Furs on Film – White of the Eye (1987)

Want a horror movie set in the desert where the ladies wear fur? Sure, we got that too. Interestingly, White of the Eye relentlessly establishes the southwest Arizona scenery every chance it gets, all so Cathy Moriarty can cruise around it in a jacket. Oh, and a horny housewife can pull the ole -fur-coat-seduction-on-the-handyman trick. Man, if I had a nickel for every time that happened in a movie… I'd have a nickel.


Alberta Watson in a Lynx Fur Coat - White of the Eye, 1987

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White Of The Eye (Bluray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray]

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen


White of the Eye – The Movie

This is a slasher of sorts, though it has more in common with old-school Giallo than anything featuring Freddy or Jason. A serial killer is targeting ladies in Globe, Arizona, and stereo installer Paul White (David Keith) is a suspect. He lives in town with his wife, Joan (Cathy Moriarty), and his kid. The movie has some X-Files-lite paranormal subtext because Paul has some strange auditory ability that allows him to find the perfect speaker installation spots. Spoiler: Paul turns out to be a pretty good suspect. 

White of the Eye – The Furs

There are two furs in the movie… and this. It is a peacock feather jacket worn by Joan during flashbacks and at the film's end. I include it for the sake of completeness and because, if I didn't, I'm sure I'll get a comment like, “I swear there was another fur in that movie….” There was not, I assure you.

Cathy Moriarty in a Peacock Feather Jacket - White of the Eye, 1987

Joan has a couple of pretty decently long scenes wearing this shorter-haired red fox stroller. The first is intercut with the scene that you're all here for. So you get a little two-for-one action.

Cathy Moriarty in a Red Fox Fur Jacket - White of the Eye, 1987

She finds her ex, Mike (Alan Rosenberg), in the back of the gas station and has a long chat while wearing the red fox.

Cathy Moriarty in a Red Fox Fur Jacket - White of the Eye, 1987

While they're chatting, Paul makes a house call with this lady, Ann Mason (Alberta Watson). She's looking very cordial in a full-length lynx .

Alberta Watson in a Lynx Fur Coat - White of the Eye, 1987

Joan remains at the gas station, getting an exposition dump from Mike, including his claim he can see the future or something. Again, this is six or so years pre-X-Files. Honestly, if I was going to cut between a “fur coat seduction” scene and anything else (I wouldn't), it would at least be another scene with a fur coat. So, kudos, White of the Eye.

Cathy Moriarty in a Red Fox Fur Jacket - White of the Eye, 1987

Ann is undoubtedly friendly with her local handymen, which is just common courtesy.

Alberta Watson in a Lynx Fur Coat - White of the Eye, 1987

Paul briefly resists.

Alberta Watson in a Lynx Fur Coat - White of the Eye, 1987

Briefly.

Alberta Watson in a Lynx Fur Coat - White of the Eye, 1987

The scene isn't particularly explicit for those interested, even though the film has an R-rating.

Alberta Watson in a Lynx Fur Coat - White of the Eye, 1987

Later Joan does a little investigating of her own. Once again, she's prowling the desert in her red fox stroller.

Cathy Moriarty in a Red Fox Fur Jacket - White of the Eye, 1987

Sadly, the peacock feather jacket is given the honor of accompanying Cathy Moriarty through the climax of the film. I suspect this choice was intentional to bookend the flashbacks where she wore it when she first met Paul. “Cinema” is all well and good until it forces poor fashion decisions.

Cathy Moriarty in a Peacock Feather Jacket - White of the Eye, 1987

Because it's funny, here's a still showing Cathy's stunt double mid-leap into a reservoir. Nice wig.

Cathy Moriarty's Stunt Double in a Peacock Feather Jacket - White of the Eye, 1987

With the quibble that the peacock feather jacket should have been real fur, it's still a solid film with a decent runtime (for not being a madcap heiress movie from the ‘30s). The red fox isn't quite as full as I'd like it to be, but it's fine. Clearly, the full-length lynx is the marquee fur, and it's only a bonus it's used in a seduction scene. I do love the juxtaposition of the desert setting with the furs. I'll give credit if there's a dialogue where the characters state it's winter that I just missed.

Fur Runtime: approx 5 minutes
Film Runtime: 111 minutes
On-Screen Fur Ratio: 4.85%

Find-A-Fur: White of the Eye, 1987

(all time codes are approximate)

  • 16:05 – Peacock Feather Jacket
  • 24:20 – ”
  • 34:20 – 40:54 – Red Fox Jacket / Lynx Scene Intercut
  • 51:10 – Red Fox
  • 1:33:00 – 1:45:30 – Peacock Feather Jacket Throughout Final Act

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