The Inspiration of Mr. Budd story
How did Mr. Budd become a top-class West End hairdresser after such humble origins in a suburban barbershop? Years ago, he was running a small barbershop, he got an eccentric customer who wanted a shave, and to dye his flaming red hair to a new color. As Budd chatted with his client and read the news, he realized that the eccentric man is a fugitive murderer - and that his own life was in danger too. Directed by: Peter Sasdy. Story by: Kenneth Jupp, based on the story by Dorothy L. Sayers.
8 total · 1 choice · 4 major · 3 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| what if I was at the mercy of a mad person | choice | Mr. Budd had to think on his feet when an eccentric fugitive with flaming red hair came into his barber shop demanding service. |
| being on the run from the law | major | To facilitate his escape from the country, an eccentric fugitive sought out a local barber to dye his telltale flaming red hair and shave off his equally flaming red beard. The barber, the titular Mr. Budd, recognized the man from a description published in the newspaper. Thinking quickly, Mr. Budd appeared to comply with the fugitive's demands, shaving off his beard and dyeing his hair an inconspicuous shade of brown. However, shortly after the man arrived at the relative safety of a Paris airport, the chemicals in the dye conspired to turn his hair to be bright green. He was promptly apprehended by the Paris police without much incident. |
| entrepreneurship | major | The story tells the curious tale of how Mr. Budd rose up to be top-class West End London hairdresser. |
| spouse murder | major | The story turns on an eccentric man with flaming red hair being on the run from the law for having murdered his wife. |
| success in life is a matter of chance | major | Mr. Budd's rising up to be top-class West End London hairdresser was made possible through a chance encounter with a dangerous fugitive. |
| beards | minor | At the very heart of the story was the great, manly, and gloriously red whiskers that the murderer reluctantly dispossessed himself of in order to go under cover. |
| chemicals | minor | At the center of the story was a hair dying specialist using various chemicals in order to turn hair green. In the end, even a pet dog was dyed green. |
| law enforcement | minor | Mr. Budd went to the police to report his strange encounter with a flaming red-haired man who matched to a tee the description of a wanted murderer. The Paris police later collected the man, now with bright green hair, at a Paris airport without much incident. |