MovieChat Forums > Behold a Pale Horse (1964) Discussion > plot holes...

plot holes...

posted 16 years ago by yojimboy
7 replies | jump to latest

1) Sure, the priest didn't want to lie, but why couldn't he just go to the Catholic church in France for sanctuary instead of go back home to face certain death? Suicide is a sin.

2) If the Guardia's informant, the smuggler, knew where the bandit lived and dealt with him regularly, why not just send someone to his house to shoot him? He was completely unguarded and not living in secrecy (random street kids are able to direct the other kid right to his apartment).

3) Why was the trap at the hospital still set after they had gone to the train station to capture the priest? They captured the priest because they knew he had told the dude about their trap. No reason for them to all be sitting around the hospital waiting for him after that.

[–] vonhangman 15 years ago

1). He didn't face certain death.

2). Diplomatic incident.

3). Good point.

[–] zuzupetal_99 14 years ago

I also didn't understand why Peck brought Shariff home w/ him to face the informer and basically signed his death certificate right there. What purpose did it serve to bring the priest back w/ him?! Especially when the priest saved his life?

"Are you going to your grave with unlived lives in your veins?" ~ The Good Girl

[–] ksf-2 12 years ago

SPOILERS

Orig poster wrote:
> 1) the priest didn't want to lie, but why couldn't he just go to the
> Catholic church in France for sanctuary instead of go back home to face
> certain death? Suicide is a sin.

it's only suicide if you take your own life. facing an honorable death is not suicide, as you are not taking your own life. First, the priest was forced to face Carlos by Artiguez. Francisco the priest says over and over "I must meet up with my group at Lourdes." so he DID try to get out of facing Carlos at first.
Then, after the showdown, he realizes he must return and face the music. he had taken vows and was determined to keep them.

>2) why not just send someone to kill Artiguez at his home?

because then we wouldnt have a movie!

>3) why was trap still set at the hospital?

Artiguez kind of addresses this himself -- they ask him earlier why he must go, now that he knows his mother has died -- he says something like: "What else can I do?" my thought is he is sick of staying "in hiding", and knows it will be a chance to take out his adversary Viñolas. One way or another, the waiting and angst will be over... they both want resolution.

Good flick. For a similar one, watch THE TRAIN.

[–] craighenderson-925-318178 12 years ago

The reason Peck's character gave was that he wanted the smuggler and the priest to confront each other so he could tell which was lying. He wasn't signing the priest's death certificate because if the liar was Carlos, the smujggler, he was going to kill him, which he tried to do unsuccesfully.

[–] mnbush 9 years ago

#2 The Spanish officials couldn't send someone to kill the 'bandit' (Peck) at home, because Peck was in France and he was not a bandit there. He was 'wanted' in Spain, hence the reason to lure him back home.

[–] yojimboy 9 years ago

I'm a bit disturbed that a little under seven years later I've completely forgotten this movie, what it was about, or why I was complaining...

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

you made some good points