10 top questions a film left as a mystery, that I have solved

WHO WAS THE SNITCH THAT KING JAMES WAS LOOKING FOR? The answer is not given. Some think it could have been Lucky, or someone so out of it that he didn't even know he was a snitch. But the obvious choice here, for those who've lived in the street, is SAVON. When he turned on Goose and said "stomp a mudhole" it was convincing to any street person that Savon was covering his tracks, and he was the one who wanted to move in.

WAS DREW SHOT? Yes. In the original cuts that made the theaters, if you watched it again to listen, you could hear the shot very distinctly. It has been cut out, or somehow filtered out, either intentionally or unintentionally, but he was shot.

DID ANY OF THEM SURVIVE? And not to spoil it, but it is obvious which two I speak of for those who saw the film. Yes, they were clearly shown as using common sense and following good advice, and had ample time to make safety. When the film was made, it was a little more obvious. The depressing viewpoints were made into cliches a few years later, and now people assume the worst.

ARE THESE THREE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD? No. This film came out the same year as BETWEEN TWO WORLDS, and had to be compared to it then. There weren't a lot of "Sixth Sense" films before that, not like today. There are numerous tip offs and symbols to show they are actually in the land of the dead, such as the young man not being able to tell what color the girl's hair is, the soldiers marching into the cahtedral followed by a reluctant crowd, the train disembarkment, the reuniting with the dead, but it is done with optimistic hope.

IS THE KID ACTUALLY THE PSYCHO'S SON? Yes. Despite what is said, Hackman's character treats him with the disdain and preparation, however poorly done, that tips off a father. He would've killed the Kid long ago if he was not the father.

WAS LANDAU'S CHARACTER GAY? Emphatically "yes". The other major mystery deals with the director instead of the plot, but I'll answer it. The tunnel entrance was not planned. Later, of course, people who prudce a film will say they "intended" for a certain joke, but the truth is that such jokes are never planned out. They just naturally happen.

WAS DARTH VADER ORIGINALLY LUKE'S FATHER? No. Again, we have a case of a film maker seeing a good thing after others suggest it. It isn't hard to manufacture a plot with willing accomplices in the case of Theater, because they all feel they will look dumb if they don't go along with it, but the lies are easy to see through for savvy peole.

WHAT HAPPENNED TO THE LAST OUTLAW? Originally, he was supposed to have been killed by the young guy, but this was cut, probably because it did look too contrived for a classic, so this is one that the viewer is let to decide whether he wants a cut and dry ending or a realistic one. The story actually lends to the realistic one in which the last outlaw decides he better mosey on out of there, probably with the idea of selling his dead companions' horses.

IS FORD'S CHARACTER AN ANDROID? Yes. The give away is when he studies the video, and continues to find what a human eye could never find.

DOES THE WOMAN EVER FIND WHO KILLED HER HUSBAND? No, though this infuriates the beavis and butthead audiences. It is a story about serentiy and acceptance of knowing you won't know all the answers. This went over well with "mature" viewers of the past, people who didn't live in cubicles, but not as well with modern day brats who think they can whine and the whole Universe obeys them. The two characters learn they have to live their lives and know they can't control everything.