# Reservoir Dogs question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 6, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988 "2014-01-06T00:41:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/1 "2014-01-06T00:41:57Z")
At the end of the movie, where Joe comes in to the warehouse to identify the rat and to shoot him, there is a three-man shootout. As far as i can tell, Joe has his gun pointed at a prone and bleeding Mr. Orange. Mr. Orange has no bullets left in his gun (he emptied them out on Mr. Blonde), so he isn’t pointing a gun at all. Mr. White is pointing his gun at Joe, and Nice Guy Eddie is pointing his gun at Mr. White. When the shooting starts, Joe shoots Mr. Orange, Mr. white shoots Joe, and Eddie shoots Mr. White.m so, who shoots Eddie? Does Mr. White get a second shot off? I don’t see it, but I can’t figure out who else could have shot Eddie. Anyone have the video that they can slow this down on and tell definitively? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/2 "2014-01-06T00:52:44Z")
Watch the scene again. White knows he’s going to have to make two shots before the shooting begins. He quickly aims and shoots Eddie right after firing his first shot at Joe. Eddie fires his shot at White almost simultaneous with White’s shot at Eddie. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/3 "2014-01-06T01:16:13Z")
I’m usually the last to see stuff like this, but the first time I saw the movie this hole jumped out at me. There isn’t an explanation for it, as far as I know. But there it’s funny. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/4 "2014-01-06T01:20:44Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I’m usually the last to see stuff like this, but the first time I saw the movie this hole jumped out at me. There isn’t an explanation for it, as far as I know. But there it’s funny. I even said “Who shot Nice Guy Eddie?” out loud when I was watching this movie in a theatre. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/5 "2014-01-06T02:17:49Z")
O.K., I’m rewatching this scene when I get home. Maybe my mind just filled in the blank and created a visual of White turning and taking aim at Eddie after his Joe shot, but that’s what I saw (or “saw”) on first viewing and I’ve seen it that way ever since. When I rewatch tonight, if it’s as obvious as I remember it being I’m going to come back to this Thread and make fun of the rest of you. If I do not see it the way I’ve always remembered it, I will come back and sheepishly apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/6 "2014-01-06T02:21:28Z")
Google “who shot eddie” and you will find you are hardly alone in your confusion. I believe this plot hole has achieved internet meme status ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/7 "2014-01-06T02:30:48Z")
> [@Nancarrow](#): > > Google “who shot eddie” and you will find you are hardly alone in your confusion. :mad: Another four and a half hours at work, but this DVD is _so_ going into the player the _second_ I get home! I never knew this was a thing! It’s always been completely obvious (or “obvious”) to me. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/8 "2014-01-06T03:12:04Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > I never knew this was a thing! It’s always been completely obvious (or “obvious”) to me. Me neither – and even after re-watching the film clip, it’s obvious that Mr. White does fire his gun a second time in the general direction of Nice Guy Eddie. (Sure, NGE does start to fall before Mr. White fires his gun, but c’mon, how many low-budget movies have that kind of discrepancy?) In my mind, the major plot hole is why Mr. White threatens to kill Joe & Eddie in the first place. For what – to protect a goon he’d never met before the heist? Especially since Joe flat out tells Mr. White that Mr. Orange is an undercover cop. That part of the ending never sat well with me. Fantastic movie otherwise, though. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/9 "2014-01-06T03:42:18Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > In my mind, the major plot hole is why Mr. White threatens to kill Joe & Eddie in the first place. See, I _never_ had a problem with that. By that point in the movie I totally believe that Mr. White truly loves Mr. Orange- not that I would expect a tough gangster to actually use the word “love” to describe his feelings for another man. Mr. White’s a bit of a softy as gangsters go anyway. They only knew each other a few days, but they bonded pretty deeply (also the reason Orange feels burdened to confess to White). White has come in such a short time to feel very paternal to Orange, he sees himself in Orange in many ways and finds joy in mentoring him. Mr. White loved Mr. Orange. It was a love he felt was pure, something worth defending even in the face of logic. Joe _had to be_ mistaken, Joe _had to be_ lying- if Joe wasn’t lying then White’s love for Orange was a lie. White’s truth that his love for Orange was pure needed to be defended. ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/10 "2014-01-06T05:00:55Z")
I’ve always thought Mr. Pink may have shot Nice Guy Eddie from his hidey hole under the ramp. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/11 "2014-01-06T05:25:28Z")
Just watched the scene about six times in a row. Larry/Mr. White does get off two shots that would presumably be enough to take out Joe and NGE but as others have noticed NGE is falling before Mr. White gets off his second shot. There is also a huge continuity error in the next cut, Mr. Orange is back on the ramp instead of the floor, where he was during the shooting. Mr. Pink does not seem involved in the shooting at all. That is how I see it, others may see it differently. **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/12 "2014-01-06T05:53:57Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Especially since Joe flat out tells Mr. White that > SPOILER: > > Mr. Orange is an undercover cop. He actually tells him he tipped off the cops - he has no idea he _is_ a cop. In addition to what **bienville** said, Joe has no proof other than " he was the only one I wasn’t a hundred percent on." For Joe it’s a bit of logical deduction and instinct - for a Mr. White inclined to protect Orange after bonding with him, it’s nonsense because there is no real proof at all. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/13 "2014-01-06T06:24:25Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > Just watched the scene about six times in a row. > > Larry/Mr. White does get off two shots that would presumably be enough to take out Joe and NGE but as others have noticed NGE is falling before Mr. White gets off his second shot. Well then White shot Eddie. That’s that. Eddie falling before the shot only means that the Foley artist (person in post-production that adds the sounds) had to choose between putting the gunshot in when actor Chris Penn started his fall or put it in when actor Harvey Keitel was in a position to fire. It’s an imperfect art, folks. Protesting that Eddie fell before the shot is just looking for nits to pick. Eddie didn’t fall before the shot, Chris Penn fell before the shot. White shot Eddie. _QED_ ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/14 "2014-01-06T06:41:10Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > In addition to what **bienville** said, Joe has no proof other than " he was the only one I wasn’t a hundred percent on." For Joe it’s a bit of logical deduction and instinct - for a Mr. White inclined to protect Orange after bonding with him, it’s nonsense because there is no real proof at all. And keep in mind that Joe and Eddie had completely trusted Vic Vega aka Mr Blonde. But Mr White had seen that Blonde was unreliable. So his faith in Joe and Eddie’s judgement would have been shaky. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/15 "2014-01-06T07:56:06Z")
> [@Nancarrow](#): > > Google “who shot eddie” and you will find you are hardly alone in your confusion. I believe this plot hole has achieved internet meme status Dear Internet, What the hell is _wrong_ with you!?!?!? Just watched it and replayed it a few times: [ul] [li]Joe shoots Orange[/li][li]White shoots Joe[/li][li]White pivots toward Eddie[/li][li]Eddie shoots White[/li][li]White reacts to his gunshot wound _and_ shoots Eddie[/li][li]Joe falls, White falls, Eddie falls[/li][/ul] _Everyone_ gets shot and _nobody_ falls before they are shot. The whole “Eddie falls before the gunshot” thing is nonsense. The prop guns all visibly fire (I don’t know the proper gun terminology for the fiery flash out of the barrel). The visible gun fire is perfectly synced with the sound of the gunshot. All the actors’ reactions follow the shot that they are hit by. In fact, considering how _fast_ it all has to happen, it’s actually quite beautifully orchestrated. All four shots are fired _in one second_. In that one second: [ul] [li]Lawrence Tierney fires his gun[/li][li]Harvey Keitel fires his gun in response to Tierney’s shot[/li][li]Tierney reacts to being shot, clutches himself, slumps[/li][li]Keitel pivots toward Chris Penn[/li][li]Penn fires his gun[/li][li]Keitel reacts to getting shot _and_ fires his gun at Penn[/li][li]Penn falls immediately backward off his feet[/li][li]Penn is the first one who hits the floor[/li][li]Keitel falls to his knees immediately after firing at Penn[/li][li]Tierney (slumped when he was first shot) falls to one knee then falls to the floor[/li][li]Keitel falls to the floor[/li][/ul] That had to have taken a _lot_ of rehearsal and in the end they pulled it off perfectly. It may well be the most action packed second in all of film history. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/16 "2014-01-06T08:15:22Z")
A few other things that happen in that one second: Tim Roth reacts to his gunshot, his body violently rolls with the impact. _Both_ Tierney and Keitel have squibs that explode when they’re shot (special effects “blood explosives” in the actors’ costumes to simulate a gunshot wound). Penn _may_ be pulled backward by a cable but it’s also possible he did the fall on his own unaided by a stunt team. So, add Roth into the people who have to be on during that second. Add also the squib operators whose timing had to be _perfect_. Add also (possibly) the stunt team who had to pull Penn back into his fall. The only continuity error is, as **Capt Kirk** mentioned: Orange was on the floor when Eddie, Pink, and White first enter. He’s on the floor during the entire conversation with Eddie about Blonde planning to run off with the diamonds. He’s on the floor when Joe enters. In the wide shot with the four gunshots, he is visibly back up on the ramp. He’s still on the ramp when he’s cradled by White after the shoot out. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/17 "2014-01-06T09:10:05Z")
There does seem to a widespread belief among people who saw the movie in theatres that nobody shot Eddie. But people watching the movie now on dvd say it’s clear that Mr White shot Eddie. So while I don’t have a copy of the film available I think it’s possible that Tarantino may have pulled a Lucas and did some subtle revising of the movie before releasing it for home viewing. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/18 "2014-01-06T11:32:27Z")
[Here’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRwxjaLzKIc) a nice youtube slo-mo with explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/19 "2014-01-06T14:04:41Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > [Here’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRwxjaLzKIc) a nice youtube slo-mo with explanation. Nice vid. But look at frame when Mr White shoots NGE (1:34). MW’s gun is at at shoulder height and pointed down about 30 degrees from horizontal. The two are at least 10 feet apart. Without working out the trigonomics (because I don’t have time at the moment and it might prove me wrong), I’d say the trajectory of the bullet combined with the distance to the target would carry MW’s bullet to about NGE’s waist or lower. Not likely an immediately fatal or debilitating shot. Add to that [this](http://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2013/07/why-do-people-fall-down-when-shot.html), and the conclusion is inescapable: There had to be another shooter. Namely, Mr Pink from the grassy knoll, er, I mean, from under the ramp. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988/20 "2014-01-06T15:49:26Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > There does seem to a widespread belief among people who saw the movie in theatres that nobody shot Eddie. But people watching the movie now on dvd say it’s clear that Mr White shot Eddie. That’s because people watching it in theaters in 1992 couldn’t replay it repeatedly to watch for each shot, and didn’t know what was coming to be prepared to watch so closely. Even people going back to the theater for a second viewing only had _one second_ to try to catch all the details. > [@gracer](#): > > [Here’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRwxjaLzKIc) a nice youtube slo-mo with explanation. Wow. I never noticed Eddie got two shots off. His first is simultaneous with White’s shot at Joe (he’s a better son than I thought!) and the sound of Eddie’s first shot overlays the sound of White’s shot at Joe, so it sounds like only one shot. Keitel has _two_ squibs! And they both go off perfectly. At Eddie’s first shot, Keitel has a squib go off at his lower left abdomen and at Eddie’s second shot Keitel has a squib explode from behind the lapel of his jacket on the right side of his chest. > [@Oly](#): > > Nice vid. But look at frame when Mr White shoots NGE (1:34). MW’s gun is at at shoulder height and pointed down about 30 degrees from horizontal. The two are at least 10 feet apart. Without working out the trigonomics (because I don’t have time at the moment and it might prove me wrong), I’d say the trajectory of the bullet combined with the distance to the target would carry MW’s bullet to about NGE’s waist or lower. Not likely an immediately fatal or debilitating shot. :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: _REALLY!?!?!?!?!?_ You don’t think there’s any chance that it was _Harvey Keitel, the actor_ that didn’t get the gun pointed clearly at Eddie’s chest in the _less than one second_ he had to go through the detailed choreography!?!?!?!?!? Yeah, yeah, “whoosh” but after 21 years there are still people who are pushing the “Who shot Eddie?” question. If I didn’t respond to **Oly** ’s post, it’s possible some of those crazies would find this Thread and honestly think, “Yeah! This **Oly** guy has a great point!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reservoir-dogs-question/677988.md?page=2)