Some crazy fucks believe that the Stranger was only a figment of the Dude's imagination or perhaps an occasional flashback he was talking to. I believe that this was a possibility except for the fact the the Stranger spoke to Gary when he ordered a sarsaparilla. Seems like bullshit to me, but other dudes and dudettes might think otherwise.
I don't get these imaginary character theory's. I heard a guy on the Lebwoski Podcast site expound a theory that stated that Donny was not a real person even, but only Walter's imaginary friend, perhaps a fallen comrade from Vietnam. His justification for this was that The Dude never directly acknowledges Donny.
To be sure I watched the movie again and there at least three times, once directly, where the Dude does directly acknowledge Donny.
1. 'My rug, Donny...' Said to Donny in an early scene where he is trying to ascertain the facts of the whole Chinaman issue.
2. Thank you, Donny!' Said to Donny, by The Dude, after Donny informs Dude that his phone is ringing.
3. And finally, in what I believe, shoots this theory into the ground, you have the scene where Dude rushes to Donny's side after his apparent heart attack wondering if he's perhaps been shot amidst the confusion of the battle with nihilists.
Now, for a second let's just say that Donny is a figment of Walter's imagination that the Dude has learned to live with, just to avoid conflict. Why would he then go out of his way, during the midst of the fight even, to check on the wellbeing of a fictional person?
And then, skipping the funeral, you have the closing remarks by the Stranger remarking on how he 'didn't like seeing Donny go'.... Now if Donny had been a fake, a phony, a fucking goldbricker from Walter's post Vietnam guilt etc... Would it not be a positive thing that Donny finally decided to cross over to the other side? And furthermore, leaving that point aside, if The Stranger is also *not real* you then have one of The Dude's lucid imaginary friends commentating on the demise of one of Walter's imaginary friends. Which uh, doesn't, ya know, make sense.
Walter would be a weird fuck for sure if he ran around town constantly shouting out "Shout the fuck up, Donny" if no one was around! ;D
Yeah, I have a habit of saying that now whenever I'm pissed off in general, not like seriously or anything, but like when the old computers running slow, or I'm out of oat sodas... I find quoting the Great Walter Sobchack when you are stressed out can really relieve some tension...
Dudes, the stranger is some kind of Dude's admirer, just like us.
This is very clear in the beginning.
"But I'll tell you what, after seeing Los Angeles and thisahere story I'm about to unfold--wal, I guess I seen somethin' ever' bit as stupefyin' as ya'd see in any a those other places, and in English too, so I can die with a smile on my face without feelin' like the good Lord gypped me."
He's not a dude's flashback, the dude is not the type of selfish-dude that will imaginate a stranger talking about him all the time, of course selfish persons are not dudeist, they're human paraquats.
PD: Excuse my english, i'm trying to do the best i can.I hope that somebody understand.Dios m?o.
Abide.
You're doing fine Dudette.... Good observations.
Actually, I always thought the Stranger was a Dude from the 1800s. A previous incarnation of the immortal Dude. He's just checking in to see how the latest Dude is faring. And he seems to be pleased with what he sees (except for all the cuss words)
Huh, that's a very fucking interesting theory.
If there's any truth to that Elliot in a sense played a similar role in the Ghostrider movie with Nick Cage last year where he was like the ghost of a 1800s badass demon killing guy, while Nickles was the 21st century counterpart...
I was thinking that the stranger was some kind of author watching the Dude's life. Sort of showing up at various venues that Dude hangs out at to get more material for the next chapter...............
But I'll tell you what, after seeing Los Angeles and thisahere story I'm about to unfold--wal, I guess I seen somethin' ever' bit as stupefyin' as ya'd see in any a those other places, and in English too.
That's fucking interesting dudes.
Quote from: Andrea Dudette on November 22, 2007, 08:39:06 AM
That's fucking interesting dudes.
Yeah, Dudette, the Stranger could be the dudes biographer. The Stranger writes his new book "The Dude Abides."
I like Bill's theory. Other than a previous dude incarnation, he could also represent the personification of the immortal Holy Dude Spirit that resides in us all. He likes the Dude's style because he has let the Holy Dude spirit emanate in himself to a level of almost supreme Dudeness. The stranger is the narrator of the story, and he appears to be somewhat of a mystic. He could be a Master Dude and the film could be a story used to teach prospective dudes about new shit coming to light and achieving a state of Dudeness.
Quote from: DirtDude on January 14, 2008, 07:03:22 PM
I like Bill's theory. Other than a previous dude incarnation, he could also represent the personification of the immortal Holy Dude Spirit that resides in us all. He likes the Dude's style because he has let the Holy Dude spirit emanate in himself to a level of almost supreme Dudeness. The stranger is the narrator of the story, and he appears to be somewhat of a mystic. He could be a Master Dude and the film could be a story used to teach prospective dudes about new shit coming to light and achieving a state of Dudeness.
So when the dude says that he abides, could he be making a statement deeper than we have thought? He abides in everything? Far fucking out, man.
Quote from: Bill on November 21, 2007, 04:43:12 PM
Actually, I always thought the Stranger was a Dude from the 1800s. A previous incarnation of the immortal Dude. He's just checking in to see how the latest Dude is faring. And he seems to be pleased with what he sees (except for all the cuss words)
That i agree with!!!! good call dude
I thought the stranger was God. He seemed to exhibit qualities that I associate with God. His voice for example. He seemed to have a loving, non-judgemental demeanor. He ordered a soft drink at the bar. He suggested that the dude not use so many cuss words, but ultimately said,"Have it your way." That's just my opinion, man.
How about this. The Dude is a figment of The Stranger's mind.
The Stranger's voice is the first voice you hear and the he's the last person you sees (except for that guy who rolls a strike).
I see the stranger out on the damned prairie, laying against a rock...He just chewed a peyote button, and starts ramblin' about The Dude, Walter, and this crazy story about a kidnapping, porn, nihilists, bowling, Vietnam, and, uh, Vietnam, and...wow, lost my train of thought there.
Quote from: digbys kid on October 09, 2008, 01:19:27 PM
How about this. The Dude is a figment of The Stranger's mind.
The Stranger's voice is the first voice you hear and the he's the last person you sees (except for that guy who rolls a strike).
I see the stranger out on the damned prairie, laying against a rock...He just chewed a peyote button, and starts ramblin' about The Dude, Walter, and this crazy story about a kidnapping, porn, nihilists, bowling, Vietnam, and, uh, Vietnam, and...wow, lost my train of thought there.
Were you listening to the strangers' story, you're like a child wandering into an acid trip without any point of reference, getting more and more into the ramblins' about the Dude and Walter's Vietnam and nihilistic pornos, and ....wow, lost my train of thought there.
Quote from: digbys kid on October 09, 2008, 01:19:27 PM
How about this. The Dude is a figment of The Stranger's mind.
The Stranger's voice is the first voice you hear and the he's the last person you sees (except for that guy who rolls a strike).
I see the stranger out on the damned prairie, laying against a rock...He just chewed a peyote button, and starts ramblin' about The Dude, Walter, and this crazy story about a kidnapping, porn, nihilists, bowling, Vietnam, and, uh, Vietnam, and...wow, lost my train of thought there.
Not bad, not too bad at all. I dig your style, dude. Nice fucking theory.
Howdy good dudes, (that includes the feminine) I believe that the stranger is the Dude's father, and therefore the Dude of the previous generation. The Stranger is a 1940's movie cowboy, and as out of place and time as the aging hippie Dude is in the Bush 41 era.
Here's something interesting about the Stranger. A few months ago, while I was digging through the DVD bargain bin looking for TBL, because I checked 9 different stores that sell DVD's and 2 rental shops and still hadn't found a copy, ( I was actually watching the film on the net to get my Lebowski fix) I found something very curious.
A bargain bin bundle pack, 2 DVD's of the same actor. The good dude Sam the Stranger himself. The first was called The Last Ranger, our Sam, a Texas ranger on the land. The second film was called Blue River, and apparently Sam only has a small role in the film, so I wondered why it would be included. I read the back of the case and found that the lead character in the film is named Lawrence Sellers.
The Last Ranger. Put the space in another place and it becomes The LA Stranger!
That's interesting, man. That's fucking interesting!
holy shit. i need a cocktail. this is heavy stuff, man.
TBL is truly a universe unto itself.
i'm trippin.
Quote from: forumdude on July 15, 2009, 06:23:12 PM
holy shit. i need a cocktail. this is heavy stuff, man.
TBL is truly a universe unto itself.
i'm trippin.
I was theorizing a while back that the Stranger was a manifestation of the Dude's, Walter's and Donny's combined id brought into being by a powerful need to tell their story, a story the square world wouldn't give a shit about.
I'm still tracking down leads on that theory, its got me working in shifts.
Mind if I burn a j?
O.K.,I need to post a little correction here. Due to the lapses of my weed addled brain, I mad an error. The film that I identified as "The Last Ranger" is actually called, "The Ranger, the Cook, and the Hole in the Sky". The back cover blurb described Sam as "The last ranger". I forgot the name of the film after that.
Sam plays, get this, a park ranger, in 1919.
Both films were made for TV in 1995, and both star Jerry O'Connell and Sam Elliot.
Sorry for the confusion, he's still the "last ranger" to me.
http://www.amazon.com/Ranger-Cook-Hole-Sky/dp/B0007LPS8Q
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114235/
Quote from: Elbowski on July 16, 2009, 01:23:04 PM
O.K.,I need to post a little correction here. Due to the lapses of my weed addled brain, I mad an error. The film that I identified as "The Last Ranger" is actually called, "The Ranger, the Cook, and the Hole in the Sky". The back cover blurb described Sam as "The last ranger". I forgot the name of the film after that.
Sam plays, get this, a park ranger, in 1919.
Both films were made for TV in 1995, and both star Jerry O'Connell and Sam Elliot.
Sorry for the confusion, he's still the "last ranger" to me.
http://www.amazon.com/Ranger-Cook-Hole-Sky/dp/B0007LPS8Q
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114235/
An occasional flashback? Separate incidents?
I applaud Elbowski for bringing this new shit to light.
That's fucking interesting, man.
It's hard to say man. Lotta in's and out's.
On one hand it would work well for the stranger to be a figment of the Dude's imagination.
But the movie does not support that.
But then how does he know all about the Dude? He comes into the movie knowing
about the Dude. But it's clear that the Dude does not know the stranger even though
he digs his style.
Maybe he was actually a brother shamus.
The Dude is a Dudeist while The Stranger is a Dudeist Priest. Or the Dudely Lama. Or what have you.
Am I wrong?
Am I wrong?
Ok then.
My recent theory is that the entire story takes place in the stranger's head and we are looking into his mind as this a here story unfolds. That would explain all of the surreal scenes such as carpet ride over Los Angeles and the dude rolling down a lane looking out from inside a bowling ball. Maybe we enter the stranger's mindscape during a flashback brought by some mighty powerful peyote.
Wha, that ma knewest durn theory.
You got any sarsaparilla?
Quote from: Andrea Dudette on November 21, 2007, 02:23:59 PM
Dudes, the stranger is some kind of Dude's admirer, just like us.
This is very clear in the beginning.
"But I'll tell you what, after seeing Los Angeles and thisahere story I'm about to unfold--wal, I guess I seen somethin' ever' bit as stupefyin' as ya'd see in any a those other places, and in English too, so I can die with a smile on my face without feelin' like the good Lord gypped me."
He's not a dude's flashback, the dude is not the type of selfish-dude that will imaginate a stranger talking about him all the time, of course selfish persons are not dudeist, they're human paraquats.
PD: Excuse my english, i'm trying to do the best i can.I hope that somebody understand.Dios m?o.
Abide.
Dudette is a worthy fucking female dude. Fucking eh! ;)
Quote from: digitalbuddha on August 26, 2009, 11:47:38 PM
My recent theory is that the entire story takes place in the stranger's head and we are looking into his mind as this a here story unfolds. That would explain all of the surreal scenes such as carpet ride over Los Angeles and the dude rolling down a lane looking out from inside a bowling ball. Maybe we enter the stranger's mindscape during a flashback brought by some mighty powerful peyote.
Wha, that ma knewest durn theory.
You got any sarsaparilla?
It makes sense. Because the Stranger knows more than just what the Dude tells him. But it doesn't seem that the Stranger has any strict regimen. He doesn't drink oat sodas or caucasians. Could it be that the Dude told him all the story and he just repeat it to us? And the surreal scenes are a product of Dude's mind? Interesting thoughts.
Quote from: greatspiritmonk on August 27, 2009, 01:54:07 AM
It makes sense. Because the Stranger knows more than just what the Dude tells him. But it doesn't seem that the Stranger has any strict regimen. He doesn't drink oat sodas or caucasians. Could it be that the Dude told him all the story and he just repeat it to us? And the surreal scenes are a product of Dude's mind? Interesting thoughts.
I didn't see the Dude tell the Stranger anything about what was going on, out of all of the times I've seen the movie. So no, I don't think that's plausible.
You are right, but he seems to know anyway what's going on with the Dude. If all the movie is a kind of dream, or an occasional acid flashback, which I don't think, the Stranger could be the Dude's conscience or something like that.
He is the one who tells all the story from the beginning to the end. So he probably was always around in a way or another. He doesn't talk only about their conversations at the bowling alley.
Well, I'll take a nap and see if it clarifies something. 8)
Quote from: TheDudeInMe on August 27, 2009, 09:11:07 AM
Quote from: greatspiritmonk on August 27, 2009, 01:54:07 AM
It makes sense. Because the Stranger knows more than just what the Dude tells him. But it doesn't seem that the Stranger has any strict regimen. He doesn't drink oat sodas or caucasians. Could it be that the Dude told him all the story and he just repeat it to us? And the surreal scenes are a product of Dude's mind? Interesting thoughts.
I didn't see the Dude tell the Stranger anything about what was going on, out of all of the times I've seen the movie. So no, I don't think that's plausible.
And that's my point, dude. It's all in the stranger's head. No one needs to tell him anything.
WE are The Stranger, man.
"catch you later on down the trail" ??!
Or, alternatively, The Stranger is our higher power.
Quote from: Whiteheart on August 29, 2009, 01:18:09 AM
WE are The Stranger, man.
"catch you later on down the trail" ??!
Or, alternatively, The Stranger is our higher power.
Is that some kind of Eastern thing?
Quote from: Whiteheart on August 29, 2009, 01:18:09 AM
WE are The Stranger, man.
"catch you later on down the trail" ??!
Or, alternatively, The Stranger is our higher power.
You mean something like a human form of Tao? Lao Tzu? JCD (Jesus Christ Dude)? Our Soul?
So it could be Dude's dream. I've got an headache now. 8)
The Stranger was most definitely a prophet. In the Judeo-Islamic understanding, a prophet is simply one speaks on behalf of God. Such is the reason that folks like Amos and Muhammad are accepted without having the divine claims or awesome miracles of Jesus, Moses, or even Krishna. The Stranger most certainly speaks on behalf of the dude for our own edification and to our own greater understanding. As such he is, in addition to anything else, certainly a prophet of Dudeism- possibly the first like John the Baptist.
A Dudeist Prophet. A kind of compeer to Dudeist Priests.
Funny thread this one, full of things to consider. 8)
Quote from: Bill on November 21, 2007, 04:43:12 PM
Actually, I always thought the Stranger was a Dude from the 1800s. A previous incarnation of the immortal Dude. He's just checking in to see how the latest Dude is faring. And he seems to be pleased with what he sees (except for all the cuss words)
The fuck you talking bout'? Cuss words?
Is this some kind of eastern thing?
Deus Ex Machina, that stranger is.
According to a dude at that other forum, sarsaparilla has as it's root, "zarza", meaning "bush".
Quote from: Elbowski on September 09, 2009, 05:54:03 PM
Deus Ex Machina, that stranger is.
According to a dude at that other forum, sarsaparilla has as it's root, "zarza", meaning "bush".
"Are we gonna split hairs here?" Well, yes we are...
The Stranger can't be
deus ex machina as he is also the narrator and makes an equally unobtrusive appearance mid-way through the film. If anybody fills this role, it's Donny, whose completely unforeseen myocardial infarction, death, and bereavement is the epilogue to this whole durned human comedy.
Foe me the stranger resembles one of those taoist sages from China. The ones wandering around the country helping people, giving teaching and so on. And telling insightful stories too. And in English too. ;D
Multiple concerns with the Stranger. In the beginning, he informs us the story happenned in the past (takes place in the early 90's), but at the end of the moview, he actually speaks to the current day audience just after his direct involvment in the story as it unfolded at that time in the past. Very confusing to conteplate. Then, he references future events, while still residing in the past, concerning the little Lebowski that he happens to know is on the way.
If The Stranger is a mere mortal, how does he narrate an event in the past, while at the same time, discussing future events (which are still in the past for the audience) while being directly involved current events of the story?
My mind is not currently limber enough to understand this.
This is our concern, Dude, and what a wonderful and mindfucking question you have posed. And in English, too. The Stranger moves in mysterious ways, indeed.
Like a Taoist monk. Or a Dudeist Monk. 8)
Quote from: Bartender on September 16, 2009, 01:49:01 PM
If The Stranger is a mere mortal, how does he narrate an event in the past, while at the same time, discussing future events (which are still in the past for the audience) while being directly involved current events of the story?
My mind is not currently limber enough to understand this.
I think we're getting into wachowski brothers territory here.
So, the Stranger is another Dude.
And to the Stranger, the Dude is the Stranger. Obviously, "The Dude" is not a name anyone would self-apply where he comes from, but then there's a lot about the Dude he doesn't understand.
But the Stranger doesn't want to understand, he wants to be stupefied. That way, he can go to his grave without feeling like the Good Lord gypped him.