MovieChat Forums > Three Days of the Condor (1975) Discussion > One thing I don't quite understand

One thing I don't quite understand

posted 7 months ago by ColumboKate (5529)
1 reply | jump to latest

If the secret CIA sent the letter at the beginning saying his theory was unsubstantiated, why did they then shoot everyone? Why not just leave it at that letter, and everyone goes on with their lives, and the oil plot runs under the radar with none of the Literary Association any the wiser? The book people would have just moved on with their work, wouldn't they?

I still like it though. The sex scene was completely unnecessary but other than that it was compelling to watch.

7/10

[–] Annkat (260) 4 months ago

From what I understood, it was a rogue division in the CIA that was planning the action without going through the proper channels.

Redford's character found the trigger signals and notified the office. The higher ups in charge of this rather illegal action would then be forced to explain it all. So instead they decided to cover it up by staging an assassination/rogue shooter event. They didn't count of Redford's character escaping and being so resourceful that he gave a seasoned assassin a run for his money.