MovieChat Forums > After the Thin Man (1936) Discussion > Questions about the ending*spoilers*

Questions about the endingspoilers

posted 18 years ago by Mr_Wentworth-Brewster
10 replies | jump to latest

I need to explain some points in the plot-
OK, so:
Dancer and Polly create fake checks that transfer money from Selma's account to Robert's,
another checks then transfer the money from Robert's account to them.
While they do it, Polly keeps Robert busy. First question: when Nick asks Selma if she signed that check, Aunt Katherine says (she lies, obviously) she recalls Selma telling her she signed it. Why is that? Does she try to avoid bad publicity?
OK- meanwhile: David follows Robert, or somehow traces him to Polly's appartement. He decides to kill him there an make it look how Selma did it, but the janitor probably catches him preparing for the murder, so David kills him and decides to kill Robert someplace else. Is that right?
After that: we all know how he kills him. But Polly's husband sees him and begins to blackmail him, so David kills him too. Correct?
And the final question: do you think that the authors of Goldfinger (Oddjob in particular) saw the ending;oD?

"Life is full of censorship. I can't spit in your eye." - Katharine Hepburn

[–] Dances_with_Weasels 18 years ago

Here's my take, see?

Dancer and Polly create fake checks that transfer money from Selma's account to Robert's,
another checks then transfer the money from Robert's account to them.
While they do it, Polly keeps Robert busy. First question: when Nick asks Selma if she signed that check, Aunt Katherine says (she lies, obviously) she recalls Selma telling her she signed it. Why is that? Does she try to avoid bad publicity?

I think it was the "hush money" mentioned to cover up his indiscretions. So, yes, I think the money came from Aunt Katherine, but I don't understand why she would use Selma's signature.

OK- meanwhile: David follows Robert, or somehow traces him to Polly's appartement. He decides to kill him there an make it look how Selma did it, but the janitor probably catches him preparing for the murder, so David kills him and decides to kill Robert someplace else. Is that right?
After that: we all know how he kills him. But Polly's husband sees him and begins to blackmail him, so David kills him too. Correct?

That's seems to be it.

And the final question: do you think that the authors of Goldfinger (Oddjob in particular) saw the ending;oD?

It's quite possible!

I'm your friend, you bet you.

Are you going to pull those pistols or whistle "Dixie"?

[–] Tim-O-T 17 years ago

...but where did David get the revolver in the end???

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] belacane 16 years ago

I'm still confused about one tiny thing. David wanted Selma to take the rap. But was he planning to kill Robert AT POLLY'S APARTMENT? Because what connection would Selma have to Polly? If he had succeeded in killing Robert at the apartment, then how would Selma possibly have taken the rap? I don't understand her connection to that locale.

Or, am I wrong, was he planning to off Robert somewhere else? Maybe I ought to rewatch the ending. I was so stunned by Jimmy Stewart turning out to be the killer, that I maybe missed something.

[–] mojo2004 14 years ago

He didn't plan on killing him at her apt. He said he wanted him to suffer a long death so it would have made no sense to kill him there.

Leading the blind squirrels of inquiry to the lost nuts of illumination.

[–] bexnrz 13 years ago

I thought he was going to kill both Robert and Polly and when a man and his mistress are killed people are going to look at the wife (Selma). Then he could watch her hang for it.

Remember to always be yourself. Unless you suck.

[–] Soujurn 8 years ago

Killing Robert and Polly with a piece of pipe and hoping somehow Selma would be blamed and convicted would require Selma NOT having an alibi. David wouldn't be able to arrange that seeing how closely Aunt Katherine was keeping an eye on Selma.

"Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."
-Dennis

[–] derfball 8 years ago

These films are about Nick and Nora's relationship, love, the banter, the gags, and humor. Don't get so wrapped up in the plot.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] 8 years ago

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