Lecter's magic act: The escape


I haven't found any discussion of this. Surely there must be. But if not, here is everything Lecter had to do in order to escape, aside from merely killing the two guards, Pembry and Boyle.

1. Cut off Pembry's face, very VERY carefully.

2. Remove Pembry's clothing, who is a limp corpse when this happens. Unless you think he is alive and willingly submits to Lecter's demands to disrobe.

3. After removing his own white prison clothing, Lecter then has to put it on Pembry.

4. Lift up the large HEAVY corpse of Boyle and somehow specifically secure it to the top of the cage in the dramatic manner in which he propped it up on display.

5. Cut open Boyle, probably after he is on display, which means Lecter had to do so while also on top of the cage. Cutting open Boyle before would make lifting him up and securing him so much more difficult, and messy.

6. Somehow adjust the lighting fixtures in the room in the elaborate theatrical manner that we see.

7. Drag or carry Pembry to the elevator and then somehow get him on the roof of the elevator. Notice how quickly he does this, as shown by the officers in the lobby watching the elevator go up and then back down, in a span of seconds.

8. Then quickly make his way back to where he must lay on the floor and apply Pembry's loose face, which is miraculously in tact as a wearbale mask, on his own face for the disguise.

How much time do think all of this took?




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Ten minutes if he worked fast enough.

Let's be bad guys.

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2. Remove Pembry's clothing, who is a limp corpse when this happens. Unless you think he is alive and willingly submits to Lecter's demands to disrobe.



We hear his groans under Bach.

"Ready when you are Sargent Pembry."





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I think he did the clothing switch with Pembry, then removed his face. As you pointed out its easier to dress and undress a person who is conscious. How he got the officer up on the cage wall I can't figure out.

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He would have used pulleys and leverage. Not too hard if you're super-smart like Lecter.

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It's just one of the many ways you need to suspend your disbelief to enjoy this movie.

All in all, it would normally take two hours for a fit person.

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The book states that a guard noticed the elevator at 6:45. Lecter killed the guards while they were serving his dinner....


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