Category Archives: Male Character Types

Quatermass and the librarian

Tube sign of Hobbs End from the Hammer film Qu...

Tube sign of Hobbs End from the Hammer film Quatermass and the Pit. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The 1967 sci-fi cult classic Quatermass and the Pit is one I’ve been trying to track down for awhile. It’s a Hammer film production, and follows two Quatermass feature films (The Quatermass Xperiment, 1955; and Quatermass II: Enemy from Space, 1957) and a 1958 TV series of the same name (and plot). The film is also known as Five Million Years to Earth, the title of choice when released in the U.S. in 1968. Admittedly, the biggest question in my mind was how to pronounce Quatermass! (I kept wanting to insert an extra “r” to make it like Quarter-mass. But it turns out his name rhymes with Crater-mass.)

The plot is an interesting take on religious myths and science fiction, and starts off with a discovery of ape-like human skeletons when a construction crew is digging a subway extension near Hobbs Lane, London. When scientists further discover a missile-like metal shape, the armed forces are called in, who jump to the conclusion that it’s an unexploded German bomb from World War II. Only Professor Bernard Quatermass (intelligently played by Andrew Keir) thinks they’re mistaken, so he and an assistant scientist, Barbara (Barbara Shelley), do some digging of their own — but this time in the research archives. Good plan.

Almost a half-hour in, Barbara has made copies of old newspaper files from the 1920s — which look suspiciously like blank pieces of paper onscreen — that reveal a history of disturbing stories and incidents around “Hob’s Lane” (the old spelling of the street, “Hob” being an old term for the Devil). Several stories mention small dwarf-like figures, like goblins. After a disturbing incident in the subway station involving an hysterical workman, Quatermass then insists on following up on the stories.

Reel Librarians: Quatermass and the Pit screenshot

~ What does this say?
~ I don’t know, it’s just a blank piece of paper. And I forgot my lines. I’ll just wing it.

This cuts to a closeup of a file cabinet in an unidentified private library, seen above. Quatermass and Barbara read aloud snippets from more reports — including one from 1763! — mentioning alarming noises, spectral appearances, grievous sounds, and “weird happenings.”

Finally, Barbara asks the $10 million question:  Where next?

Quatermass:  The archives at Westminster Abbey, I think.

Next shot is a closeup on an old text and the hands of an archivist librarian, seen below. It’s important to note that the focus is on the information, not the librarian. Therefore, from the first moment, the librarian’s primary role is identified as that of Information Provider. The Abbey Librarian (Noel Howlett) is an older white male, bald, with thick black glasses, and dressed quite conservatively in a dark suit and tie, pocket square, and cuff links.

The setting looks to be the basement or catacombs of an old abbey, with stone walls; wood furniture, including what looks to be an old card’s catalog or apothecary cabinet; tables with stacked-up books; and sconces along the wall.

Reel Librarians: Quatermass and the Pit screenshot

The Abbey Librarian is busy reciting text and translating, quite impressively, from Latin:

Abbey Librarian: In the winter of the year 1341, the religious of that region did strive against an outbreak of evil at Hob’s Lane. [He looks up at Quatermass]

Quatermass:  Oh please go on, my Latin’s not up to it.

Abbey Librarian: Imps and demons did appear. Foul noises sent by the devil did solely afflict the charcoal burners that had lately come there.

Quatermass:  Charcoal burners?

Abbey Librarian:  Yes, yes, that’s right.

Quatermass [to Barbara]:  They’d been felling trees, big heavy ones. In 1763 a well was being dug. In 1927 the underground station. And now the extension.

Barbara:  All disturbances of the ground.

Abbey Librarian [continuing]:  This has well been known as a troubled place. It is said that in the time of the Romans…

Quatermass:  I had better go.

Abbey Librarian [looking a bit startled]:  I beg your pardon?

Quatermass:  I have to leave now. But Miss Judd will stay on. [to Barbara] Find out everything you can and collect Dr. Roney. I think he should be in on this.

Quatermass [to Abbey Librarian]:  Many thanks.

Quatermass is ultimately quite dismissive of the Abbey Librarian; once the librarian has served his purpose, there’s no more need for him. That’s the way it goes for Information Providers. Miss Judd does pause to give the librarian a sympathetic smile.

Reel Librarians: Quatermass and the Pit screenshot

Although this archives scene is short — only about a minute long — it is a key scene, giving credence to the timeline of the stories connected to disturbances of the earth. This Class III librarian appears an expert at this job, translating quite rapidly, and seems only a little put off by Quatermass’s interruptions and abrupt departure. At his age, he’s probably used to this kind of reaction!

Also, about a half-hour after this library scene, the cast returns to what looks to be the same abbey set, to talk to a worker affected by another incident at the excavation site. Barbara and Quatermass talk to a priest, but there’s no further sign of the Abbey Librarian.

It’s interesting to realize that I’ve been featuring quite a few monastery/abbey librarians lately — all males, of course — including those in Necronomicon (another sci-fi title, hmmm) and Ever After. And you’ll probably want to catch back up with the monk librarians in The Name of the Rose (click here and here), just for good measure. ;)

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Ever after, my library

The 1998 romance Ever After, starring Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, and Dougray Scott and set during the French Renaissance, is one of my personal favorites. There’s something so charming and earnest about this film (despite Drew’s shaky accent). And it highlights the intelligence of Drew Barrymore’s Cinderella role (called Danielle in the film, or Nicole when she takes her mother’s name as a disguise), as she loves reading and views books as treasures not to be taken for granted. Attagirl! :)

About halfway through the film, Prince Henry (Scott) takes Danielle/Nicole (Barrymore) on a “first date” of sorts. This is how he makes his (smart) move:

Prince Henry: The Franciscans have an astonishing library. Since you are so fond of reading, I thought you might join me?

Danielle/Nicole:  It is not fair, Sire. You have found my weakness… but I have yet to learn yours.

Reel Librarians: Ever After monastery library

The monastery library in Ever After, as seen from above, with a quick glimpse of the monastery librarians

They walk down the stairs of the monastery library and look over a railing at the monks in the library. Although we see the monks for a few seconds only, I am categorizing them as monastery librarians. These Information Providers can carry on with their work in the Class IV section of librarian films.

As they lean over the railing and drink in the sight of all those books, Henry challenges Danielle/Nicole on her love of reading.

Prince Henry:  Pick one. [a book]

Danielle/Nicole:  I could no sooner choose a favourite star in the heavens.

Prince Henry:  What is it that touches you so?

Danielle/Nicole:  I guess it’s because… when I was young, my father would stay up late and read to me. He was addicted to the written word. I would fall asleep listening to the sound of his voice.

Prince Henry:  What sort of books?

Danielle/Nicole:  Science, philosophy. I suppose they remind me of him. He died when I was eight. Utopia was the last book he brought home.

Prince Henry:  Which explains why you quote it.

Danielle/Nicole:  I would rather hear his voice again than any sound in the world.

Henry turns away and walks down the stairs, as seen below.

Reel Librarians: Ever After monastery library

An open book — a Bible, perchance? — in the monastery library in Ever After

Danielle/Nicole:  Is something wrong?

Prince Henry:  In all my years of study, not one tutor ever demonstrated the passion you have shown me in the last two days. You have more conviction in one memory… than I have in my entire being.

And in the film, she inspires him to found a university! ♥ Later, he reveals his master plan to his parents, King Francis and Queen Marie (in real life, King Francis I and Claude, Queen Consort of France):

I want to build a university, with the largest library in Europe, where people of any station can study, no matter their station.

Reel Librarians: Ever After monastery library

I was able to capture this cool transition shot of the library juxtaposed with Dougray Scott’s face. Two handsome shots in one!

And did he? Hmmm… not so much. In real life, it was Henry’s father, Francis I (who ruled France from 1515-1547) who was well-known as dedicated patron of the arts and libraries. He greatly improved the royal library by expanding its collection and opening up the library to scholars around the world (meaning Europe, I’m sure). In 1537, Francis I also signed the Ordonnance de Montpellier into law, decreeing that a copy of every book to be sold in France also had to have a copy deposited into the royal library. Although apparently this decree was not widely followed (and abolished during the French Revolution in the late 1700s), it does provide a precedent, hundreds of years later, for the Library of Congress!

What was Henry II known for in real life? Although apparently not a great supporter of libraries — or perhaps overshadowed by his father’s love of libraries? — Henry II did introduce the concept of patents to document personal inventions.

For libraries and archives, this father-and-son duo had it covered! :)

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The Night Strangler and the underground librarian

Strap yourselves in, folks, because we’re in for a surprisingly detailed reel librarian portrayal in the 1973 TV movie The Night Strangler (1973), sequel to the 1972 cult classic The Night Stalker. *Possible spoilers ahead*

The telefilm starts out basically the same way as its predecessor, with Kolchak (Darren McGavin) and a tape recorder, narrating another story kept out of the papers, this time in Seattle. Once again, the conspiracy theory revolves around the undead.

About 15 minutes in, we meet the librarian, Mr. Berry (Wally Cox), a short male with a greasy combover, scraggly ‘stache, and wisps of a goatee. He looks more like an accountant or an old-time newspaper man. Which makes sense, because he works in the newspaper archives.

NightStranglerLibrarianCloseup

The name’s Berry. Titus Berry.

Kolchak’s narration introduces Mr. Berry’s character:

Although research was never one of my favorite pastimes, I called on the services of one Titus Berry… guardian of the secrets of Seattle, buried in the morgue of the Daily Chronicle.

Based on this intro, he has made friends with the archives librarian, using him for information. In this way, Mr. Berry definitely serves as an Information Provider. The reference to the archives as a morgue is a clever link to the morgue assistant who helped Kolchak earlier in this telefilm, as well as the parallel underbelly of tunnels underneath Seattle that play an integral role in the plot.

We are cinematically introduced to the back of the librarian walking inbetween two rows of bookcases. The archive room itself is quite dark, with dim light, covered-up windows, and grey painted walls. It looks disorganized with its stacks of books piled on every available surface — but the librarian probably knows where everything is!

NightStranglerArchives1

Mr. Berry, bringing in a large volume, walks over to Kolchak, seated on a ladder. This shot also visually de-emphasizes the librarian, as Kolchak is on a higher level, literally. The stack of books in the foreground creates a visual barrier and serves to make the librarian seem even smaller.

Mr. Berry:  Here we go.

Kolchak:  Thanks.

Mr. Berry: You’re most welcome. I envy you.

Kolchak: You do?

Mr. Berry:  Research. That’s where the joy lies.

Kolchak:  Joy?

Mr. Berry: And the fascination. Let the others scurry about, gathering their contemporary bits of gossip. THIS is where the meat is found [pointing to archives volume]

Kolchak: Meat?

Mr. Berry:  Yes. For instance, no one has yet mentioned the distinct resemblance between this current series of strangulations and another series in the year 1951. Or was it ’52?

Kolchak:  Yeah? How similar?

Mr. Berry: Oh, extremely similar [licks his finger to begin paging through archives]

NightStranglerLibrarianLook

The librarian at first seems kind of creepy, especially in how he keeps gazing at Kolchak and passing out awkward compliments (“I envy you” and “That’s very observant of you”). I thought at first he would turn out to be an Anti-Social Male Librarian. He does slightly resemble a mole rat! (In fact, while watching the TV movie, my husband commented, “I’m shocked his name isn’t Renfield.” ;) )

In contrast, Kolchak seems amused by all this adoration and humors him, stringing Mr. Berry along because he’s useful. And he sure is useful, basically cracking the case, and propelling the plot forward, by gathering clues through old newspaper articles. A follow-up scene five minutes later reveals that Mr. Berry has delved even deeper into the archives — uncovering a series of murders all the way back to 1889! — and promising to check out the state archives the next day.

After Kolchak gets fired (again), and the plot threatens to come to a standstill, who breaks the mystery open one more time? Mr. Berry, the librarian, of course! He discovers yet another news clipping, this one revealing the name of the perpetrator, a physician who helped found a local hospital… in 1882. When Kolchak goes off to explore the clinic, he calls Mr. Berry to come over, luring the rat out of his laboratory!

Dressed in a black suit and tie, as seen below, it is clear that Mr. Berry has definitely made an effort.

NightStranglerHospitalScene

The next scene is a turning point. After defacing the portrait of the physician in the clinic’s lobby, Kolchak is led away in handcuffs and forced to present his evidence to the police and the news publisher. It’s also a turning point for Mr. Berry. He once again supplies the info that Kolchak needs, rushing in with the evidence.

NightStranglerLibrarianEvidence

Kolchak: There he is! Mr. Berry, come in, come in! I’ve been waiting for you, come in! Do you — did you get it?

Mr. Berry:  Yes, I thought perhaps –

Kolchak:  You thought right, Mr. Berry.

Tony Vincenzo (news publisher):  Who is this man?

Kolchak:  Don’t you know him? He works for you.

Mr. Berry:  Down in Research, sir, for 35 years.

Vincenzo:  Good God.

Kolchak:  And research, of course, being the meat of it [sharing an inside joke with Berry and grinning]

NightStranglerResearchSceneThroughout this exposition scene, Kolchak refers to Mr. Berry’s research, while Mr. Berry is content for Kolchak to take the lead in interpreting and connecting all the dots for the police. Once Kolchak exhausts all his evidence with a final, “Well?,” Mr. Berry finally speaks up with an excited echo, “Yes, well?”

And just for a moment, we get a glimpse of the pride on Mr. Berry’s face — pride for himself, not just Kolchak, and for his own role in the solving of this mystery. He seems poised for a hero moment.

Until, that is, the police captain snaps back with, “You shut up!” Mr. Berry immediately slides back into his shell, stuttering out, “I mean, uh, well…”

So close to a Liberated Librarian, so close!

And although he and Kolchak leave together to await the decision of the ad hoc tribunal, only Kolchak is left in the hallway when Tony comes out to deliver the verdict. And in fact, we never see Mr. Berry again. He is no longer useful to Kolchak; therefore, he is no longer useful to the film. He ends up a Class III character, safe in his Information Provider role.

In the DVD featurette, “Directing The Night Strangler,” director Dan Curtis highlights the librarian’s role:

And Wally Cox, I remember him from Mister Peepers [a TV show from 1952-1953]. I used to watch Mister Peepers all the time. There’s the little librarian, which he’s so perfect at, Wally Cox. Wouldn’t he be wonderful in that part? And of course he did it, and he was great.

NightStranglerLibrarianTitleCard
Here’s to you, Mr. Berry. Here’s to you.

P.S. If they ever do a remake of this TV movie, I nominate John Hodgman for the role of Mr. Berry. ;)

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Twisted librarian love

Continuing in our series of scary movies featuring librarians, this week’s feature is Twisted Nerve (1968). SPOILERS AHEAD.

Whistling past horror — although there are some close-ups of bloodied bodies and hatchets along the way — this decidedly odd film tries to sell itself as a psychological drama, with a main argument that homicidal/psychopathic tendencies are passed genetically. It also attempts to relate this issue of “twisted nerves” to Down’s Syndrome — referred to as “Mongolism” in this ’60s film — as the main star/villain of the film, Martin (played by Welsh actor Hywel Bennett, who looks like Zac Efron in a bad wig) has a brother with Down’s Syndrome living in a mental institution. Martin himself reverts to a mentally  handicapped personality, “Georgie,” throughout the film.

This (controversial and offensive) link to Down’s Syndrom is so badly pieced together that the filmmakers were forced to add a prologue during post-production, stating “that there is no established, scientific connection between Mongolism and psychotic, or criminal, behavior.”

You’re probably wondering… what in the world is a librarian doing in this film? Enter Hayley Mills as Susan Harper, a lovely young librarian who, in the space of an ill-timed smile, becomes the obsessive target of Martin, who assumes the persona of “Georgie” around Susan in order to gain her trust. Which isn’t very hard to do, because again and again, Susan is shown to be incredibly gullible, naive, and easily manipulated (even blaming herself in one scene for Georgie’s behavior!). It’s a credit to Hayley Mills’ acting skills that she comes across as warm-hearted and intelligent as she does; otherwise, you would just want to scream at the screen constantly about how dumb her actions are. Which, now that I think about it, totally fits the tradition for those watching horror movies, to scream at the young girl who walks into a dark house without telling anyone where she is.

A little over ten minutes into this Class II film, Martin/Georgie embarks upon his obsession by following Susan one morning to the public library, whilst whistling a creepy tune:

Don’t look behind you!

Susan is a classic Spirited Young Girl character type:  a young, physically attractive, intelligent, and modern girl who is working temporarily at the library. She’s quite open about working for a teaching degree, and she has a conversation later with her mom about school lasting “only one more year.” And along with Ali McGraw in Love Story (1970), she’s one of the best-dressed reel librarians ever! Behold the blonde-haired cuteness:

Our first introduction to Susan in a library setting is a classic one; while looking for a book atop a library ladder, two young lads enjoy the view up her (short) skirt.

It’s interesting to compare how the behavior of these two boys comes off as cheeky, while Martin’s behavior as alter ego Georgie — a young boy’s personality stunted in a man’s body — comes off as creepy. In small moments like this, this movie can be quite clever and intriguing.

Susan enjoys a nice moment of readers’ advisory with the boys:

Susan:  Here we are. How about this? [hand them book ]

Boy #1: The Tower of London? Get off. That’s history, isn’t it?

Susan:  That’s bloodthirsty enough, even for you, Johnny.

Boy #2:  Any girls in it?

Susan:  Well, there’s Lady Jane Grey. She gets the chopper.

Boy #2:  I’d rather have Lady Chatterley.

Susan:  I bet you would. But you take this. You’ll like it. I promise you.

Also during the few library scenes throughout the film, we are introduced to the head librarian, Mr. Groom, who is portrayed as a textbook example of the Anti-Social Male Librarian. Again, so clever to juxtapose this decidedly neurotic reel librarian with the name of “Mr. Groom.” Or maybe they’re hinting he’s horsey? ;)

In this first library scene, Martin/Georgie gets upset at Susan refusing to go to the cinema with him and starts unbuttoning his shirt in distress. While trying to help him button his shirt back up, Susan manages to then upset Mr. Groom, who rushes over with a stack of books, hissing in a loud stage whisper:

Look, I don’t know whether you are dressing or undressing your friend, but I do wish you wouldn’t do it in the public library.

In a later library scene, Martin/Georgie is waiting in the library for Susan after hours. Of course, this rattles Mr. Groom’s cage, who quickly scuttles over to him to point out the library’s been closed for the last 10 minutes. Martin doesn’t waste any Georgie mannerisms on Mr. Groom; rather, he calls him “Ratface” and later yells at the hapless reel librarian to “Get stuffed!”

Poor Mr. Groom, he has no idea what he’s in for

After Martin/Georgie has killed a few people, the drama increases as Susan finally starts putting all the pieces together. But even after figuring everything out and returning to an empty house all by herself (insert shouting at the screen!), she gets trapped in the attic in an effectively tense climax scene. The film ends on a plaintive note, as Martin/Georgie continues to call out for, “Susan, Susan.”

A memorable reel librarian in an otherwise troubled film.

Here’s a clip of the whistling scene (later echoed in Kill Bill: Vol. I), and our first glimpse of the public library:

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Necronomicon: Dead on arrival

Continuing in our series this month of scary movies featuring librarians, next up is 1993′s Necronomicon:  Book of the Dead (aka Necronomicon, aka H.P. Lovecraft’s Necronomicon, Book of the Dead). The film is comprised of three segments, (Part 1, The Drowned, based on Lovecraft’s short story “The Rats in the Walls”; Part 2:  The Cold, based on the story “Cool Air”; Part 3: Whispers, based on the story “The Whisperer in Darkness”) plus a “wraparound” entitled The Library, which serves as a framing device for the other stories.

One of the directors, Shûsuke Kaneko, didn’t speak English during the time he was filming his segment, Part 2, although the entire cast is American. I’m not sure what the other directors’ excuses are. ;)

*MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD*

The Library wraparound story i set in 1932 and stars Jeffrey Combs as the author H. P. Lovecraft, who pulls up in a taxi in front of an imposing building that houses a monastery library (see below).

The small bronze sign above the doorbell reads, “By appointment only.” Not sure if Lovecraft has an appointment, but he is apparently well-known by the librarian monks (played by Tony Azito as the Librarian, and Juan Fernandez as the attendant monk and library assistant).

Librarian:  Mr. Lovecraft, always a treat. And how can we indulge you this time?

Lovecraft:  Actually, I’m here because a new story of mine demands a bit of fact-checking.

Librarian:  Fact-checking? We were under the impression you dealt in fiction.

Lovecraft:  My work is wrongly construed as fiction by the lesser minded. In fact, I take great pride in presenting fictional possibilities. It is my duty, after all, as a human being to enlighten the darkest depths of experience, to expose certain secrets unjustly hoarded by others.

Librarian:  We shall see.

There is NOTHING subtle in this movie — from the makeup to the costumes to the “acting” to the “writing” (quotations marks intended) — so why would the librarian character be any different? Check out these facial expressions from the librarian monk:

After signing in, we next spy the librarian on a library ladder. Obviously up to something, Lovecraft nervously directs the librarian to the alchemical encyclopedia on the top shelf (of course). While the librarian is busy reaching for the volume, Lovecraft manages to unhook the librarian’s keys from his waist sash without him noticing the sound of jangling keys or the sudden missing weight. Yeah. Right.


When you get massive eye-rolling from not only a main character (ahem, librarian monk) AND the audience within the first five minutes, you know it’s going to be a bad time. And the librarian monk tries to give Lovecraft a bad time with his next comment.

Please try to remember that if you leave this area unattended for any reason whatsoever, we shall be forced to revoke your privileges.

Does this stern warning work? Yeah. Right.

The very next shot shows him scurrying downstairs — although his furtive act is actually seen by the librarian assistant monk. Lovecraft approaches a secret archives room with a safe along the back wall, which DA-DA-DUMMMM, reveals the Necronomicon, the book of the dead. Cracking it open, Lovecraft disturbs some kind of force, causing the two librarian monks to look up (see below). Knowing what he’s up to, do the two librarian monks actually follow through on their threat to “revoke his privileges”? Of course not! There wouldn’t be a plot (such as it is).

I won’t go into the plots of the three story segments, but I will reveal that they’re all (sort of) set in the future. Or possibly alternate futures. Whatever. It doesn’t matter. Inbetween the stories, we are treated to an ever-increasing sense of unease through the library wraparound scenes, as the wall safe opens up more portal doors as more pages are turned. The librarians’ actions also (finally) escalate:

  • After the first story segment, the two librarian monks pick up Lovecraft’s hat in the main hall and casually ask, “Will he truly be brainless enough to try?” Response:  ”Of course. He’s human.”
  • After the second segment, the librarian monk then tries to open up the door leading to the archives room, but finds the handle locked.
  • And finally, after the third story, the librarian monk shouts to Lovecraft through the iron bars. After Lovecraft reveals that he dropped the keys, the librarian begins to reveal his true self: “You impetuous little fool! Do you know what you’ve done?! Put it back. Put the book back!”

Too late! As the safe opens and an alien creature comes hurtling down the portal, the librarian monk squeezes through the bars and grabs Lovecraft. More threats and cheesy lines:

The secrets of the Necrominocon do not come cheap. This is going to cost you your life! Consider your privileges revoked, Mr. Lovecraft!

Perhaps balking at this ultra-cheesy line, Lovecraft unhinges the librarian’s jaws and pulls off his face, revealing the librarian as an alien! LIBRARIAN MONK ALIEN … LIBRARIAN MONK ALIEN … that phrase just kept spooling through my head … in all caps … LIBRARIAN MONK ALIEN.

Does Lovecraft get away? Of course! The alien creature grabs the LIBRARIAN MONK ALIEN instead and heads back down the wormhole portal, leaving this mess behind:

The Necromonicon closes, and Lovecraft runs away as the librarian monk assistant shouts, “You don’t know what you’ve done! You’ll pay!” The movie ends on a closeup of the Necronomicon that he stole from the library.

Afterwards, my husband’s summation? “We’ve definitely seen worse.” As I pointed out, that’s not really a compliment. ;)

And in a film that supposedly celebrates Lovecraft’s craft, the character himself comes off rather poorly. We learn that (a) he’s a thief; (b) he’s smug about said thievery and escape; (c) he’s a plagiarist, as he was just copying the stories from the Necronomicon; and (d) he doesn’t care about the damage he caused — and presumably will continue causing — by opening up this book of the dead. The LIBRARIAN MONK ALIENS don’t come off well in this film, but Lovecraft comes off worse. It’s never a good time when you can’t root for a single character!

Sam is so well-versed in my reel librarian research that we also enjoyed a lively discussion of what character types the LIBRARIAN MONK ALIENS fulfilled:

  • Comic Relief? It’s sad when the bad acting and writing in a would-be horror film could count as comic relief, but that wasn’t the intention, I’m sure.
  • Liberated Librarian? No way.
  • Male Librarian as a Failure? One could argue this considering the failure of the librarians to protect the book they were supposed to protect. Ultimately, however, one should assume these monks chose to live their lives in the library and wanted to protect the book of the dead, even though they were horribly inept at doing so.
  • Information Provider? I say yes, as the main librarian’s actions in the beginning of the film (signing in a library patron, climbing the library ladder, helping Lovecraft find a specific book) are used to establish the setting as a library, and his own role recognizable as a librarian, even while dressed in monk robes.
  • Anti-Social Librarian? Bingo! Hoarding knowledge; never seen outside the library; poor social skills; seems to dislike people; dressed conservatively; and elitist? Checkmark on all accounts.

So there you have it. Two anti-social and information-providing librarians in this Class III film. And one more time…

LIBRARIAN MONK ALIEN.

That is all.

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