similar effect at end of MALTESE FALCON as I recall. Mary Astor enters elevator with Ward Bond, the collapsing elevator grille throws a grid of shadow across her, a visual announcement of her impending incarceration. I believe the effect was used in other noir films and -- if intentional -- is used in SLINGBLADE to intimate the protagonist's return to the hospital for the criminally insane. HRGreenberg md ---- Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite http://www.sa.ua.edu/screensite