Before Charlie leaves and continues on his journey, he warns them that he may not be around for a few months on his regular route delivering mail or supplies, alarming them with the news of he start of a European war between Germany and England.After selecting a bat, Joe asked to be pitched to - so he could hit some balls.One of Ray""s curve-ball pitches was hit back toward the mound and struck the ball bag.After knocking out lots of pitches, Joe nostalgically remembered his love of the hrilling game:Man, I did love this game.It was even a better film than Ford""s previous Best Picture-winningHow Green Was My Valley (1941).However, at its time, the sophisticated, modern, visually-striking film was unappreciated, misunderstood, and unrecognized by critics.Gittes"" off-screen assistant, Walsh, thinks that Mulwray is obsessed with water after visiting three reservoirs a day earlier: "The guy""s got water on the brain.