MovieChat Forums > The Steel Trap (1953) Discussion > Additional plot holes (spoilers!)

Additional plot holes (spoilers!)

posted 12 years ago by professor_of_gamez
9 replies | jump to latest

Spoilers!

In addition to the plot holes mentioned by the other poster:

In 1952, bills larger than $100 were all but non-existent. So "nearly $1,000,000" would have weighed nearly 220 lbs. (not the 115 lbs. including suit case indicated at the airports).

Also, it took 2 entire days (Friday night to Sunday night) to fly from LA to Rio on the way down (due to multiple connecting flights, and slower flying planes back then). Yet he was able to fly back from Rio in less than 12 hours??

And not only that, but on the way down, there seemed to be only one flight to Rio, yet his wife flew back first, then he flew back later and STILL managed to get to the bank by 8:15 a.m., lol.

I know this is a movie, but still...

[–] rpniew 12 years ago

There are tons of plot holes in this film. However, they are not in Rio when they turn back; they are in New Orleans.

[–] irvberg2002 12 years ago

Even assuming the stash weighed "only" 115 lb., the ease with which he lugged it around, including up the stairway from the bank vault, qualified him as an Olympic quality weight lifter (to say nothing of numerous other individuals who lifted it with no apparent strain. Try it yourself.

[–] Eric-1226 12 years ago

lifted it with no apparent strain

Very good point... I made the same head-scratching observation to myself last time this was on TCM, about a year ago? The plot had the guy lugging a suitcase which weighed well over 100 pounds all over kingdom come, and yet he barely broke a sweat. Now, the OP has pointed out that more than likely, the darned suitcase weighed over *200* pounds!

I'm willing to let it go, though, in the name of "artistic license." Heck, the story was rather tense and suspenseful right up to the very end, so I'm willing to let them "bend reality" just a bit. lol

[–] jonkennedy 12 years ago

With each bill weighing about a gram, and if it were all in $10 bills, then $1M would weigh about 220 lbs. If the "average" bill was a $20, then 110 lbs. would work. But since the cash was out of the regular teller boxes (he didn't seem to pick and choose higher denominated cash bundles), then the majority of the bills would be $20's or lower, so it's probably safe to say the suitcase weighed more that was stated. (fwiw, $1M in 100's weight ~22 lbs, in singles it weighs a metric ton) You can now see why the government got rid of bills higher than $100.

LOL @ the poster who stated that folks back in the 50's were in much better shape seeing as how they easily lugged that suitcase around.

[–] mojo2004 11 years ago

Also, it took 2 entire days (Friday night to Sunday night) to fly from LA to Rio on the way down (due to multiple connecting flights, and slower flying planes back then). Yet he was able to fly back from Rio in less than 12 hours??

The movie came on again today.

They never went to Rio. Because they couldn't get tickets on the flight to Rio they stayed in New Orleans anyway hoping 2 people would cancel after he put out the offer of $1000 for seats. They did get seats after 2 people didn't show up and almost made it o the plane but they were pulled out of the line at the gate because his bag weighed 115 lbs. The ticket agent reported him in case he was smuggling gold. The airline found the money and was going to call his boss to verify he was on bank business but because the airport security couldn't reach his boss before the flight left they let him go. They went to back to the gate but by then the other couple had shown up and they got bumped. His wife left him in New Orleans. He walked around town but after thinking about not having his family with him and called his wife, then he flew home.

Just for the record, I'm not a Dude, I'm a Dudette!

[–] Enrique-8 11 years ago

MOJO I am so glad someone FINALLY said they never actually EVER went to RIO!

Unless their recollections of an "exotic" New Orleans may have played tricks with the OPs memory, I dare say! :)

And folks, this was 1956, people just didn't SCRUTINIZE movies like we do today. I'd say, give them some slack already! It's the STORY that intrigued me...not those tiny details that make sense to us now but NO ONE gave a HOOT about way back then.

Enrique Sanchez

[–] liscarkat-2 10 years ago

It was 1952, and people certainly did scrutinize movies every bit as much as we do today.

[–] movies789 9 years ago

"In 1952, bills larger than $100 were all but non-existent."

That's absurd. $1,000 bills were available from banks for the asking. And a banker taking $1,000 bills from his own bank would be no more involved than you grabbing quarters from under your sofa cushion.

$1,000,000 in all $1,000 bills would be only ten banded packets of bills. Converting enough of that to $100s and $50s to pack a full, large suitcase weighing 115 pounds would not be implausible for a banker to accomplish at his own bank.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

flew back from new orleans not rio.