MovieChat Forums > Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) Discussion > No thanks! I'm gettin out of this town!

No thanks! I'm gettin out of this town!

posted 9 years ago by thejessematrix
1 reply | jump to latest

So after Lawrence shows Freddy around the museum, explaining to him how to spend his money...Freddy finally "tucks his tail between his legs and runs away." Freddy is wearing his latest Ruprecht suit, and his hair slicked back from all that gel.

Lawrence says good luck. Now notice the outfit Caine is wearing in this scene. The striped suit and tie.

Cut to the very next scene. Caine is wearing the same outfit and tie from the museum. He meets Andre at the outside cafe table and explains to him about Freddy finally leaving. Andre is happy and says something like, "So its business as usual." Andre stands and leaves.

Then we hear Freddy's voice talking to the woman about the Wall-Street Journal and the stock prices. Freddy notices Lawrence sitting at the cafe table. Lawrence is visibly upset. "What are you doing here."

This part is weird. Freddy supposedly JUST left the museum as Lawrence walks to meet Andre at the cafe table. But now---Freddy's hair is clean of gel. His clothes are back to his normal attire, even wearing his white fedora.

Then Freddy explains that he was about to get on a bus (or train), ticket in hand, when he suddenly decided that "What am I leaving this place for? I love me here. So I'll be sticking around for awhile. Lucky you."

I love this movie, but every time it gets to this scene, my continuity alarm goes off in my head. The passage of time seems to be completely different for both characters between this scene and the last scene in the museum.

For Lawrence, their parting at the museum was only minutes ago, possibly 15 minutes at the most. For Freddy---he had time to collect his stuff. Wash the gel out of his hair, shower perhaps. Change his clothes. Go to the bus/train station and buy a ticket. Waits awhile and reflects on his time there. Before getting on the bus, he decides to stay. Then how ever much time it takes him to get back to town and start scamming on that woman on the street about the stock prices.

Not a big deal. Just something I always notice.

[–] jon7057 9 years ago

Yeah it does seem a bit off but there's nothing to indicate how much time elapsed from the museum to the meeting Andre at the cafe. A couple of hours could have gone by allowing Freddy to do what he had to do. Also, given Freddy's tendency to story tell, the train ticket thing could be made up for dramatic effect, cutting down the time. He could easily have made up his mind as he was leaving Lawrence's house. So as far as continuity issues goes its really not bad as some movies.