You said it perfectly, airline pilots in the 60,70,80s were legit seen as Rockstars, it was considered an elite position and very upper class. The way the movie portrays people acting towards him because he's a pilot is very accurate.
I remember in the late 80's I got a set of replica wings from Delta when my family flew to Florida. Airlines and staff were very respected for a number of years especially for Pan Am.
I flew a lot growing up, and every flight, the hostess would lead me to the cockpit which was usually filled with cigarette smoke. I was a little kid sitting in the jump seat in the cockpit sipping an orange juice talking to the three pilots. Back then, there was the pilot, the co-pilot, and the flight engineer. They were all smiles, very friendly, answering every question and telling me what every button, dial, and lever was for. This was a public relation strategy which also planted the seed in young children to develop aspirations to become a pilot. When it was time to return to my seat for landing, I was given a firm handshake with a smile, and my very own set of golden wings. Those were days that we'll never have again.
When I was a kid, Pilots were like rock stars. Kids admired them like they do athletes today. The time my brother and I took our first flight, the Pilot let us go in the cockpit and we were in awe of the instruments panel. They also used to give out toy pilot wings to the kids too. Those were the good old days.😊
I’m only 22 but I remember every delta flight asking the pilots for trading cards lol. They still do it, but something about it doesn’t feel as magical anymore. I think it’s just all the bad news about Boeing whistleblowers kinda soured peoples opinions of airline pilots
Pilots were Rockstars, Stewardesses were glamorous, and you would wear your best Sunday clothes to travel on a plane. It was such a big deal to be able to travel by air during this time. People have no respect for any of it now. It's commonplace and many people think it's a place to act foolish and entitled, sadly.
Since this film was made, it's been discovered that basically everything Abagnale claimed about his life was made up. I honestly don't know why anyone was surprised.
And that actually makes him a better conman than he was even portrayed as in this movie. The fake story he told is one thing, but having a Hollywood movie made about his made up story and people believed i is next level.
Fun fact: The French cop that arrests Frank in the movie is the real Frank Abagnale. Also, this is such a quality movie. Its so much better than it makes it out to be. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks are phenomenal and Christopher Walken is always a win. Plus, another gem of music from John Williams.
Frank was actually one of four children, growing up with two brothers and a sister. On a similar note, Abagnale's mother never remarried and the Christmastime window scene where he discovers her with a new daughter never actually happened.
@@ItsAlannaBanana Not so much "theories" as "nobody's been able to verify anything he's ever said about anything", and, given how many people have tried and failed to verify his claims, yeah, I do believe that.
The film ends with Abagnale working directly with the FBI, but this isn't exactly how things shook out. When the film was released, an FBI spokesperson (via NewsDay) acknowledged that Abagnale had given lectures at the Academy "from time to time," but denied other grandiose claims about the agency employing Abagnale.
In real life, Frank's father was the first scam victim. After his mother moved out following the divorce, Frank stayed with his father, and around that time, committed his very first scam. Using his father's credit cards, he began charging thousands of dollars - but when the first bill arrived, his father caught on. After a brief stint at a school for wayward boys, Frank moved out on his own at just 16 years old. And unlike in the movie, Frank never saw his father again. He's said that while he was in prison, his father was in a freak slip-and-fall accident and died after falling down the steps of a New York subway station.
Abagnale's claims were made before fact-checking involved Google searches. But it also helps that when Abagnale began telling his story in the '70s, there wasn't much research digging into his claims. He began making these claims at small events and eventually found himself on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." By that point, people assumed the questions had already been asked.
Yes but now people think Google searches provide FACTS. The fact is it is unclear exactly what went down and what he was doing at this time (to the general public). The FBI would have to make an official statement, because defunct airlines saying “uh no we didn’t get scammed like idiots and of course have no potential liability in any cases of unqualified persons possibly being out in a situation to have lives in their hands..”
Normally, I would add this to my Christmas watch list, since it revolves around Christmas so much, but you guys are just too much fun to watch that I can't miss out on your reactions to this one.
Regarding the lawyer con: The fifth floor of the building Frank claims to have worked in never housed his agency's offices. For his part, Abagnale has always had a response to these claims - arguing that the people he scammed simply don't want to admit that they were fooled.
Leo DiCaprio is such an amazing actor He’s so into the character it makes him truly believable He out acted Hanks in every scene But I do think Hanks was being submissive acting wise to let him shine more and for the character to truly be the focus
Frank was in jail serving time in the Great Meadow Correctional Institute in Comstock, New York, and wasn't paroled until 1967, which is well after the period he was allegedly posing as a pediatrician
Fun fact: Steven Spielberg turned down directing Pirates Of The Caribbean to make this movie and would direct the Sci Fi Action Adventure Minority Report. Carl Hanratty is actually a compilation of several FBI and Secret Service agents that were on Frank Abagnale's trail for a few months.
The two mouse story is actually a great story for the time. Took me multiple times hearing it to understand what it meant 25:07 and the first time he's truthful is when it worked out for him but the lies catch up
I'm not proud to admit it, but I've done some document forging in my day. But I did it in the era of computers and photoshop and graphic design software. This dude did it with a typewriter, ketchup labels and toy airplanes. Hero worship.
I was surprised how good this movie was when I watched it for the first time. I remember when it came out in the theaters, I didn't watch it because, frankly, it didn't sound interesting at all. I mean, "an FBI agent hunts for a check forger." That definitely sounds like a movie you'd fall asleep while watching. But oh how I was mistaken. This is truly a fantastic film.
All the French scenes of this movie were done in Canada by French Canadian actors imitating a French from France accent. I recognized a lot of the French Canadian actors.
LOVE this movie! Throwing out the criminally underrated movie The Talented Mr. Ripley (Oscar nominated, suspense, Matt Damon/Jude Law/ Philip Seymour Hoffman, gorgeous movie & soundtrack…). Also criminally ‘under-known’ About Schmidt (Jack Nicholson/ Kathy Bates, really funny but also great drama…)
In the 60's, flying was glamorous. It was expensive, and people dressed up. The seats were spacious and real food was served. Flight attendants had strict beauty and dress requirements and had to be young and single. Pilots were very respected and were basically treated like rock stars.
Back then pilot considered as one of the famous profession, ppl idolized them. I remember when I was a kid I was always amazed seeing them. Even until now pilot still one of the “high class” job
If you find this unbelievable in some parts, like it was exaggerated in the movie, just know that the real story is even wilder. Frank Abagnale is a genius. The saddest part of the story is that his original reason for committing all of these non-violent crimes is just to get his family back. It's also interesting to me that if you're rich or a corporation and you commit a crime against a poor person, you get a slap on the wrist, if that. If you're poor and you rob from the rich, you're going to prison. That was Frank's crime - stealing from rich people.
Yep..at that time, airline pilots were like celebrities - handsome men in uniform ;). AND, if you were a woman who was lucky enough to be a stewardess for PanAm, every man wanted you and every other girl wanted to BE you. The flight attendants back then (they were all female) were called “stewardesses” or “Stews” for short. They were stunningly beautiful, wore THE sharpest uniforms and they, too - were like celebrities. Air travel was a lot more glamorous back in the day (50’s/60’s) - even the insides of the airplanes were beautiful and the meals they served were incredible. Even the passengers got dressed up to travel - very classy.
Back then Airline Pilots were darn near Astronauts, and we used to dress to fly (men often wore suit and tie) - None of that grown men looking like Kindergarteners going to the beach on airliners! By the mid-seventies things really started to change. I worked for a company that when travelling on their dime we were required to wear suit and tie up thru the nineties - then the minimum requirement relaxed after 2000 to sport jacket and slacks.
Still an entertaining movie and Frank Abigail was famous WAY before the movie. If the exploits are indeed false, he is truly the greatest con artist in history…more so than a real life Oompa Loompa with a bad hairpiece
Another movie I recommend with a real story kind of like this one is "I love you Phillip Morris". It's with Jim Carrey in the lead role of the con man Steven Russel and Ewan McGregor plays Phillip Morris.
Divorce, dysfunctional family, father and son relationship, etc. is at the core of many Spielberg's films, 'cause he has experienced it himself as a kid and suffered from it. Thus it's all over his career. You see it in "Close Encounters", "E.T.", "Last Crusade", "Catch me if you can", "War of the Worlds" and so on, up until recently with "The Fabelmans" of course, as it is some kind of an autobiography film.
A lot of prominent jews have molestation and inbred activity within their family. All Rothschilds married their cousins, if you look up Frued's family history in his diary he writes about him and his brothers and sisters getting molested constantly. It's pretty common among jews.
At 13:02 it’s just so subtly brilliant… He’s not just flirting, he’s also distracting her while she’s in the process of looking closely at that airline check… JUST in case she would notice anything off about it 😏
It's not really a true story, it's not even based on a true story, but it's a fun story. It's an adaptation of a book, sizable of which were made up or embellished by the author, based on a single interview in which Abagnale recounted things that literally could never have happened and flat out lied about other things.
Loved your reaction as always. You should watch society of the snow. It's a great movie and I would love to hear what you have to say about that one. If you do watch it I recommend the original language with subtitles, the acting was amazing
Sorry for stating this if it been addressed but I like how the camera has been pulled out more also this was my first time commenting on it because of what going on
Where did he admit that? I don’t see it and it’s counter to my understanding. He has always maintained the basis of the story. (Till you show me this admittance somewhere). Some reporter CLAIMS to expose him, but it’s almost entirely based on the fact that Pan AM said so. But OF COURSE Pan Am the former mega corp with various potential liability and desire to maintain some reputation would say it was false. Of course they would LIE to say it was false too if there wasn’t solid evidence to prove it. The FBI also seems to be silent on the matter so I think it’s fairly up in the air as to what really happened.
@mokane86 I never heard of Frank admitting it, but it is all fake regardless. He only ever cashed 10 fake payroll checks, which he was promptly arrested for, and they only totaled $1,500.
When you get braces taken off of your teeth, your teeth feel very slimy or slippery because you can actually move your tongue across them again. It takes a couple days to get used to that again. 😁
I think it's mostly true. Watch the real Frank Abingnale Jr.'s appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. He recounts the high priced prostitute story and it's right on line with the movie's depiction.
I've seen multiple interviews with Frank Abignale. Not only was nothing embellished in the movie, it was actually toned way down, to not get an x-rating.
