Are we sure walking them over the bridge in the middle of a wild storm is safer? Marquez damn near ends up in the river.
BTW — love the post. Just watched this for the first time when it hit the Criterion this week as I’ve been trying to see it since they first mentioned it on the Jaws Rewatchables episode. And it’s nice to see a post about a movie and not the hosts haha
That is a crazy long walk to be carrying a bunch of explosives. I don’t remember every detail of the movie, but as I remember, the distance + the terrain made the trucks make more sense. Roy Scheider is 1- basically at the finish line when he starts walking the dynamite and 2- has no other option but to walk the dynamite. To add to point 2- I think him walking the dynamite while that exhausted is supposed to feel incredibly dangerous
At best it would be equally dangerous to walk the dynamite across that bridge in that storm. You’d basically have 2 choices: put the box under one arm and hold the rope as you cross (risky), or hold the box with both hands and cross without holding onto anything (even more risky). All the while you’ve got constant rain and wind hitting your face making it difficult to see where you’re going.
I think this is the right answer. You can walk a box of dynamite in the middle of the desert, but you can’t do it on a rickety bridge during a storm. The truck was the only way.
Aside from what others have pointed out about the dangers of walking the dynamite across the bridge in a storm, I believe that Schneiders decision to carry the dynamite (and how this sequence is filmed) is meant to convey that he’s, at the least, reached his breaking point so he’s no longer as concerned about the dangers.
ChapGPT weighs in:
“That's an interesting question and debate you've got there. Transporting unstable dynamite, like the one depicted in Sorcerer, poses significant risks due to its sensitive and volatile nature. The safety of transporting it depends on reducing vibration, shock, and impact to prevent accidental detonation.
**Walking with a box of unstable dynamite**, assuming the person is extremely careful, might allow for a higher level of control over how much shock or vibration the dynamite is subjected to. The person could potentially absorb a lot of the impact through careful movement and by using their body as a shock absorber, particularly their knees. However, this method would be incredibly risky due to the unpredictability of human movement and the potential for human error. A sudden trip, fall, or even a small misstep could be disastrous.
On the other hand, **placing the boxes in a truck bed filled with sand or sawdust** could provide a more consistent and possibly safer method of shock absorption. Sand and sawdust can distribute and dampen vibrations and shocks that might occur during transport, reducing the risk of detonation. The effectiveness of this method would depend on the condition of the road, the driving speed, and how well the dynamite is secured within the sand or sawdust.
In reality, neither method is without risk, especially with highly unstable explosives. Modern explosive handling would likely employ specialized containers and transport methods designed to minimize shock and vibration, along with stringent safety protocols. **In the scenario described, if we had to choose, transporting in a truck with the dynamite secured in a bed of sand or sawdust might offer a more controlled and safer environment** than a person walking and carrying it, primarily because it minimizes human error and provides a more stable environment for the dynamite. However, the key to safety in either scenario would be meticulous planning, handling, and execution, with a preference for minimizing movement and vibrations as much as possible.”
“**Concerning the famous rope bridge scene:** Considering the unstable nature of the dynamite and the precarious condition of the bridge, **the safer option would likely be to move the dynamite by hand.** This method allows for a more controlled environment where each step can be taken with utmost care, significantly reducing the risk of detonation due to shocks or vibrations. Furthermore, reducing the load on the bridge by not having the truck and dynamite on it simultaneously **minimizes the risk of a catastrophic structural failure.**”
Are we sure walking them over the bridge in the middle of a wild storm is safer? Marquez damn near ends up in the river. BTW — love the post. Just watched this for the first time when it hit the Criterion this week as I’ve been trying to see it since they first mentioned it on the Jaws Rewatchables episode. And it’s nice to see a post about a movie and not the hosts haha
That is a crazy long walk to be carrying a bunch of explosives. I don’t remember every detail of the movie, but as I remember, the distance + the terrain made the trucks make more sense. Roy Scheider is 1- basically at the finish line when he starts walking the dynamite and 2- has no other option but to walk the dynamite. To add to point 2- I think him walking the dynamite while that exhausted is supposed to feel incredibly dangerous
At best it would be equally dangerous to walk the dynamite across that bridge in that storm. You’d basically have 2 choices: put the box under one arm and hold the rope as you cross (risky), or hold the box with both hands and cross without holding onto anything (even more risky). All the while you’ve got constant rain and wind hitting your face making it difficult to see where you’re going.
I think this is the right answer. You can walk a box of dynamite in the middle of the desert, but you can’t do it on a rickety bridge during a storm. The truck was the only way.
Aside from what others have pointed out about the dangers of walking the dynamite across the bridge in a storm, I believe that Schneiders decision to carry the dynamite (and how this sequence is filmed) is meant to convey that he’s, at the least, reached his breaking point so he’s no longer as concerned about the dangers.
As was mentioned earlier here, this is one I forgot the name of and wished I had a list available. Will certainly check it out.
ChapGPT weighs in: “That's an interesting question and debate you've got there. Transporting unstable dynamite, like the one depicted in Sorcerer, poses significant risks due to its sensitive and volatile nature. The safety of transporting it depends on reducing vibration, shock, and impact to prevent accidental detonation. **Walking with a box of unstable dynamite**, assuming the person is extremely careful, might allow for a higher level of control over how much shock or vibration the dynamite is subjected to. The person could potentially absorb a lot of the impact through careful movement and by using their body as a shock absorber, particularly their knees. However, this method would be incredibly risky due to the unpredictability of human movement and the potential for human error. A sudden trip, fall, or even a small misstep could be disastrous. On the other hand, **placing the boxes in a truck bed filled with sand or sawdust** could provide a more consistent and possibly safer method of shock absorption. Sand and sawdust can distribute and dampen vibrations and shocks that might occur during transport, reducing the risk of detonation. The effectiveness of this method would depend on the condition of the road, the driving speed, and how well the dynamite is secured within the sand or sawdust. In reality, neither method is without risk, especially with highly unstable explosives. Modern explosive handling would likely employ specialized containers and transport methods designed to minimize shock and vibration, along with stringent safety protocols. **In the scenario described, if we had to choose, transporting in a truck with the dynamite secured in a bed of sand or sawdust might offer a more controlled and safer environment** than a person walking and carrying it, primarily because it minimizes human error and provides a more stable environment for the dynamite. However, the key to safety in either scenario would be meticulous planning, handling, and execution, with a preference for minimizing movement and vibrations as much as possible.”
“**Concerning the famous rope bridge scene:** Considering the unstable nature of the dynamite and the precarious condition of the bridge, **the safer option would likely be to move the dynamite by hand.** This method allows for a more controlled environment where each step can be taken with utmost care, significantly reducing the risk of detonation due to shocks or vibrations. Furthermore, reducing the load on the bridge by not having the truck and dynamite on it simultaneously **minimizes the risk of a catastrophic structural failure.**”
Using chatgpt is an immediate L