1) I assume that the oil company has stored a quantity of nitroglycerine in the event of a fire so why keep it over 200 miles from the drilling site?
I imagine the oil company had operations running all over the country; the nitro's distance from the explosion was just an unfortunate turn, I guess.
2) Why transport the nitroglycerine that has leaked into the bags? Why not buy some more undamaged nitroglycerine sticks and transport it safely to the drilling site?
I think this is one of those things we have to accept. You're right -- it seems hard to believe that a giant oil company wouldn't be able to get a-hold of fresh sticks for such a job.
I imagine they probably
did send for new materials, but sent the trucks anyway, because who cares if they blow up? If they succeed, the nitro will get there that much sooner.
3) When the drivers encounter the first wooden bridge (not the second rope bridge) wouldn't it be easier to carry the boxes of nitroglycerine over the bridge first and drive the trucks over afterwards?
I have to disagree here. The boxes are on the large side, and moving them at all via human hands would probably be a fool's errand. I mean, a slight trip or loss of balance and you're cooked. That's why it's so awesome to see Scanlon stagger towards the pillar of fire at the conclusion; he looks dog tired, like he's the person least capable of managing the crate, and right after he's relieved by the other workers, he collapses. It's kind of a miracle he made it, a point that's driven home by Keith Jarrett's remarkable organ work.
4) When they have to clear the tree blocking the road wouldn't it have been easier to put the box of nitroglycerine under the tree and have Nilo shoot the box from a distance?
I could be misremembering, but I believe they have to burrow inside the tree and fill it with nitro. And even then, don't they use it sparingly? Wouldn't a whole crate have created an explosion significantly larger?
But you're right -- that scene is too intense to believe.
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DC1977
9 years ago
Thanks for your response
1) I would imagine that if the company had operations all over the country then they would also have a supply of nitroglycerine close to each site.
3) I think the boxes of nitroglycerine could be carried over the bridge without too much trouble. I think it's a preferable option to driving a truck over a rickety wooden bridge with the stuff inside. If Scanlon can stagger on his own for over a mile with a box then it's certainly possible.
Also all four are later involved in carrying a box of nitroglycerine to the tree and placing it on top.
4) As far as the tree is concerned, they burrow into the tree and place a flat stone into the gap to allow the nitroglycerine to collect there and they did use a whole crate for the explosion.
It seems an unnecessarily complicated way of clearing the tree but I love the scene and the way the tension is built up.
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