...after stealing the guns? He has nothing to gain by risking going back. If Mapache asks Dutch, "Where's Angel?", Dutch could just say he got killed. Any of them might have gotten killed on this job, so Angel's absence would be easy to explain.
I know Angel must return for the story to play out. But I can't think of any believable reason why he would have.
The story has quite a few puzzling aspects.
Why didn't Pike check one of the bags of washers at the railroad office?
How would Thornton know they would be robbing the arms train?
Why would the villagers treat them with such kindness as if they were conquering heroes for the revolution?
Would Tector and Lyle really ruin the Mapache's wine and think there would be no consequences?
What was the point in Thorton keeping his word to the railroad instead of just escaping in Mexico especially as he had great respect for Pike?
Why did Dutch utterly desert Angel, "He's a thief you take care of him"?
And as you say why did Angel return to the compound?
Why shoot the German?
Despite these things it's in my top ten.
Funny, those other things you bring up don't bother me at all.
Why didn't Pike check one of the bags of washers at the railroad office?He's got no reason to think the bags are anything other than what he expects. The railroad intended to deceive him and they succeeded.
How would Thornton know they would be robbing the arms train?He didn't know, but explained to Harrigan why it was his guess. He knew Pike's general location, and that the only opportunity for Pike to make a score would be to do something on Mapache's behalf.
Why would the villagers treat them with such kindness as if they were conquering heroes for the revolution?Angel was bringing the bunch as guests into his village. So, they'd be welcome, and during these dark days an excuse for some celebration might also be welcome.
Would Tector and Lyle really ruin the Mapache's wine and think there would be no consequences?I don't think Mapache would know who shot holes in a couple of barrels, or when it happened, and once the bunch was hijacking guns for him, I doubt he'd even care.
What was the point in Thorton keeping his word to the railroad instead of just escaping in Mexico especially as he had great respect for Pike?For men like Pike and Thornton it's a matter of honor. For them life isn't sacred. So, for their own sense of self it's important that, at least, they hold their word as sacred. Pike even gets into a brief shouting match with Dutch over it.
Why did Dutch utterly desert Angel, "He's a thief you take care of him"?Dutch, being cool and rational, saw that there was nothing he could do to help Angel, and the only smart move was to just protect his own skin and get out of there.
Why shoot the German?Well first, why shoot ANYONE after Mapache is dead? At that crucial moment everybody's frozen, wondering what will happen next. And instead of defusing the situation, Pike makes the fateful choice to reject a bleak future in a world where his way of life is over. Instead, he deliberately touches off the final conflagration by shooting another person.
Despite these things it's in my top ten.And despite my one misgiving, for me it's Hollywood's greatest western.
I don't find any of your answers adequate apart from the German shooting, but anyway glad you rate it highly.
shareI don't find any of your answers adequate apart from the German shooting share
Haha! You know one can make up excuses for any plot problem in any movie if they wish.
So as far as why did Angel ride in with Dutch to collect the last payment? I can offer this justification. The Bunch were all on a high after the robbery and the excitement of getting all that gold. So Angel got over confident and didn't reckon on Teresa's mother's treachery. And you know it's quite common for criminals to make stupid mistakes after the crime and get caught as a consequence.
The others might have been high on the gold, but Angel made the deal to give up his share.
Yep, criminals can make stupid mistakes. But they'll usually do it because they hope to gain something. If only Angel had gotten lazy and said, "What do I wanna go back there for? You go ahead, Dutch. I'll hang out at the wagon."
Oh well.
Well how about this. There was a bond between Dutch and Angel, remember when Angel saved Dutch from falling under the train? Then in the sauna it was Dutch who persuaded Pike to let Angel have a case of rifles. So Angel rode in with Dutch for support. On top of that Angel had a lot of pride and that pride plus his bravado took Angel to put himself before Mapache one last time, like waving a red rag.
Any good, have I persuaded you?
That's a good try with one problem: Dutch would have understood that Angel went with him for support. In which case, Dutch would never have left Angel flat like he did, even if it meant his own jeopardy.
shareYep, that's a problem I have too, Dutch needn't of said what he said, "He's a thief you take care of him". Yet that scene brought out a superb piece of acting from Jaime Sánchez, the look of disbelief and abandonment was incredible.
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