1) While it's a bit too convenient and coincidental that Charles, after the auction of the apartment's contents in 1963, walked away with the exact amount of money he'd stolen in 1945, there are certainly ways in which he could have ended up with a comparable sum. The script dropped enough hints (including his many passports and his mysterious life of "secrecy and lies") to indicate he was involved in shady activities which, while not enough to make him rich, were sufficient to finance his lifestyle with Regina. Six Degrees Of Separation made reference to an upper level of society that lives "hand to mouth," only on a grander, more affluent scale - a description that could have easily applied to Charles and Regina. Even if he'd squandered all the money he'd stolen, the sale of the apartment's contents (which could have included works of art that had appreciated in value by the early 60s) would have made up for any financial losses he'd experienced.
Of course, this is also one of those cases where the needs of cinematic storytelling trumps real-life logic; it's simply easier for the audience to follow the action if the amount of money (in this case, $250,000) remains constant from 1945 to 1963.
2) The French police reported what they had found in Charles' compartment after he'd been thrown off the train; it's quite possible he had a suitcase that Carson Dyle made off with and later discarded (in some secret place) once he'd discovered it didn't contain $250,000. After all, even though Paris is far less traditional than many cities, it's hard to imagine Charles boarding the train at Gare Montparnasse in his pajamas.
3) This is once again a case of the needs of cinematic storytelling overruling real-life logic. It's important that Dyle's name appears clearly and legibly - not just so Regina can read it, but so the AUDIENCE can read it as well. We always have to keep in mind that movies are heightened reality, and a certain suspension of disbelief is necessary (let's not forget that Cary Grant's character is by turns charming and menacing, depending on the needs of each particular scene).
4) The film never suggests that the vendor who winds up with the three priceless stamps is the same vendor who sold them to Charles; in fact, when Reggie gets a chance to talk to him, he admits he's familiar with the stamps (because of their notoriety), but he also makes it clear this is the first time he's actually set eyes on them -
I know them as one knows his own face, though I had never seen them.
All the film tells us is that Charles met someone at the stamp market before he left Paris. And as we see in the Jardin des Champs-Elysees sequence, there are numerous vendors present when the stamp market is in full swing.
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MsELLERYqueen2
9 years ago
3) This is once again a case of the needs of cinematic storytelling overruling real-life logic. It's important that Dyle's name appears clearly and legibly - not just so Regina can read it, but so the AUDIENCE can read it as well. We always have to keep in mind that movies are heightened reality, and a certain suspension of disbelief is necessary (let's not forget that Cary Grant's character is by turns charming and menacing, depending on the needs of each particular scene).
Interesting point about catering to the audience. However, given the way Tex died, I think it would have been impossible for him to have written anything. I have finally decided that it must have been Carson Dyle who wrote "Dyle" in order to cast suspicion on the other man calling himself Dyle. Carson probably assumed that this other fellow was some crook who was only after the money.
I was saying to someone else on this thread that, if Tex had really written the name, then he wouldn't have written "Dyle". In order to let others know who the killer was, he would have had to write "Carson" (at least part of the name). Just writing "Dyle" would have pointed at two men (in Tex's mind), not just one.
~~~~~
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen 🎇
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Rick-34
9 years ago
Apparently it was possible for Tex to write the name. At least according to the story. After all, it's not like we saw Tex die. He was tied up in a way with a bag around his head that kept him from breathing. It's consistent with the logic of the film that he lived long enough to write a name without being able to get the strength to escape his predicament.
Seems like a weird thing to do. But hey, it's a movie!
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MsELLERYqueen2
9 years ago
Nope. I watched this film very recently and I double checked the scene where he is shown murdered. His arms were tied up, as were his legs. Obviously Carson Dyle got him tied up and then smothered him. No way could Tex have written anything.
Carson Dyle wrote "DYLE" in order to throw suspicion on the man calling himself Dyle. Carson probably thought that this "other Dyle" was just some crook after the money and that he'd be arrested for the crime. Serious mistake on his part. All he really did was to confirm what Cruikshank probably suspected already - that Carson Dyle was still alive. That was probably what they were saying at the American Embassy and it was up to Cruikshank to prove it. He probably got more suspicious once he saw Reggie running off and meeting someone. Seeing the word "Dyle" written on the ground there just confirmed his suspicions. Reggie was certainly meeting Carson Dyle and he chased her near the end of the film so that she wouldn't fall into Carson Dyle's trap. That's why (I think) he was so quick to say "That man is Carson Dyle". Quite likely he had seen pics of Carson Dyle at the Embassy, too. Identifying him would have been easy and obvious.
~~~~~
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen 🎇
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