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One Plot Twist The Story Never Returned To

posted 8 years ago by HarlowMGM
12 replies | jump to latest

I didn't see any mention of it on the threads I've read but it's kind of a surprise that the movie does not get back to what happen to the other drummer's sheet music. That drummer gets Andrew to hold the folio for him while they are on break and Andrew tosses it in a chair while he drinks a soft drink. Then they are called back into rehearsal and Andrew sees the folio is missing and hence Fletcher is outraged that the original drummer was so careless as to let another person handle his music that he pulls him and gives the number to Andrew. We are apparently supposed to presume Fletcher grabbed the folio while Andrew wasn't looking however that would have been super quick to have been able to dart up behind him and dash off in a couple of seconds. I can't help but wonder if Andrew wasn't a little ruthless himself and hid the folio, already aware of Fletcher's temper and knowing the other guy needed it and he could play the number without sheet music. He could have dramatically threw the folio in the chair as an alibi so others could have seen him do it and then hid it when nobody was around, then feigning it had been taken. It's pretty clear Andrew is pretty ruthless in his own way, dropping his girlfriend because he wanted to give all his free time to practicing so I could easily see him doing this as much as Fletcher. And the other students certainly think Andrew deliberately "lost" the folio as they also know it would be a perfect opportunity for him to replace the guy.

[–] wooody 8 years ago

This, like other intentionally open issues, has been discussed at length. I will attempt to summarize the 4 theories that various visitors have posted.

First, the most obvious(popular), that Fletcher took the music that was left "carelessly" unattended.
Second, your theory, that Andrew, in an attempt to unseat the other drummer, "loses" the sheet music.
Third, the other drummer finds it and hides it hoping Fletcher will direct his rage towards Andrew. As a result, he has one less competitor for the first drum spot.
Fourth, a random passerby(a janitor, competitor)finds the sheet music and dumps it in the trash etc..

Obviously, there is no correct answer, just various theories based upon the surrounding circumstances.It's a shame you weren't around when this film was in it's heyday. There were never ending arguments/discussions about a host of open issues.

That's one of the reasons this film is so brilliant.

[–] carjones51 8 years ago

I just watched this movie and was going to post the same question re: the folder.

I think the third theory makes the most sense though Fletcher doing it could be plausible too. The camera stays on Andrew so there's no way he hid it. He threw it down, got a drink, and began to eavesdrop on a conversation when the other kid came up asking for it. That kid could have done it in hopes of getting rid of Andrew.

But after watching the movie and seeing how many mind/head games Fletcher plays, he probably took it just to mess with them. He was a jerk like that.

[–] maliklockett 8 years ago

I think it is pretty obvious that Fletcher took the folder but what he planned to do with it was debatable.

Dramatically throwing it Tanner's face would have let him off easily. By leaving it hidden, Fletcher was forcing Tanner to face the prospect of trying to perform without the sheet music (plus leaving him with the notion that it was his fault that they were lost).

Fletcher may have thought that Andrew would step forward and take the lead. That entail him having faith that Andrew knew the music well enough to play it with no sheet music and being ruthless enough to take his buddy's place. Both I would think Fletcher could have picked up on

 Can't we all just get along? 

[–] Alec-Revelle 8 years ago

It is clear Fletcher took it. When Andrew and the other drummer go to Fletcher to let him know its lost, the other drummer at one point says to Fletcher that he (Fletcher) knows that he cant play now because he needs visual queues. Fletcher knows this and thus took the sheet music to put Andrew under a pressure situation and to see how he would do.

[–] nolearylaw 8 years ago

With all due respect, how can you feel confident asserting that "it is clear" that Fletcher took the file without actually seeing him retrieve it on film? I'm not saying that you are wrong however all three characters(Fletcher, Andrew and Nieman) had a motive and opportunity to abscond with the file. In addition,it has been reasonably opined that a passer by could also have taken it. Ironically, if I had to bet, I would wager that it was Fletcher as well however I wouldn't bet the house on it.

That is what made this film so captivating. It intentionally left open a number of key issues for viewers to interpret and discuss.

[–] Alec-Revelle 8 years ago

This movie wasn't a murder mystery. The way it is filmed makes it clear Andrew didn't take it/hide it. The drummer whose folder it was wouldn't take it because he knew it could/would lead to Andrew becoming the drummer for that gig because he (not Andrew) cant play without it. He was also not happy during the actual gig watching Andrew play drums and then when they all got back together for their first rehearsal, he told Andrew not to touch the drum kit and was clearly pissed. Maybe someone walking by picked it up but that's just too much of a stupid thing to throw in, thus the reason it is clear to me that Fletcher picked it up. Plus, it just totally fits his personality to do that.

[–] wooody 8 years ago

Once again, you are correct. It isn't a murder mystery however the question of who took off with the file is clearly a mystery with a list of potential solutions. And again, I agree that it was probably Fletcher however Andrew could have deep sixed it in hope that he would have been the replacement and Nieman may have taken it in hope's of knocking off a competitor. The way it was filmed allows each character the opportunity. I think it could be argued that it also suits Andrew's cutthroat competitive personality that he would lift the file.Just sayin...it isn't clear.

[–] pait_mojo 8 years ago

Judging from how cunningly Fletcher behave and his extreme controlling persona, it's safe to assume he hide the folder. it's pretty clear from the very first scene the guy could sneak walking through hallway. his motives would be to make a rivalry between Andrew and Tanner so they could perform at their best. Also he did this thing again with jump-starting Connely by giving the music chart first before the sudden try out for the next competition.

[–] wooody 8 years ago

The odds are with you but like other issues in thise brilliant film, it isn't safe to assume...

[–] zee944 7 years ago

I wasn't sure the first time, but on my second viewing it was clear it was Fletcher. The other theories don't make sense story-wise.

[–] bigal_a 7 years ago

From various comments from other band members, Andrew wasn't too popular (he wasn't a particularly likable guy, anyway). Maybe one of them did it to get Andrew in trouble, but it rebounded by getting him promoted to core drummer.

I do agree that Fletcher is more plausible. Maybe he knew the other guy would never be his Buddy Rich (after all, as Fletcher tells Andrew, he quit music and took up medicine) and knew that he needed to have his drum music in order to play.

The restitution of life is no great feat. A variety of deaths may well enter into your punishment

[–] Rheli 7 years ago

Relax, it's a macguffin, just an excuse for why the back-up would be put in at the last minute, and doing it in a way that has more drama than something like "oh, the usual guy at something bad for lunch".

As a rule when you mix genres in a movie you're in trouble. --William Goldman