MovieChat Forums > Thief (1981) Discussion > Not survivable....

Not survivable....

posted 11 years ago by Elephantlips
7 replies | jump to latest

Yes... I know, I know. It's a movie - don't tell me that. And it's a great movie.

But the ending job where Frank cuts a hole in the vault with a burning 8,000 degree metal rod, for several minutes, would make for untenable conditions.

Not only could you not stand that close to an 8,000 degree flame, it would heat up the room to hundreds of degrees in minutes.

Also, something that burns that intensely, eats up a ton of oxygen. As do the CO2 extinguishers displace oxygen.

The hear combined with the lack of oxygen and noxious gas given off certainly would have killed them.

Nevertheless - still a great movie.

[–] the_departed94 11 years ago

It's real equipment so don't know what to tell you

[–] filmklassik (51) 8 years ago

What do you mean it's "real equipment"?

It's a terrific movie (one of my faves, actually; I watch it every few years) and I know the equipment in it LOOKS real, but lets not kid ourselves that the torch Caan used in the movie burned anywhere near 8000 degrees.

[–] proteus122 10 years ago

And what about fire alarms? That much burning would have produced tons of smoke which would have gone everywhere on that floor and below a couple of floors. And yet no fire alarms.

[–] ArchxStanton 10 years ago

They cut the alarms for the fire sprinklers. ..while the flame was hot it was also tiny so it wouldn't get that hot in there...but good points. Real crooks were used in filming the movie and real equipment. .so who knows? I dont think any of it is that big of a stretch ttht it ruins the film in any way.

[–] lorenzb-2 10 years ago

The company that provided the equipment for the movie is real. That was a genuine piece of hardware meant for burning through steel. I don't know if it indeed does create heat in excess of 8,000 degrees Fahrenheit, but people xan obviously operate it with the proper protection. I think it's a hollow bar of a magnesium alloy with oxygen being forced into one end.

[–] brightmidnight71 10 years ago

http://www.oxylance.com/sure-cut.php

[–] Elephantlips 8 years ago

I'm certain it wasn't used in a closed in area with breathing protection.