of the most harrowing sequences in cinematic history.My interpretation is that Jacob entered some sort of Purgatory after being critically wounded.As he clings to his life he descends in some dream like state that is quasi real,the drug induced hallucinations and demonic visions remind him about a possible post life in hell,his chiropractor buddy is the angel that shows him the way to heaven.The ending confirms this for me,of course the film involves a lot more than that.
Peter Lightburn Montreal, Quebec Canada

What was he? A Ghost?
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001
From: "Dagon"

It struck me as particularly scary; what if postal workers discovered one day their colleague had vanished, suddenly. When they inquired they found out the guy they knew as postal worker had actually been reported to have died in Nam; So in fact he Did come back, unaware that he had died? What was he? a Ghost? or someone who had transcended death in a moment of extreme insanity.

PLANES OF EXISTENCE
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001
From: Bryan

This is a story with many possible interpretations, each valid.

My personal conclusion is that Jacob was under the effects of the hallucinogen before he died, but through the haze of his mind, images and experiences manifested themselves as scenarios his mind could cope with.

The ice bath: is it possible this was a manifestation of the "shock" or blood temp drop one experiences as one dies?

The "paralysis" as he falls from the car: in the reality of Vietnam, laying on the stretcher, he surely felt heavy and weak, and this would be manifested as a scene in which he couldn't move.

Did you notice there were no scars on Jacob's stomach in the fantasy NY? His BACK hurt him. A redirection of the pain. I think the rattling heads of the demons were a manifestation of his memory of Ving Rhames (George?) going into apoplexy as the drug affected him. Remember Jacob was holding him, trying to help, shouting "medic."

The battle scene: all the soldiers reacted differently. One barfed. One spun around wildly after saying "somethings wrong...my head!" Another one sat and cried: Paul... which manifested itself as him coming to visit Jacob. George spasmed and convulsed with blood coming out of his nose.

I think the drug was real, and the angels came to help Jacob understand. It's a "deep adjustment" as Louis says. His real memories intertwine with fantasies and nightmares and reality and all are affected by each other.

ANALYSIS OF THE MOVIE
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001
From: Florian

I believe that what we see during most of the movie is Jacob's spiritual journey before he actually dies at the end of the movie. He doesn't know that he's dead (or dying). He's actually in such desperate denial of his death that he creates to himself the illusion that he has survived and come back to NY (the "flashbacks" he sees are what is actually happening at that time). But soon, spirits come to tell him that he's dead and that he should accept it. Of course, he refuses to believe it. That is pretty obvious in the part where he is in the "X-ray room" and one of the "doctors" tells him "this is your home, you're dead", and then Jacob replies defyingly "I'm not dead! I'm alive!". Then, we see the doctor with no eyes stick a syringe through Jacob's forehead (painful)... Jezzy is a depiction of his life temptations and his refusal to die. Through this spiritual journey, he encounters the spirits of his friends (especially Paul), but they can't help him, because they themselves are going through the same nightmare.

In order to free himself from this nightmare (which he created himself), he must accept his fate and make peace with himself. He finally achieves it, with the help of angels (Louis, Michael) and his son's spirit.

In my opinion, there is no real drug in the movie. The "drug" (the "ladder") they are referring to is just a metaphor of what triggers wars throughout history (greed, anger, hatred). In every war, we are "brother against brother" (as quoted in the movie). The more you go down the "ladder", the more you come close to your primal state (anger, fear, aggression for survival), the more likely you're going to start a war. That primal state can indeed be like a drug. When Jacob realizes that, he suddenly understands that he's dead and that war (caused by the aforementioned primal state of hatred between men) was the cause of his death. At the same time, he realizes that his attitude (refusal to accept his death) was also part of that primal state. At last, he accepts to make peace with himself, and Gabe 's spirit comes to take him "upstairs" (up the Ladder!).

This is really a great movie. An effective message of peace and spirituality.
-Florian

DOORMAN CALLS JACOB THE DOCTOR
Subject: My comments as to why the doorman calls Jacob The Doctor...
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000
From: Chris

It is because Jacob IS the doctor (med student) who developed the drug that was tested on the soldiers. Ummm... No. Jacob died in Vietnam. The Doorman called Jacob "The Doctor," because he is a doctor, and served as a medic in Vietnam before getting killed. He was never a mailman.

As for him being the person who created "The Ladder": Why would he ingest the drugs himself, if he knew how evil they were? He was given the drugs without his knowledge, and killed in action by one of his own men.

Here's the key to understanding the movie: All scenes EXCEPT the Vietnam "flashbacks" (I put flashbacks in quotes, because they are perceived to be flashbacks, when they are actually real time scenes as he is fading in and out of reality) were only in his head, based upon real events that occurred in his life before he went to Vietnam. None of the events in the story are real... they are only based on Jacob's reality. For example, Jezzie becomes Jacob's live-in girlfriend in his death dream, when in reality she was probably just a girl that he worked with that he either fantasized about, or had an affair with before he left for Vietnam. Michael (the drug chemist that you think is Jacob) is simply another angel helping him understand and accept his death... appropiately named after an angel. Jezzie, on the other hand, is one of the demons that is trying to keep him there.

I suggest that you try to find a copy of the screenplay, which includes an entire section written by Bruce Joel Rubin about the creation of the story. The screenplay also contains deleted scenes that explain all of this, however, Mr. Rubin made the excellent decision of leaving it up to the audience to figure out. Most critics disagree, claiming that it made it too confusing for the general populous. I say good. We need more confusing movies.
Sincerely, Chris Addison

WHY THE DOORMAN CALLS HIM DOCTOR
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000
From: Kevin

Hello, In response to the person who inquired as to why the doorman refers to Tim Robbins as "Doctor" at the conclusion of Jacob's Ladder, it is because Jacob IS the doctor (med student) who developed the drug that was tested on the soldiers. I believe that that the mysterious figure who surfaces towards the end of the story, providing exposition on the nature of the drug experiments, was actually Jacob's true self. Otherwise, how would he recieve this crucial plot info if the meeting between the two is, in reality, only occuring within his own subconscious. The "doctor" states that he was a medical student, arrested for making illegal drugs, who avoided punishment by agreeing to aid the military in the development of chemical weapons. Many of the demons Jacob struggles with throughout the movie are related to his guilt over developing the military drug (and therefore destroying many lives) as a means by which to ! escape his own punishment. Through most of the story he has dissociated himself from the consequences of his actions by percieving himself as the victim, but when he finally faces up to his own weakness and then responsibility, he is able to rest. *(ps- there are various visual clues in his apt at the end of the film that seem to support this"
Kevin

INTERESTING QUESTION AT THE END
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000
From: "MG"

It is terrific to see a movie that requires analysis. My question come at the end of the movie, when the doorman greets Tim Robbins by calling him "doctor". Also, I believe his subway stop at the beginning was his home stop. What do you think?

IN HELL
Subject: Movie review
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000
From: D

I just got finished watching Jacob's Ladder with my friends tonight. They all went home a little different than they had arrived. I, however, having seen the movie once before about 9 years ago, grasped a much better understanding (I think). This director and Tim Robbins both played great roles in distorting reality to the point of insanity. I could relate to this movie very well because when I was at a certain age, I once ran a very high fever which caused hallucinations. What I saw at that time scared me to death and affected me for months after the fever was gone. I felt that Tim Robbins played an excellent role of revealing his fear in his insane world. Now I would like to offer my opinion on the plot after Jacob is stabbed: I believe that just after he is stabbed, he is mentally transported to Hell. However, upon being placed on the subway, his life before that was congruent except for that fight in Vietnam. He has divorced his loving wife and is living with an evil woman who I think would represent the devil himself in this movie. It seems that all he would want her for is her sex and compassion of which she gives both.

However, I believe she gives compassion just to keep him in hell and torment his mind. Aside from that, I am not sure why he has wound up in hell first, but I have a possible reason. First, maybe in his dream after he got stabbed, he wanted to have an affair with the evil Latin woman and leave his loving wife. This is wrong in my opinion, and maybe he knows this subconsciously along with the fact that he blames himself for neglecting his son in the street and getting him killed. What I'm saying is, maybe he placed himself in hell first subconsciously because that's how he wanted his life to be played out, instead of staying with his loving wife. As soon as he realizes his sins and leaves his Latin chic, he pleads the cab driver to take him home which symbolizes the house which he and his wife lived in. There he is finally taken to heaven. Note to webmaster: please do not include any personal reference at the end of the article, just article, thanks

MOVIE MADE RAJA OPEN THE BIBLE
Subject: The Ladder
Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2000
From: Rafa

DON'T READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE. I first saw this movie several years ago, and, apparently, missed half the important stuff. I just watched it for the second time and so much more became clear to me. I know virtually nothing about the Bible, but looked up some of the character's names to try to understand the movie better. Jezebel, I found out, was the bitter foe of Elijah (one of Jacob's son's [in the movie]). Her name is often used to refer to an evil woman in literature. Gabriel is the angel who appears on Judgment Day, the day the dead are resurrected and sinners are sent to hell and the righteous are sent to heaven. Jacob is trying to come to terms with the events of his life: the death of his son, an affair with Jezebel - which is probably the reason for the demise of his marriage - and the effects of the ladder. Since Jacob initially doesn't understand the reason for his death, the angels that try to take him away initially appear to be demons, as Louis suggests. But once he figures it out, he asks the cab driver to take him home. Where does the cabbie take him? To the apartment where Gabriel leads him up the stairs to heaven. And the doctors in Vietnam comment on the peaceful look on his face and what a fight he put up. I'd appreciate any comments on this interpretation, as I'm writing this within minutes of seeing the movie for only the second time. -- Rafa.
Response:God works in a variety of ways. And God is working in you. Thank you for your for sharing your experience. -David.

ECKHART IN JACOB'S LADDER
Subject: The reference to Meister Eckhart
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 13:34:02 -0800
From: Carol

The chiropractor, played by Danny Aiello, asks the Tim Robbins character if he has ever read Meister Eckhart, who believed (and I have to paraphrase) that what we perceive as demons may be angels in disguise helping us let go of this life. I've read some of Eckhart's sermons and I even contacted an Eckhart scholar; we'd both like to know the general and/or specific source in Eckhart for this idea. Thoughts and information appreciated.
-Carol in Cleveland
My response: Boy, you got me.

JACOB'S LADDER HELPED ME
Subject: Hope Springs Eternal
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2000
From: Kim

This movie strikes a very deeply-felt personal chord with me. I have lost two people very close to me in the space of the last two months. Both were uncertain in their spiritual beliefs, and both died having while under the very disorienting influence of morphine-derivitives. Having said that, I must say that Jacob's Ladder gave me a very comforting reminder that God is in control (indeed, I feel his influence in my decision to check out the video and see the movie again). Through all of Jacob's confusion and fear, he had moments of hopeful breakthrough in which God touched and reassured him! Finally there is that total glorious peace when he joins his son and ascends to his eternal home!
This laid aside any fears I'd had for my loved one's salvation. It made tangible a vague feeling I had: God knows our hearts, and His timeframe is not fathomable. He can reach us and bring us through to reconciliation in a heartbeat, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. That may seem presumptuous to many but it's comforts me.
As an aside, check out the short film "An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge", which most assuredly influenced the makers of Jacob's Ladder. It's a film many of us saw in high school, based on the Ambrose Bierce short story, and has just recently been made available on video!

-Kim

Glory to God.

NOT THE AVERAGE "HORROR" FLICK
October 21, 1999. Not your average so called "Horror" flick, I found myself not wanting to miss any of it even though I saw it on video tape I waited to go to the toilet after it was over. Tim Robbins does a great job of making you think that you are him in the movie and getting caught in the middle of all the stuff that's happening to him (you). The effects are great, but what the show does is gets inside your head, the story is very effective and the director does a bang-up job of squeezing every drop out of it. The movie itself has a hypnotic compelling effect it's hard to take your eyes off the screen. There are so many things going on ya just don't know what's real anymore and you can feel his pain. In my opinion it's one of the best frightening shows I have ever seen, it takes you for a roller coaster ride it stimulates your head and it gets you to think. Like a back door to the spirit world.
Happy Halloween. --MILO

LIKED JACOB'S LADDER
Ocober 6, 1999. I watch hundreds of movies at the theater each year, but this film shot me out of myself for several hours. Go and see it. If you have already seen and liked it, go and see John Frankenheimer's 'Seconds' (1966) - you'll be blasted off as well.
Ergo (Germany)
P.S.: post email.  mine2@iname.com

BAD WEED, PLAIN AND SIMPLE
July 30, 1999. Hello: "There is no Ladder"
Many interesting ideas are posted here, but I want to correct one detail.  There is no Ladder. Jacob’s battalion was not the subject of an experiment.  Jacob is merely searching for a legitimate reason behind his death. His friend stabbed him, so there must be a good reason, right? That’s what Jacob is thinking on his deathbed. This is one of the things Jacob won’t let go of. In fact, this question dominates his “life” after he has left Vietnam.
     Observe the facial expressions of Jacob and his friend during that flashback when Jacob is stabbed. I see surprise and remorse. I do not see unbridled, drug-induced rage. Jacob’s death was a mistake. That’s for sure. But it was not due to the failure of a top-secret government experiment aimed at turning American soldiers into mindless killing machines. It was due to “bad weed.”  Plain and simple. Obviously Jacob’s friend was high on something. Otherwise, he would have identified Jacob as a friendly and not killed him. His judgement was impaired by marijuana. This was even suggested by one of the Vets on the rooftop during Jacob’s “life.” Note that the Vet who suggested this wasn’t seeing demons. Subconsciously, Jacob knew the truth. After all, his mind suggested that the mistake could have been due to “bad weed.” And his mind showed that belief in this theory would make the demons go away.
     Yet, he ignored his own subconscious clues and continued to fabricate a deeper meaning behind his death.
     Also, Jacob’s incident was isolated. His whole battalion didn’t kill each other, like the chemist said. Two pieces of evidence support this conclusion. First, in one of Jacob’s last flashbacks, we see a group of American soldiers fighting. Supposedly they are on the Ladder, but they aren’t killing each other. They are all running and firing in the same direction at a common enemy. They look pretty cohesive to me. Second, a battalion is a lot of soldiers. In a single day, if the Army lost a whole battalion or even a considerable part of one, the hospital would be jam-packed with wounded.  Instead, we see the hospital virtually empty, and the doctors strolling around with little to do.
     All evidence supports the conclusion that the Ladder is merely “bad weed,” and that this “brother against brother” incident was isolated to only Jacob and his friend.
     As an afterthought, do you read lips? I want to know what the soldier firing the 50-caliber machine-gun is yelling? He is yelling at something, probably his target. If we can find out what he is saying, perhaps it will tell us who he is firing at.
-James Toy.

JACOB'S LADDER IN BRAZIL
June 6, 1999. ONE OF THE BEST FILMS.... VERY VERY VERY GOOD. ITS A PITY THAT HERE IN BRAZIL IS SO DIFFICULT TO FIND THIS VIDEO TAPE TO BUY!!! –JULIANA

OPEN TO INTERPRETATION
June 1, 1999. I've seen this movie 3 times now and I believe its an incredible movie, because it is really open to interpretation. I've just spent the last 2 hours trying to find interpretations of it on the Internet and was very disappointed to discover nothing apart from this page. Thing is one point that people in general seem to miss, is that if you follow the storyline, and take the view that it is in fact Jacobs struggle to stay alive during his last hours (the Vietnam scenes being not flashbacks but actual conscious moments when he comes to, and all the other events you think are real are actually just representational visions) then surely everything he discovers about the 'Ladder' drug is actually all false because its nothing but a dream. Perhaps Jacob wasn’t actually under the influence of any drug at all cos how would he know if he never made it out of Vietnam? This is my understanding of it all. Actually I reckon that the Ladder as a drug representatives something else (possibly the stairway to heaven or hell),, and his new girlfriend represents the war taking him away from his wife and family. If u watch the film in this context all the quotes from her seem to back up this theory. Any thoughts would be welcome! –Kyle

MANY LEVELS OF UNDERSTANDING
May 3, 1999. A stunning portrayal of a man's subconscious during the last few hours of his life. The confusion and unclarity of his thoughts begin to solidify as he starts his accent into 'heaven', and as the effects of the hallucinogen begin to wear off. This film can be viewed on many different levels, but the deeper one gets into it, the more fascinating and rewarding it becomes. TGOLDYKAHN@AOL.COM

FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
April 18, 1999. I saw Jacob's Ladder at the theatre in 1990 and the movie had little fanfare. It was announced as a movie about a "Vietnam vet that has flashbacks". Pity. Taken from a religeous context or for pure entertainment, this is an impressive piece of moviemaking. After viewing Jacob's Ladder the first time, my instincts told me I'd missed something in the first viewing. I saw it at the theatre again. It took 4 more viewings on video, totaling 6 viewings, for me to realize (for example) that Jacob's doctor, telling Jacob: 'You're a lucky guy, Jake. You must have friends in high places" is not a reference to any deity. See it again and you'll know what I mean. Jacob's Ladder is one of those rare movies that forces you to think as you watch. Intriquing and at the same time upsetting. By the way, I'd like this opportunity to mention to your contributors that some people may not have seen Jacob's Ladder yet. I suggest we afford them the opportunity to view the movie with all the anticipation and surprise as when we saw it the first time, instead of detailing a moment-by-moment description.

VIEW THE MOVIE MORE OFTEN
Feb 22 1999, I agree that one has to view this movie more often. I am not very well in biblical symbolism (meaning I havent read the bible) but I have felt a great emotional impact when watching this movie which, as I think occurs by the fact that I have also tried halluzinogen of some sorts, several times. The disorted state of mind and the fear, the struggle (which in my first felling was the basic of the movie) was brilliant displayed (tim Robbins) and has left a mark....knowing that this is topic of even others........ Of course now this does not have anything to do with biblical terms (at least not ........ well actually I think it does.......(speaking about struggle). But still it is a different view.... To the last comment: I have had the same felling, about Jacob dying in Vietnam. But I really love his comment about hell existing as an entirely when dying instead of (as churches say...) being the endless afterlife... don (Germany...) –Alexander

WHO IS GARZERO
The movie, "Jacob's ladder" was intriguing. My friend and I found much religious imagery and symbolism. We have a question though, hopefully someone can answer it for us. The characters name, obviously come from the Bible i.e. Jacob, Jezzeble, Sarah, Gabrial...however, in one scene in the movie, when Jacob is taken home by the cab, the camera zooms in on the cabbie's name "Garzero,"...does this mean anything to anybody? We think him to be an angel, but we do not know the significance of the name, and why so much emphasis was put on zooming in on it. if you have an answer, please forward it to Steffy07@aol.com. thank you Steffy

MY REPONSE. Yes I think you are right, an angel. About the name, you got me.

APPEALS TO SUBCONSCIOUS
Nov. 02, 1998. Jacob's Ladder was a tremendous offering. It needs to be watched and re-watched and discussed.Since it was billed as "horror" I believe many people missed a very potent, deeply thought-out work.Perhaps the work appeals more to the subconscious than the conscious. I suspect it may have more to teach than we realize. Would welcome any discussion. Jeff Hamilton

MY RESPONSE. You are very right. It is a very deep and dark film. One needs to watch it more than once.

GREAT IDEA
I, too, wonder why this was labeled horror. I missed it when it was released, but after a friend showed it to me I've viewed it several times. A great idea for a story, well-executed on film.

REQUIRES MULTIPLE VIEWINGS
Nov. 23, 1998. "Jacob's Ladder" is a thoughtful, intense movie that requires complete attention. Occasionally difficult to watch but always thoroughly engaging, cinematically awe-striking and powerful, I agree that this film requires multiple viewings to achieve total success insofar as the symbolism and power of the movie's depictions of Jacob's delusion are not always completely apparent, and many first-time viewers are likely to be confused or even turned off by the abrupt changes in location and time. (see, for example, the first section of Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury" against which the same accusation could very well be leveled) However, it could well be argued that such intense feelings of dislocation and restlessness are a somewhat accurate depiction of a struggle with insanity (or, it might well be noted, the frantic search for salvation before the final moment of life). -Spinkle

FROM "PRIVATE":
This comment came to me in the private session. I respect the writer's identification. The comments are so profound that I felt they needed to be shared. -David
     I would refer you to Kierkegaard, specifically "The Sickness Unto Death"; where he spends a lot of time talking about the self coming into relation with God, despair, and the moment of faith. To quote: "The formula that describes the state of the self when despair is completely rooted out is this: in relating itself to itself and in willing to be itself, the self rests transparently in the power that established it"
      You may find that "Jacob's Ladder" resonates much more powerfully when it is taken in a philosophical/spiritual context rather than simply watching it and understanding it in terms of what is presented on the screen and what can be most easily interpolated, i.e., that the movie is in some ways a parable.
      It might also be interesting for you to know that my understanding of the film is that Jacob is drugged, stabbed, and dies in Vietnam. The rest of the movie is Jacob's Hell and subsequent ascension to Heaven...which makes Hell exist entirely for the dying man in the moment before death, rather than being the afterlife into which one emerges. In a sense, then, this movie is Jacob Singer's final accounting, the exorcism of all of his demons. (see also "The Game" starring Michael Douglas and Sean Penn)