MovieChat Forums > Inglourious Basterds (2009) Discussion > Possible plot hole? (Spoilers of course)

Possible plot hole? (Spoilers of course)

posted 7 years ago by Senzaltro
7 replies | jump to latest

In rewatching the film, I took note of the scene where they introduce Hugo Stiglitz and show him killing the Nazi officers. They show a picture of him in what looks like a military newspaper and they also show pictures of the officers who were killed by him.
Based on that, isn't it pretty likely that any one of the German military who were in the basement tavern scene would have recognized Stiglitz? Especially the Major who ends up sitting right next to him. I mean, any traitor who did that kind of damage to the German side by killing that many officers would have had a lot of infamous notoriety and I believe he would have been spotted since they had a clear picture of him and he wasn't disguised in any way.

[–] andrew-wilhelm 7 years ago

It's highly probable the major did know him and just wanted to *beep* with them. We are led to believe the major may have even whipped Hugo before. This isn't directly said, but if you pay attention, it's there.

[–] christopherglass-1 7 years ago

I don't think it was a plothole. More of like a plot device. Landa recognizes his corpse immediately.

That is why it really ramps up the tension in the scene becuase a bunch of rowdy drunk soldiers is bad...it gets really bad when you add in the gestapo major.

I think the Major doesn't recognize him or the other basterds because he wouldn't have tried to play on their sympathies about the soldiers new kid. They don't have sympathy and the Germans would know that much.

[–] ChristopherSolomon 7 years ago

Based on that, isn't it pretty likely that any one of the German military who were in the basement tavern scene would have recognized Stiglitz? Especially the Major who ends up sitting right next to him.

It was the 40s so it's quite plausible that the rank and file soldiers wouldn't immediately know what he looked like.

As for the Major, keep in mind that Stiegliz keeps his head kind of down and eyes averted during that scene, he is trying his best to be inconspicuous. The Major's attention seems to be focused almost entirely on Hicox because of the bogus accent so he might not have taken a closer look at Stiegliz.

[–] ExTechOp (2758) 5 years ago

Major Hellstrom was a cocky, dismissive person by nature.

Hugo keeping a low profile, but more importantly Hellstrom had already pegged him as "the lieutenant from Frankfurt" - he held no more interest to Hellstrom at that moment

And as pointed out he was focusing all his attention on the Hicox

If anything, it's more of a plot hole that he missed Wicki, whose background as one of the "basterds" should've been well known to all officers in the region. He pegged Wicki (wrongly) as "the lieutenant from Munich." If Hellstrom had correctly ID'd Wicki as an Austrian, he might've been more cautious.

He should've been more cautious regardless, of course, since he was facing several armed men who might be spies. But again, he's arrogant by nature.

TLDR: not a plot hole, just an asshole

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7429) 6 years ago

Since this is on the subject of that scene, wouldn't picking King Kong in that game they played seem suspicious to the German Major? Thing is, it's an American film and it and every American film probably would've been banned from Germany after Hitler and Goebels took over.

[–] TheDemon (475) 5 years ago

King Kong was made in 1933. WW2 started in 1939.
If the USA declared war on Fiji today, and Fiji banned American movies, don't you think the Fijian's would still know who Don Corleone was if they were playing a game of celebrity head?

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7429) 5 years ago

I'm aware of that. But at the same time I doubt Germany was showing that film at the start of WW2. Thus them thinking of said film should be suspicious. And there is the fact Goebles hates any film that isn't German. Nobody in Germany would want to piss him off by watching an American film.