MovieChat Forums > L.A. Confidential (1997) Discussion > How could Bud survive three close-range ...

How could Bud survive three close-range shots?!

posted 10 years ago by li-beinan
26 replies | jump to latest

That's probably my biggest question about the movie.
It feels like a made-up happy ending.

[–] tehck 9 years ago

How could Bud survive three close-range shots?!

The same way Vito Genovese survived twice as many bullets from even closer range, it's in the script.

Actually, it's a truth is stranger than fiction moment. There are many examples of people surviving what would seem to be worse. Also, the shooters were likely using the preferred police round for the time, the .38 special, which is not particularly effective. That's why virtually no one uses it for anything now.

Now had Bud been hit by one of the shotguns or even a Thompson firing the .45 ACP, it might have been a different story.

[–] GenusHomo 9 years ago

It was actually a .32, commonly used during that time (especially by an older cop like Dudley). The .32 cartridge is roughly 1/3 the size of a .38 special.

It's a very weak round. .32 is Number 11 on this page:

http://herohog.com/images/guns/ammo/Comparitive_handgun_rounds.jpg

and .38 special is Number 7 for comparison.

[–] NikolajCostas1005 9 years ago

It's unlikely but possible as long as none of his vitals were hit.

As someone else mentioned, had he been hit with a shotgun blast it'd be a lot less believable.

See you in hell, candy boys!

[–] Blubonnet_Spearman 9 years ago

He survived because it was in the script

[–] MrRazorz 9 years ago

The man was just too angry to die. They could have cut him up with a chainsaw and his fists would still have been flying around punching people.

[–] AlexDuran 8 years ago

How could Bud survive three close-range shots?!

Because Bud White is a bad mother *beep* Think of him as a force of nature.

More realistically people have been shot more than 3 times and lived. 50 Cent survived a shooting similar to this, actually twice as many bullets with a similar shot to the face. Two revolver shots to the torso missing certain vitals can be survived, not that uncommon. The last shot to his face went through one cheek and out the other, lost teeth but survivable. It's not a great stretch White survived.

Also the guy looked physically dense. Muscle does in fact slow projectiles down compared to fat or very little mass. I doubt Exley would have survived that same situation. The best part of that scene; as White is getting blasted by Dudley he still tries to advance on him. Unstoppable.

[–] venanttout 8 years ago

Seach about Jacky Imbert. This man survived twenty two projectiles in his body.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacky_Imbert

[–] gottaluvafriend 8 years ago

You'd be surprised the punishment a human body can endure. Those were .38 Special slugs. A .38 Special is not a very powerful weapon.

[–] Burk48917 (11384) 3 years ago

It's fine that he lived, but it was handled poorly.