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Spoiler: One small thing I don't understand.

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

With about 30 minutes left in the movie Elsa takes Babe to Szell's house, but we see an odd look on his face. He soon starts suspecting that Elsa worked for Szell. Why and how did he suspect that? Was the house the place where Babe's father shot himself or did he just suspect her after seeing that Erhard/Karl whom mugged them worked for Szell? But if that's the case, why did he not confront her when she arrived to pick him up?

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[–] Henry_Marzini 12 years ago

I think he just suspected her because he knew that Karl and Erhard worked for Szell and because he was paranoid, a theme in this film. He may have just been suspicious of the house as it was far away and out of attention. Also he may have been just too tired and in pain to confront her when she first picked him so he wanted to wait until he was atleast far away from them to confront Elsa.

Though you make a good point about the house. I wonder if by any chance it could have been where Babe's father committed suicide. Though I doubt it, I think Babe would have recognized it if that was the house.

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[–] manram24 11 years ago

Yeah I had made a post similar to this on my old IMDb account before it was disabled. It's a confusing scene.

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[–] KenanP 11 years ago

I'm assuming that he suspected her for the same reason that I did; because Doc exposed her earlier as a liar and German (which Szell was as well).

The reason he didn't confront her until later was because it would have been pointless. He wanted her to alert Szell's men, so that they'd show up and he could force them to reveal Szell's whereabouts. Just the way it played out.

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[–] ian-wr 11 years ago

You are not alone in finding this scene a little confusing.Elsa explains that the house belongs to Zell's brother,however it looks similar to the house in the flashbacks we saw earlier with Doc and Babe as young boys and the scene with their father's suicide.The look of suspicion on Babe's face towards Elsa,and what seemed to be recognition of the house appear to suggest it is the same house,but this is never confirmed.I eventually took it that the look of suspicion was just Babe coming to his senses after his ordeal and realising Elsa seems to have a pre-determined destination,which just happens to be similar to the house in the flash-backs.

[–] Ironman54 11 years ago

The house was in 'the country' - what most NYC residents refer to as 'upstate'.
Its not like she was local with an extended family etc. She drove them directly there and remember, he told her nothing about the odd circumstances - calling her from a pay phone 'get a car and meet me .... I'll explain later'.
If you were him, wouldn't you wonder why she didn't ask a bit more about his condition, not to mention, why she wasn't totally freaked out and paranoid herself ? IIRC, he told her twice 'I'll explain later ..." That wouldn't cut it with the average person I wouldn't think.

What I always found odd about the ending was that Zell, so paranoid about being robbed, trusted Babe in that final scene. He didn't try to bargain with Babe or seem in the least bit concerned that Babe had taken him to the water treatment building at gun point to rob him. Babe certainly acted like a thug when he ordered the civil servant out at gun point so why was Zell so sure that armed robbery wasn't the purpose of their little walk ? What other reason could Zell have imagined Babe brought him there for ?
There were a few other parts that were nonsensical, things I don't remember noticing back in the 70s: Just before Zell & Co dunk Babe in the tub, Babe is shown sans shirt and its very obvious he has an athletic build - yet he allows a middle aged man to hold him under water by one arm ? Babe offers very little resistance other than to splash around .... I didn't see him even attempt to employ his very strong legs to kick etc. I know they could have shot him or Zell could have done the dagger deal but its just not realistic for a young, strong man to lay there and take it like that - especially one straight arm against him.
Don't get me started on the 'Is it safe'... the most contrived dialogue ever, not close to a realistic exchange.
I still like the movie though - I just don't let myself get hung up on these parts.

[–] stones78 (426) 2 years ago

I just watched this film, and Szell does try to bargain the diamonds with Babe, although it's a quick mention.

[–] dathilacha 11 years ago

i have never understood this either. yes, it's as babe looks at the house that he seems to realize that elsa is a double agent. i've always been puzzled what it is about the house that makes him think this.

[–] avnrulz 11 years ago

As mentioned earlier, she claims she's just a student, but she drives him completely out of the city to a secluded spot, why not just take him back to her apartment?

When she asks when he figured it out, he tells her, 'Just now.'

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[–] Jester2000154113 10 years ago

I think he just started putting little stuff together, like Szell being German and Elsa hiding being German, and Doc insisting she was up to something.

In the scene at the house, after she admits she's working for Szell and asks how he knew, he says he didn't until just now. So he just had a suspicion and then got her to confirm it.

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