a different question about the prestige

[riverboatking]

so i read through the other threads on the prestige and i never saw this question asked or answered.

why the [censored] did borden care about tying a tougher knot?
it just seemed so pointless, the audience isn't going to know the difference so why make it harder and potentially deadly?
just made no [censored] sense and the whole godamn thing could have been avoided if he just didn't tie a harder knot to slip.

and ya ya ya i know all about the "bolder and rasher" borden, but the thing is it wasn't about doing a more spectatular magic trick and wowing the audience, cuz they will have no idea if he ties a tougher knot.

so wtf????

[eviljeff]

I believe he said the knot he suggested would hold better. I guess the basic idea would be that there would be less of a chance of the knot coming undone when the girl was being lifted up. essentially this would put more burden on the performer in favor of a better show. I think you'll find this fits into Borden's character nicely.

[riverboatking]

that doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

1) they had been doing the other knot and it was working fine.

2) look at the respective worst case scenario's:
a) use the safe knot and run the risk of it not holding and her falling and breaking a leg and it doesn't ruin the act cuz borden is supposed to be a volunteer anyways.
b) use the tougher knot and she potentially dies and it completely ruins the act.

[eviljeff]

you're looking at it from your mind, not Borden's. he's not looking at percentages or detailed cost/benefit analysis. in his mind a determined performer can slip through the tighter knot.

[riverboatking]

ya i get that but the point is why???????????
like i've already said i could understand if it would make for a better trick to impress the audience...but the point is the audience will never be able to tell and in all of the many performances the easier knot has never failed to hold her on the way up...
its not a question about complex cost/risk analysis its just basic common sense.
i guess there is just no good answer so w/e.

[[Phill]]

The only unanswered question is how did Danton know Borden would be there and go backstage on that particular performance.

[NajdorfDefense]

[ QUOTE ]
The only unanswered question is how did Danton know Borden would be there and go backstage on that particular performance.

[/ QUOTE ]

There really are no unanswered questions in this film. The reply to OP about 'Why' was perfect. It was better for the show.

[KLJ]

[ QUOTE ]
The only unanswered question is how did Danton know Borden would be there and go backstage on that particular performance.

[/ QUOTE ]

do you subscribe to the theory that there was a danton every night that died?