MovieChat Forums > Catch Me If You Can (2002) Discussion > Frank's Dad In Real Life - Slight Spoile...

Frank's Dad In Real Life - Slight Spoiler

posted 8 years ago by GoTJunkie
4 replies | jump to latest

I watched a video with the real Frank Abagnale Junior and the truth about part of his story is very sad.

As in the film, he ran away from home during his parents' divorce because he didn't want to choose between living with either his mother or his father. However, unlike the film, he never saw or spoke to his father again before he died.

The way his father died and the timeline of his death are the same as in the film, but all the contact between the two of them was fabricated. It's so sad and something that clearly still haunts Frank Junior today.

[–] DoctorShemp 8 years ago

Although the book gives the impression that he and his dad werent as close as portrayed in the beginning of the film, not that it makes it any less sad

[–] louiseculmer 8 years ago

That is sad. I would personally have prefered it if they had been truthful about that, but I suppose rhey can't resist laying on the sentiment.

[–] antiphrasist 8 years ago

For Spielberg, having his father abandon him was a painful youth experience that Steven works into the theme of many of his movies, almost as a katharsis.

In this case, of course, Frank Jr ran away from both of them and never saw them again. Spielberg reworked it so Frank had occasional contact with his father.

[–] KristenStewartForever 7 years ago

Producers and director SHOULD NEVER rework something based on something real. If it really happened, it should stay that way on film. If it was fictional, then fine.