MovieChat Forums > Sexy Beast (2001) Discussion > Why was it necessary to kill Harry, the ...

Why was it necessary to kill Harry, the banker

posted 13 years ago by micaofboca-836-322711
15 replies | jump to latest

Of course Teddy wanted to reinforce his power to instill additional fear in Gal by assassinating the banker in cold blood right in front of him. But in addition to the jeopardy attached by letting Gal witness his act, I don't see very many benefits in murdering the man in the first place since Harry had no concrete proof of Teddy's involvement in the burglary at his bank. Teddy Bass seemed to be a very careful planner, so this act seems to be merely inserted for dramatic effect and as a means of capping off the story in an exciting manner. The penalties for murder would be an unnecessary adjunct to what had previously been a non-violent crime, no matter how much money and valuables had been looted.

[–] jameselliot-1 13 years ago

In addition to your comment, Teddy wants no loose ends. A police investigation of Fox's associates would lead back to Teddy.

It still could have because Teddy opened his own safe deposit box at that bank.

[–] ActionScaleHero 13 years ago

In addition to that... Teddy let the banker have his homosexual way with him. Teddy seemingly only did this to "get in good" with the Banker, so his boys can rob the bank.

Once the job was done, Teddy did not want this man walking around to tell the tale of how he buggered a gangster boss. So, he killed him.

JLT
http://mythicalmicrocosms.blogspot.com/

[–] MrsAlSwearengen 13 years ago

I think Teddy killed Harry to tie up loose ends and he took Gal along to implicate him and to show him how easy it would be for the same thing to happen to Gal if need be.

There is no evidence that Teddy had a problem with what he and Harry did together at the orgy and I truly doubt Teddy Bass gave a damn what anyone else thought of him, anywhere. Ian McShane himself has said that Teddy would "do it with a frog" and has described him as homosexual.

Man will never be free until the last king is strangled by the last priest

[–] chilone 9 years ago

No. If you remember the look on Teddy's face when he was "receiving" the buggering, I'd say that he definitely held a grudge.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] vivlinglee 9 years ago

I agree with the grudge bit, but even if Fox gave him certain info to help him "get in", as it were, if they just walked in there with a secret code or whatever insider info, the filth would have known it was an insider job, with Fox coming at the very least under suspicion, and I did not say definitely that is what he did, but unless he was involved he was no loose end, Gal was more of a loose end, than Fox. He (Fox) was removed because he was some type of insider, who helped them in some way for a cut, and if he came under suspicion, unlike their little cosa nostra-type (our thing), he could have easily given up everything he knew, and done very little time. British sentences are notoriously much shorter than Yank ones.

[–] chilone 9 years ago

Honestly I don't remember now. Guess I gotta re-watch it :)

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] LTUM 10 years ago

harry was the only human on the planet who would connect what had happened in the vault, to teddy.

killing harry was simply tying off that loose end. it's very simple.

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Here's to the sunny slopes of long ago.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] LTUM 10 years ago

harry had a share? i wasn't under the impression he was directly involved, but functioning as a stooge.

??

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Because we're in a public place & I don't want you to lose your sh!t.

Lose my sh!t?

[–] vivlinglee 10 years ago

Has anyone considered that the Banker (James Fox) may have disabled the alarm or perhaps given Teddy some information on how to disable it, since he was in on it, and was probably going to get a cut of the loot. Which also, as well as getting rid of loose ends, is quite monetarily beneficial for Teddy and makes his murder make even more sense. It was also to show Gal how powerful he (Teddy) was, and that he could just as easily at that very moment killed Gal. And remember this way, Teddy got Gal's, Harry's & Don's share of the profits, not too bad for an evenings work.

[–] LTUM 10 years ago

i like the way you put that. yes i see your point. that makes total sense. perhaps harry was indeed involved.

it's plausible, as you put it.



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I mean, we're in a public place & I don't want you to lose your sh!t.

Lose my sh!t?

[–] cheeso65 10 years ago

Has anyone considered that the Banker (James Fox) may have disabled the alarm or perhaps given Teddy some information on how to disable it, since he was in on it

No, he was not in on it. Imperial Emblatt's reputation was based on being secure, he'd lose his customer base over it.

[–] vivlinglee 10 years ago

Then why would he let Teddy, with a completely unknown friend in his house at, what 4-5AM, unless there was a hell of a lot more going on between them than a one night stand (as it were) at some orgy. Of, course he was in on it. And HE would not lose anything for Emblatt, if no one knew who had given him the help he needed, and also giving him (Teddy)what he wanted, a bit of the ol' up-the-junction, at the orgy party, get real. This is one of my favourite movies and I have watched it many times, and I know he was in on it, or at least I feel extremely confident that he was. And again, WHY would he feel it necessary to kill him, there had to be a reason, ie: he knew what was going on, why else kill him???? Give me a good reason why he was not?

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] TheManInOil 8 years ago

What LTUM said, plus the fact that Harry showed off his vault to Teddy knowing full well what Teddy is and does. It was a challenge, a slap in the face. He basically taunted him into doing the robbery.

So, not only would Harry have been able to point the cops directly to Teddy, but also he had insulted the man and could not be allowed to live. I'm not 100%, but I also got the impression in the orgy scene that Harry literally *beep* Teddy, and that's another humiliation warranting revenge I guess.