MovieChat Forums > Three Days of the Condor (1975) Discussion > Plot Error

Plot Error

posted 13 years ago by mm-959-164036
25 replies | jump to latest

Well, loved the movie (only saw it in 2011 for the first time).
Joubert character just flawless and compelling. It seems very polished by current movie standards where special effects have to be employed to make such espionage movies more marketable.

A very small little point - a shabby error in the plotting: Here is a super smart guy, played by Redford. He is informed on so many topics yet in one of the scenes in Dunaway's apartment he has to telephone Directory Enquiries to ask where the dialling code "202" is used. Seems a bit disappointing that a character who would know so many wonderfully obscure facts wouldn't know the area code for Washington. Just thought it was a sloppy short cut to drive on the plot. There must have been an easier way to do it.

[–] Rustybolt 13 years ago

You are thinking of it in the context of 2011 and not 1975/76. There is no plot error. The abundance of information we have today via the Internet didn't exist at that time. While he reads "everything", he doesn't know everything. And you have it wrong anyway. He calls directory assistance to find out what the area code for Washington DC is and is told it is 202. Not the other way around, as you suggest. You see, he has a seven digit phone number and finds it isn't for New York when he uses it as a local call. Suspecting the number is a DC number and not knowing what the area code is, he calls directory assistance. It is as simple as that.

[–] RobertBeattie 13 years ago

Bravo Rustybolt. It seems that the majority of postings that claim an error are similar to that of mm-959-164036. First, they point out something that is not in the movie, then they claim it is error. You, Rustybolt, accurately described what is in the film; mm-959-164036 did not.

[–] Jefbecco-1 13 years ago

Very true. I'm 43 and I sometimes forget that as recently as the late eighties were were limited to three networks (until 87 when Fox started up), PBS and the newspapers for info. I recall as a kid local radio stations were owned by the local network affiliates and the networks still had their radio divisions.Even when CNN started up in 1980 there was no real cable news competition for another fifteen years (give or take a year) when Fox News started. Information came from only a few sources.

One had to read alot to get information and often that information might be outdated even though the book may have been published within the previous year. Even magazine articles might be dated (or incorrect) and finding other publications that would cover the same topic in greater depth or from a different perspective could be time consuming and difficult. There was no Amazon.com either.

Blackberries, Twitter, Facebook, Internet, Kindle, Direct T.V.. None of it exsisted.

Makes perfect sense that in 1974 Turner would call Information.

[–] rroach50 13 years ago

I'm sorry but I'm going to have to disagree. In the first pages of all telephone books in the 1970's, there was a page with a United States map that outlined the areas covered by each area code. There were also two lists organized numerically and alphabetically listing all area codes with the area of coverage. The average man on the street might not be aware of the phone book's area code pages but it's hard to believe a CIA researcher/reader wouldn't.

A bigger problem with the scene is that Washington D.C.'s 202 code along with New York's 212 were quite well known during this period due to their frequent presence at the end of TV commercials and in magazine ads (Does anyone miss all of those public service messages?). Finally, anyone in the CIA who didn't know the area code for Washington D.C. would be considered an idiot. At the time, D.C. and CIA headquarters shared the same area code as 202 was used for the entire metropolitan Washington D.C. area including those parts that were in Virginia and Maryland.

[–] Jefbecco-1 13 years ago

Sure no problem. Unlike some posters I don't come unglued when somebody doesn't agree.

The area code list is still printed in the phone book. And I did think of that - believe it or not. You know the other possibiilty is that the filmakers thought it would be more interesting if Turner has to follow the clues and solve the puzzles. The telephone plays a big role in the movie. Perhaps they believed it would be interesting if he uses a phone to figure out a piece of the puzzle. Instead of Turner just knowing that it's the D.C. area code. Poetic license perhaps?

[–] nph136 12 years ago

I have to agree with you totally. Because I was surprised that he didnt know the area code for Wash DC as well. Not because I know the area code off hand but the major cities have the easiest to remember area codes as they were established first due to being major metropolitan areas. However I thought it was odd that he didnt know it. For two reasons; the first being a reader I am sure that he would have repeatedly been presented this information and also working for the CIA he would knowt the area code for Washington, DC.

[–] jejozi 10 years ago

Yes, he had the points reversed, but the error is still there. He knew about the mfg. marks on keys, but not the area code for Washington DC, the capital of the country he loves so much he won't leave it to make his life safer? Don't buy it. And he was CIA and never had to call DC?

This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.

[–] jadedbaby 9 years ago

he works for the CIA for goodness' sake. And he doesn't know the area code for DC???

The OP is absolutely correct.

[–] toldyousew 9 years ago

He would have known the area code for Washington, D.C. No one should
make any excuses for him not knowing it.

Character is revealed by how you treat people with no power.

[–] buscamante2003 13 years ago

The fact that Turner didn't know the area code for Washington D.C. jumped out at me too, given the fact that his business is based out of there.

[–] muveewachr 12 years ago

And he's a telephone expert, having worked as a lineman, in long lines (long distance), on PBXs, and for Bell Labs, as Higgins read from his file.

[–] LesterFester 12 years ago

I agree with your area code assessment ... But in the back of my mind I always thought they did it that way to show he never called Washington headquarters . Remember he had to think a moment as to what his and his fellow employee's code names were. If he were a 'in the trenches CIA operative', he would have given up that information 123

Also, as you will recall, he was not well versed in military time. Something he did not use but the 'major' used constantly .

" Three can keep a secret, if two are dead "

[–] gtbarker 12 years ago

But it's not a plot error, but rather a slightly clumsy plot tool to carry the story which explains what he doing to the viewer instead of him just doing it and us not having any idea why of how or what he did the get to the next stage of his analysis.

[–] tommymax 11 years ago

You hit the nail on the head, gtbarker. If Condor had known the area code and just simply dialed it, how would the viewer know that he'd figured out it was (probably) a DC phone number?

By having him call the operator and ask for the DC area code, we know what he's thinking. So rather than being a plot error, it's simply a movie-making technique to inform the viewer.

I might also give props to pbl1's post, tho' I'd have to fact-check to make sure it's Atwood's number we're talking about. I'd also have to check to make sure that his/her claim was true back in '75 and that 301 wasn't added later.

[–] Maegnas 11 years ago

There's always the possibility that, in the thick of things (let's not forget, he had just killed someone, probably for the first time in his life!), his mind went a bit "blank" for a moment or two and he needed help in getting that info. Yes, he was trained by the army as a "telephone man" but it was not his 'day job', was it?

Not a plot error at all in my mind.

Cute and cuddly boyz!!

[–] montana_dg 10 years ago

Exactly. Not only he's just killed someone, but prior to that he had kidnapped and forced himself into the flat of a random woman, and all that because HIS WHOLE SECTION WAS ASSASSINATED... I mean, if that's not enough for a man to stop thinking straight and forget things which normally are obvious, I don't know what is.

And all things aside, I've watched this film so many times and never, not once noticed this minor detail... So I guess if you notice these things, it must mean the story does not interest you all that much and you have to put your attention to irrelevant details.

[–] henryonhillside 9 years ago

Good point. I find the whole "Goofs" section of IMDb to be pedantic.

[–] morganseer 8 years ago

For a guy who couldn't think straight he sure managed to stay a step ahead of an experienced assassin and the CIA. I go with"it's just a plot device" explanation.

[–] pbl1 12 years ago

whatever! here is another unimportant detail to fret about...

Atwood has a 202 area code, yet lives in Chevy Chase, MD. Should be 301, not 202

oh my god...what horrible plotting!!!

What the $%*& is a Chinese Downhill?!?

[–] el-9984 11 years ago

Nope, it’s not a plot error because up until 1991 the 202 area code was an overlay of the 301 area code for Maryland areas that bordered the District.

So, if you lived in a Maryland suburb of DC like, say, Chevy Chase, and your number was (301) 123-4567, your home phone would ring if someone dialed (202) 123-4567.

[–] Soujurn 9 years ago

It's called exposition. Doing or saying something to explain to the audience what is going on.
Turner should have known the area code's for DC and NYC off hand, and would also know about the area code lists in phone books.
He knew about phone systems having been an employee in the past.
The writers could have just had him explain to Kathy Hale what he was doing but instead did it another way.

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

[–] henryonhillside 9 years ago

I assume someone here has said what I'm about to say, I haven't read every post, just in case no one has - it's a simple and quick way to help the audience keep its bearings. This is a fairly confusing movie; I can imagine the creators looking for easy ways to keep the audience moored. And I can imagine a lot of audience members (including me) being grateful.

[–] annedunlap 9 years ago

today is the longest day of my life season 1 of 24

I agree on this movie being confusing for the first time I saw I was confused too and even had to ask my dad to watch it me a second time to help with the confusion. I think it is one of the best movies out there still

[–] mlink-04835 8 years ago

when i saw it in 1975 first run in new york, it was incredibly lame and phony as hell. it was so dumbed down its pitiful - look at joubert -- gets off the elevator and stands there. if i was turner i'd kill him instantly. the movie was a phony star trip packaged as a hollywood package.
the phone calls in the apt. PHONY... any agent would know if he calls sam's wife he's going to be traced. they dont need joubert to get his license plate number. he gave himself away on the phone.
lame phony and dumb. they could cut 30 min. easy. stop me before i tell you more
lame phony dumb stuff.

[–] jquimby94 8 years ago

It's a plot DEVICE....it's used to let the viewer in on what Turner has suddenly realized.

If Turner knew the area code and just dialed it, we'd have no idea what he was doing!