10 Theories That Help Explain The Works Of David Lynch

9. Recurring Links To Alice In Wonderland And The Wizard Of Oz

David Lynch is known to be a fan of both Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland and Victor Fleming's The Wizard Of Oz, and there are many allusions to these texts in his own work. This has resulted in many fans suggesting that, perhaps, his films are reinterpretations of these works. Here are a few of the references to both that can be found throughout his filmography. The Wizard Of Oz: Practically the entirety of Wild At Heart is a pastiche of imagery and characters from The Wizard Of Oz, and it is filled with very clear references throughout The constant use of shots of roads in Lynch's films has been read as a reference to The Yellow Brick Road, and the journey that Dorothy goes on in the classic film. Dorothy Vallens, the desirable woman in Blue Velvet, is named in reference to Oz's Dorothy. As is Major Garland Briggs in Twin Peaks - a nod to actress Judy Garland. When Nikki/Sue vomits on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in Inland Empire, it is onto a star with the name "Dorothy" on it. The dream-like narrative of Mulholland Drive is similar to dream-like structure of Oz, with the revelations of Club Silencio being very similar to the unmasking of the Wizard in the earlier film. Mulholland Drive and Oz both feature jitterbug dance sequences. Roquat, ruler of Oz's underground world, is "about 4 feet tall". Mr Roque, the evil controller of Mulholland Drive, is 3'7". Alice In Wonderland: The Rabbits in Inland Empire are the clearest nod to Alice In Wonderland. Nikki/Sue disappears down the rabbit-hole that is the film's narrative, and instead of answers she finds... Well... Rabbits! Diane, who Cooper speaks to through his dictaphone in Twin Peaks, is a reference to Dinah - Alice's cat, who she talks to constantly without receiving a response. Lynch consistently employs the same forms of poems and riddles that dominate Lewis Carroll's work. "That gum you like is going to come back in style"; "This is a story that happened yesterday, but I know it's tomorrow"; "You will see me two more times if you do bad"; "Through the darkness of future past..." - all mysterious lines that could absolutely have appeared in Carroll's books. Windom Earle's obsession with cards - and the Queen of Hearts in particular - in Twin Peaks is an obvious reference to Alice's stories. The frequent foregrounding of conventionally "pretty" blonde women (Laura Dern, Naomi Watts, Lady In The Radiator, Sheryl Lee, Patricia Arquette) has been interpreted as a nod to the innocent Alice.