MovieChat Forums > The Leopard Man (1943) Discussion > [spoiler] What exactly tipped off the ma...

[spoiler] What exactly tipped off the main couple about

posted 15 years ago by Local Hero
6 replies | jump to latest

Galbraith?

Just watched this film for the first time, and while I had a hunch about Galbraith right from the start simply because of the way his character was portrayed, I was nonetheless a bit surprised by the seeming abruptness with which the main couple suddenly seemed convinced that Galbraith was the leopard man, immediately setting up an elaborate plot that culminated in a scene that seemed predicated on the knowledge that darkness would be Galbraith's trigger.

Did I miss the mention of a vital bit of information somewhere? Not long before, they had spoken of Galbraith as a nice man whom they both like. Then the man asks the police officer to go talk to Galbraith, and then suddenly the police officer interprets this as the making of an accusation, and then the couple pursue Galbraith on their own, eventually getting a confession without too much difficulty.

What did I miss?

[–] pdmh48 15 years ago

Galbraith manipulated Charlie How-come into believing the he was the killer in front of Jerry. Jerry tried to convince Charlie otherwise, but Charlie trusted Galbraith (or rather mistrusted himself)and asked to be locked up. I thought that Galbraith's manipulation of Charlie was what made Jerry begin to suspect him.
Also, his manner changed when he was talking about the murders-he seemed quietly excited.

[–] Local Hero 15 years ago

Thank you for replying.

Yes, I can see those as potential factors, but the first one is still conjectural and the second is vague. It doesn't seem to me to explain the sense of sudden certainty with which they decided to pursue Galbraith. And, as I mentioned before, they even seemed to know in advance that darkness would set off Galbraith's mania.

It doesn't quite work for me, and I feel I must be missing something else-- maybe even just one line of dialogue that I glossed over...?

[–] CabmanGray 14 years ago

I think it's because Charlie shows up with the dead Leopard and he tells Manning exactly where he found it and that it's been dead for several days. Manning then realizes that Galbraith was the only one in that vicinity during their first hunt (with the posse) and so he must have shot the leopard (which has also been skinned). I think Manning then deduces that it has been Galbraith who has been leaving bits of fur and claws at the crime scenes to make them look like leopard attacks.

The darkness dosen't necessarily set off Galbraith's urge to kill - it just allows Kiki to be in a more vulnerable position and maybe allow the two other men to sneak up on Galbraith if he tries to go in for the kill. Remember, Galbraith doesn't actually attack Kiki until she drops Clo Clo's castanet on the floor.

[–] Jason_Radley 12 years ago

In detective films they usually have a bigger cast, a longer list of suspects and a couple of red herrings. Here we only had Galbraith and a black leopard. Once the cat was out of the picture, who else could it be?

[–] PoppyTransfusion 12 years ago

I agree with much of what has already been posted. Galbraith sets himself up when he outlines a somewaht crude profile of the killer as well as suggesting a human killer would need access to leopard fur and claws. All signatures of a likely suspect as he knew too much.

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[–] pillfeast 9 years ago

It did seem like they made it awfully obvious. How hard would it have been to cast a modicum of suspicion on the sheriff or not make Charlie How-Come so transparently innocent?