Movies Obviously Stretch Facts and Reality.

Over the past hundred years or so, Hollywood has done an absolutely wonderful job of establishing stereotypes and stretching facts and reality to tell their stories on the big screen. For example, no one ever goes to the restroom in the movies, unless it is an integral part of continuing the story line. Another example of something that only occurs if it is necessary is reloading of weapons. In the early cowboy movies, six-shooters would shoot about 24 times before reloading because of a special blank that was used. Modern movies are not quite as encumbered, with the advent of high capacity magazines eliminating much of the reloading.

Lock Openings Are No Exception.

I’m frequently asked if what happens in the movies with openings of locked doors and cars is realistic, and for the most part, the answer has to be no. While they show lock picking in a very realistic manner in some movies, it’s only in a very few.

Of course, the locks never pick as fast in real life as they do in the Hollywood fantasy world. The tools they use are much like the ones I use every day, but most of the time they are used in the movie in a way that would not open the lock they are working on.

“Thief” Introduced the Thermal Lance.

There are a few movies featuring locks or locksmiths that stand out. “Thief” with James Caan introduced the world to opening the “big iron” (vault doors) with a thermal lance, or burning bar. The tool is for real and was actually adapted from underwater torches used by shipbuilders and our naval armed forces.

The tip of the tool, when ignited, burns at about 10,000 degrees and will in time chew its way through anything in its path. The precautions taken and the use of the tool were correct in the film, but even with the tool, you have to have the right target in mind, or you just make a useless hole and create a whole lot of smoke.

“The Italian Job” Shows an Underwater Safe Opening.

“The Italian Job” has some interesting safe cracking scenes with Charlize Theron handling some real tools in some odd ways and showing camera views of a safe lock opening.

If the movie made any good points about safes and safe locks, it was from the first part of the movie where a safe was dialed open, underwater, by Donald Sutherland. This is theoretically possible with a mechanical lock, but an electronic lock would have shorted out and would have to have been drilled.

I’m a big fan of mechanical safe locks, as opposed to electronic ones. They work even after much abuse.

Back in the Real World, I’m Available for Auto and Safe Openings.

Well, all that’s Hollywood, of course. I will continue on my journey in locksmithing, opening most car locks in 3 to 10 minutes and dialing open the occasional safe in about an hour to an hour and a half. If those time frames are ok with you, give me a call to open your lock.

If not, then maybe James Caan, Charlize Theron, or someone like that will answer your call for help. But for the most part, I don’t think they will be returning your call.

I do answer your call, and I’m the only one who does when you call my number. Give me a call at 618-466-9347 to resolve your auto and safe lock problems.