3zos

This post is purely for those who have seen the film, so accordingly, spoilers are contained within. Proceed reading at your own peril



I've a fairly specific question and a theory posed to answer it, wondering if anyone would tend to agree or if perhaps you have refuting evidence:
In the film, Marco (Sinatra) meets his supposed significant other for the remainder of the film, Rosie (Leigh), and the ensuing conversation leads many to believe that she is in fact his handler in the States. Those who subscribe to that theory then figure the sole purpose of Marco, if in fact he is being controlled by the Communists, is to make sure Raymond finishes his task of assassinating the presidential nominee, and Marco eventually fails.

Now to counter.

Mrs. Shaw (Lansbury), in her final conversation with Raymond before he is sent to the national convention, mentions that she will never forgive the communists, and intends to use the plot to bring Sen. Iselin to power for her own use, and not that of the Commies, and that she would alone retain the power. She'd crush her handlers, stating that they had underestimated her. What if Marco was there as a fail-safe, if the primary plot went awry ( in this case a rogue handler) he was to end the potential power shift? Perhaps the Communists were on to her? In the book Marco does give Raymond instructions to off both his Mother and Sen. Iselin, then to kill himself, but this was never shown in the movie.


Wondering if Frankenheimer was merely trying to annoy people or if perhaps this theory of mine fit with the book, as all those who were involved directly with making and creating the film say that they tried very hard only to make a movie that was a rough transcribe of the book, and not a reinvention.

Any thoughts, any one?

Regards

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