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Passport and flight reservation Logic Error - Spoilers

posted 14 years ago by motorhead100
12 replies | jump to latest

If Stanwyk planned to kill "Nugent" and steal his passport (which he asked Ted to bring) and fake his own death, then why was the reservation for the flight to Brazil in Stanwyk's name? He planned on killing off himself (Stanwyk) and taking over Nugent's identity (and using his passport), so the reservation should have been for "Ted Nugent". I love this movie (and the original book is even better), but this logic error always bothered me.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] dragon_x 13 years ago

I think Stanwyk's plan was to make it look like Nugent fled the country, under Stanwyk's passport and with Stanwyk's plane ticket(s). Maybe not the best plan, but then he did know the chief of police... though the police chief did not seem to be 100% aware of the plan... which is why, maybe he wanted to pose as Nugent while down in Rio.

In theory, the police would have found Nugent's burned body in Stanwyk's car, maybe with Stanwyck's driver's license. By the time the police figured out it was not Stanwyk, Stanwyk would be in Rio, with his first wife (which nobody in LA/CA had ever seen).

[–] motorhead100 13 years ago

If that is what Stanwyk was planning, then why insist that Nugent bring his passport. I think it is obvious that he planned on stealing Nugent's identity (why else find someone the same size/height if not to switch) to get out of the country, so the reservation should have been under Nugent's name. I think the screenwriters messed up here by having the reservation in Stanwyk's name. It's a lot more logical to believe that he was going to pose as Nugent to get out as opposed to the confusing plan of trying to make the police believe that someone broke into his house, murdered him, stole his passport and plane ticket, took the time to move the dead body to a car and burn it up before fleeing under the dead name of the guy he just killed and burned up.
Like I said, love the move (and more so the novel) but this was just sloppy writing...though it does lead to my favorite scene. "Oh for god dawd dawd."

[–] dkgambler 12 years ago

Keep in mind this is a guy who had never heard of Ted Nugent before some junkie announces himself as Ted Nugent. Not the most on the ball guy, notwithstanding his executive position at Boyd Aviation. Oh wait, on the other hand he's smart enough to take one look at a guy and conclude that he's wearing his suit.

Screw it, I don't know.

[–] fctiger 12 years ago

Lets be honest here, I liked the movie but this 'plan' was the most idiotic plan in screenwriting history. It was the 80s, movies were simplier those days, but my god did Stanwyk think this bizarre plan would remotely work??? I just think its funny this guy, who the hell didnt know who Ted Nugent was in the 80s although I wish we didnt know him now, would trust a supposed beach bum who he hired to kill him for $50,000 grand but will follow his plan exactly. What if he simply didnt bring the damn passport for starters??? Then what? Or what if he simply didnt show up at all? Where was plan B?

And I loved how Fletch interviewed every friend, associate, doctor and family member, including his wife, this guy ever had but apparantly not a single one of them called to tell him some guy was around asking about him. Yeah ONLY in the 80s lol.

[–] motorhead100 12 years ago

It would be quite interesting to see how they would do a remake of this story for today's audience. You're correct - there is logic that only worked in a breazy 80's comedy/mystery.

[–] Fletcherj119 11 years ago

I think Stanwyk had to use his own name for the reservation. He knew Fletch was giving him a *beep* name (Ted Nugent), so he really had no idea what the name would be on the passport.

[–] velvetjoneslives 11 years ago

Also, don't forget that back in the day there was no TSA or other BS. As long as you had a ticket in hand you could get on the plane. Now once you got to Brazil their customs might have had some question as to why you were not on the passenger manifest, but the airline itself would have not cared less.

[–] Fletcherj119 11 years ago

Cool.

[–] Shiddy 11 years ago

that was an earlier flight to Provo, Utah probably just for Stanwyk to visit his parents before he and Sally Ann escape to Rio, Fletch uses the Rio tickets at the end of the movie (two separate flights)

[–] Fletch06 10 years ago

Utah, you've seen pictures.

[–] mamie-lou 9 years ago

Cavanaugh? Is that Maurice or Pierre?