MovieChat Forums > How to Steal a Million (1966) Discussion > Spoilers - why didn't he do it this way?

Spoilers - why didn't he do it this way?

posted 17 years ago by uncarsenal
16 replies | jump to latest

Don't get me wrong, I love this movie. I'm a big Audrey fan as well. I was just watching the movie last night for probably the 10th time and came up with this question:

why did he bother with that boomerang thing? Let's weigh the cons:
- miss the laser things multiple times, causing frustration
- hit the statue and knock it over, therefore letting the security guards know that it isn't an alarm malfunction
- hit the lasers, setting off the alarm, and then the boomarang hits the display or the ceiling, dropping your boomerang thing by the exhibit

why didn't he just run over there, wave his arm in the lasers and run back? it would have taken the same amount of time and he would have had no chance of the above mentioned mistakes.

[–] Tickleroftheivories 17 years ago

I never thought about that. I guess the boomerang was kewler?

I want to hold the hand that holds the world - Starfield

[–] uncarsenal 17 years ago

definitely cooler. and they got to play that groovy little tune everytime it was thrown. still didn't make much sense though

[–] capricious_nature 17 years ago

I thought about that too. First of all, it is cooler to throw the boomerang; also, he didn't want to be clattering across the floor and back, when someone could very easily hear him and realize that maybe it wasn't just a technical error. That's about all I can think of.

[–] HoneyBakedHam 14 years ago

"I thought about that too. First of all, it is cooler to throw the boomerang; also, he didn't want to be clattering across the floor and back, when someone could very easily hear him and realize that maybe it wasn't just a technical error. That's about all I can think of."

I'm thinking this also. I also think it was a part of the plan to annoy the guards into thinking it was a technical error so they'd shut off the security so it could be stolen. Risking going there and back multiple times would have triggered that it wasnt a technical error as well as after seeing how many guards came as well as the police outside there would have been no way theyd escape.

[–] jdforyou1983 (1469) 3 years ago

definitely cooler

[–] ScentOfAWomanLover 17 years ago

I saw the movie last Friday for the first time (Loved it :) )
I was wondering the same thing, why do it with the boomerang?
I was thinking of this: He had to go over there, and who knows, maybe a guard would have come out of the guardroom and sees him. And when the alarm goes of and he has to run back. So he uses the boomerang so that he can stay close to the broomcloset and can hide easier when things go wrong.
And yeah, it's definitely cooler :P

[–] stu08059 17 years ago

Don't forget how close the guard room is! Even with the fumbling for the boomerang after it came back, it's still far safer to throw the boomerang than to run over there and put his arm in the lights. The guards might easily have gotten out of the guard room before he could run back (clattering as he went - good point) to the broom closet. As far as hitting something on accident, anybody who's "sensitive and perceptive" enough to notice that the statue looks like Nicole as well as gather all the information he needs to set up the plan in about 15 minutes is fully capable of gauging the arc of a boomerang. Although he did miss a little the first time - but not by much.

[–] Gary-161 17 years ago

They also cheated a bit when he was using the magnet to get the key to the door. You can clearly see there is a thick corner where he couldn't possibly maintain the magnetism.

Also, how did he get into the guard's room wearing the uniform? They sort of skated over that bit.

[–] capricious_nature 17 years ago

Yeah, I noticed the magnet thing too.

Remember, though, that he was carrying that blue coat around the whole time--he wasn't so much in a uniform as he had on a coat and cap. I assume that he got the cap around the same time she got her washer woman disguise.

~I cannot fiddle, but I can make a great state of a small city.~

[–] Gary-161 17 years ago

She hides in the fireplace, but where does he hide? The cleaners come in but he is nowhere to be seen but manages to get into the guard's room with no one seeing.

Oh, well, it's only a movie.

[–] matjusm 15 years ago

Exactly. She could have followed him and they'd have been out of there much sooner.

mmm, doughnut...
-Homer J. Simpson

[–] justaudrey 14 years ago

- hit the statue and knock it over, therefore letting the security guards know that it isn't an alarm malfunction
________________________________________

I wondered about that same thing.

[–] Frumious_Bandersnatch_46 13 years ago

First and foremost, the other posters are probably right: The film-makers likely thought the boomerang-thing was cooler.

One other consideration: The first time he triggered the alarm he probably had no idea how long it would take the museum guards to respond.

Re: Your other issues:
• Missing the laser beams could have been frustrating — but not nearly as dangerous as being caught.
• The boomerang-thing didn't look nearly heavy enough to knock the statue over.
• Hitting a wall or the ceiling was a distinct possibility, however, he appears to have spent some time practicing with it to avoid just that.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
So is a lot.
— Albert Einstein

[–] trpdean 12 years ago

What a fun thread!

[–] Frumious_Bandersnatch_46 12 years ago

It can be. Especially when dealing with "What-If" and "Why Didn't They" threads.

I'm old. I remember when this movie was new.

I remember when Cleopatra went to the Temple of Ra to lead a few cheers.

[–] liscarkat (16522) 4 years ago

"- miss the laser things multiple times, causing frustration
- hit the statue and knock it over, therefore letting the security guards know that it isn't an alarm malfunction
- hit the lasers, setting off the alarm, and then the boomarang hits the display or the ceiling, dropping your boomerang thing by the exhibit"

Yes, in reality he could have easily just stuck his hand in front of the beam to set off the alarm, then walked back to his hiding place before the guards arrived. But the reasons you listed for not using the boomerang (see above) are exactly the reasons it was more entertaining for him to use the boomerang. It created suspense and jeopardy that would not have existed if he had simply used his hand.