Was Brother Al the kidnapper?
After watching this movie on TCM, I can't help but think that Dave Stannard 's brother Al was behind the kidnapping of his son Andy -- or at least that was the original intent of the writers.
1) Al was very much in favor of paying the ransom and was the first person to call after the kidnapping (he was anxious to come to the house).
2) Al helped put the ransom money together at the bank, and at one point "offered" up his own money to cover the ransom - Al was smart enough to know that David had enough money himself to cover the ransom. This seemed to me a courtesy gesture to deflect any suspicion. Likewise his offer to the bank employees a $25 bonus out of his corporate spending account.
3) Al had a motive - personal revenge as the board meeting early iin the movie implied he and his brother apparently disagreed often over business decisions - with Dave normally winning (Dave was the President).
4) In the board room, Dave told the fable of the greedy dog who lost his bone looking at his reflection in the water. Later, David had a line about looking at himself in the mirror each morning -- perhaps symbolically implying that he is the greedy dog?
Looking at the TCM site, they have a note that says the original script was denied by the censors due to the kidnapping, especiaally of a child, being the theme. The original script had to be modified to de-emphasize the kidnappers and focus on the dilemma facing the parents. Is it possible the re-writes removed the true identity of the kidnappers -- with perhaps Al as the mastermind - yet left the clues in place that indict him to the viewer?