MovieChat Forums > Dog Day Afternoon (1975) Discussion > Better Escape Plan

Better Escape Plan

posted 9 years ago by kag2
8 replies | jump to latest

OK, having appeared on TV and been identified, it was obvious that Sonny's goose was cooked. He was NOT going to escape. But nobody had seen Sal except the hostages. So Sal had a chance to escape if they planned it right.

1) Sal takes scissors and cuts all his hair off.

2) Put a face mask on Sal so he is not identifiable by the cops and tv.

2) All get in the car/van as they did.

3) After traveling a few blocks, order the FBI Agent driver out of the car.

4) Let the FBI know that if they follow you will kill hostages, then drive away from the motorcade down some side street.

5) Drive by a crowded subway station and have Sal bolt for the station.

6) Stop the car, and Sonny puts his hands up and surrenders.

What would Sal's odds of escaping have been?

[–] Boman777 9 years ago

Good plan, but didn't the one FBI guy who wanted to see if all the hostages were alright specifically look at Sal and even say something to him?

Knowing that Sal had already been imprisoned by that point it wouldn't take the police long to identify him.

[–] Boman777 9 years ago

Plus there was no reason for the hostages to not look at mug shots and identify him themselves. Even if some were reluctant to sell him out, a possibility, then I think another would have, maybe the manager.

This is why you always hide your face before robbing a bank.

[–] dayvit78 9 years ago

There are numerous reasons why Sal could not have escaped unknown:

1) They entered the bank with no masks, everything is on camera. The cameras were never completely covered, so they have several hours of him on tape
2) All the bank employees see him for several hours
3) The police/media know his first name "Sal/Salvatore" and from that would be able to find out his full name by checking accomplices of Sonny (who they also know from the wife, the mother, the gay-wife)
4) Sonny tells his mom that Sal is in there, she knows who he is
5) The FBI agent taking a look when he goes in
6) The fact that only door is glass and people have been looking in all day

There is no way the police did not know exactly who Sal was and where to find him if he tried to escape.

[–] kag2 8 years ago

Yes, it wouldn't be easy. But if Sal could jump out of the FBI car and get to a bus, subway, or taxi, he could have gone to maybe a friend's place, then been driven out of town. Of course, the friend would have to aid and abet.

Then Sal would have been a wanted man on the lam. Most wanted men are captured, but a few aren't.

[–] McCartney42 8 years ago

I'm sure Sal wouldn't of tried to "run" on his own because he knew that he needed Sonny. I mean cmon, the guy thought Oregon was a friggin country!! Lol

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] icestationzebra7 8 years ago

...Wyoming, not Oregon. Just watched the movie again. Such a classic. Best watched on a hot Summer's evening. John Cazale was a great actor.

[–] liscarkat (18536) 2 years ago

Sal was a dim bulb. His odds of pulling anything off without Sonny, or somebody, to guide him were very slim.