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References The Limey Connection

S. Soderbergh (1999)

The Limey (1999), directed by Steven Soderbergh, shares parallels with Mulholland Dr.

Both films tread in dreamily fragmented territory. In The Limey, cuts back and forth from Terence Stamp on an aeroplane make it unclear whether he is shown travelling to Los Angeles imagining what may happen when he gets there, travelling back from Los Angeles remembering what did happen, or a combination of both. Unconventional editing from Soderbergh allows conversations to travel over time and locations, perhaps clueing us in to a story not entirely told in a "real" objective frame.

Melissa George plays Jennifer Wilson, a young actress who has travelled from England to Los Angeles to try to make her name as an actress. Melissa George, you will note, plays the blonde version of Camilla Rhodes in Mulholland Dr. One notable connection is the black and white head-shot photographs used by Lynch and Soderbergh in their films. Particularly the early photo used by Lynch in the rough cut pilot bears a resemblance to that used in The Limey:

Melissa George photograph in "The Limey" vs Melissa George photograph in MD Pilot
Limey Melissa George photograph in The Limey
MD Melissa George photograph in MD Pilot
Newspaper clipping from The Limey

Additionally, Melissa's character in The Limey is murdered, the body placed in a car and burnt-out to make it look like a car accident:

"Maybe there's something about it in the papers…"

Shooting on The Limey commenced months before shooting on the Mulholland Drive TV pilot did. However, the pilot was in the can before The Limey was released, so it's difficult to know exactly how either one would have had a good look at the other's work to reference it in this way. It's quite possible that the two directors shared notes, saw some interesting parallels in each other's project and perhaps decided to reference each other's composition.

More possible connections

Both Betty and Wilson are introduced arriving at LAX
Limey Wilson arriving at LAX in The Limey
MD Betty arriving at LAX in Mulholland Dr.
It's sure nice to have someone to talk to on the plane…
Limey Conversation on plane in The Limey
MD Conversation on plane in Mulholland Dr.
Wilson and Adam dressed in black, driving similar silver cars
Limey Wilson in black driving silver car
MD Adam in black driving silver car
Wilson and Adam end up lying on the floor bleeding, assailants looming over them — note the similar vest tops
Limey Wilson on the floor in The Limey
MD Adam on the floor in Mulholland Dr.
Limey Assailant looming over Wilson
MD Assailant looming over Adam
Both attend a dinner party — huge modern art painting visible as they walk outside
Limey Dinner party in The Limey
MD Dinner party in Mulholland Dr.
Impressive swimming pools outside
Limey Swimming pool in The Limey
MD Swimming pool in Mulholland Dr.
Black and white sedans crashing on Mulholland Dr.
Limey Car crash in The Limey
MD Car crash in Mulholland Dr.
Two power figures with blue lamp-shades in the background
Limey Power figure with blue lamp-shade in The Limey
MD Power figure with blue lamp-shade in Mulholland Dr.

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