What in the hell were they thinking with that part of the carousel scene? I don't even think it's revisited. It's a park full of people (women, children as well) and the cops decide to shoot at unarmed, unconfirmed suspects? And then they hit a completely innocent and uninvolved guy instead? A lot wrong with this film but this is way up there.
shareI hope you understand how it would have taken the story far off-course to deal with the local police department's Internal Affairs investigation of the negligent homicide by that detective. There were other narrative priorities. "What were they thinking?" About ratcheting up the thrills and suspense at the right time to link to one of the most exciting climaxes from Hitchcock's entire career.
STRANGERS ON A TRAIN is one of the director's most entertaining pictures; too bad for you that there's just "a lot wrong with this film," Pacino13.
Most great films deserve a more appreciative audience than they get.
This is one of my top ten movies, but I still can't help but notice the same thing every time I watch it. "There goes the suspect! Let's just fire our guns into a crowded carousel carrying mostly children!" did seem a bit of an odd decision. I guess they had to get the thing spinning out of control somehow.
But, hey, the movie works spectacularly anyway. I almost love Hitch's movies more for these apparent WTF moments than in spite of them. I'm more than happy to let him play me like a piano.
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I have meddled with the primal forces of nature and I will atone.
It's not unlike Its a Wonderful Life when they shot at Jimmy Stewart's character as he was running down a crowded sidewalk.
shareYeah it isnt as if the police never shoot into a crowd
shareThere's definitely an unsatisfying ending there. I can see the headline now: "One man dead, dozens of young children seriously injured as police capture possible suspect."
Somehow I don't see the public being too happy with the police work on this one.
But then Hitchcock was never a big fan of the cops, and this is one example of his feelings about them.
I'm not crying, you fool, I'm laughing!
Hewwo.
YES! the random shooting /murder near the end was downright insane.
that cop needs to be in jail..