Question: At the very end when they show the sun setting over the hill, you can see something/someone moving across the screen, just under the ground. Is this done to symbolize something, or was it a sort of camera problem?
Answer: According to Ted Neeley and Norman Jewison on the DVD commentary, the shepherd walking across the frame in the final shot of the film was never intended to be there, and just happened across the shot as they were filming. Because of the significance of a shepherd in the teachings of Christ, Jewison and the crew were struck profoundly by the timing of this shepherd crossing the field, and kept the shot. They got a perfect sunset, as well as a subtle depiction of the resurrection.
Question: What is Chris McNeal's assistant listening to on the radio when Father Merrit arrives?
Answer: When it cuts to Chris MacNeil's PA, Sharon, listening to the radio it's only for about 20 seconds, and all we hear is a voice which presumably belongs to a random radio host or guest who is in the midst of offering motivational advice. This short scene serves to show Sharon's tension with what's going on in the house.
Question: What horse actually won the race that Lonigan bets on Lucky Dan to win?
Chosen answer: I watched this the other night and specifically listened for what horse won the race that Lucky Dan was running in. It is never revealed who the winner is, because while the fake announcer in the back room is calling the race, the F.B.I. agents raid the building. During the ensuing chaos, shouting, and gunfire, it is impossible to hear the broadcast over the noise.
Question: Why doesn't Howie try to escape when being carried up to the wicker man?
Answer: What's the use? He's surrounded, he can't fight everyone and there's nowhere for him to run.
He is also a fundametally religious man and he believes that he is going to die and go to heaven.
Question: What's up with the chicken being crushed? I don't see how it could be fake. I assume it was an accident, but why would they continue like nothing happened? And why would they put it in the movie? And why haven't I seen anyone mention it?
Answer: It does appear to be unintentional (or at least, unscripted), but they continue because when you're shooting a movie, you don't stop until you hear "cut", and especially at that time animal welfare wasn't necessarily a priority. I'm guessing no-one was concerned about the chicken, and so didn't feel the need to do anything about it. It's possible the film was made without an animal welfare monitor on set. As to why it's in the movie, the whole "marching to the prison" sequence was probably handled by the assistant director (as shots like this, not involving the principals or any substantive dialogue, often are) and they may have only done the one take. Who knows, they may have thought the injured chicken added realism to the scene.
Question: Why was Cardinal Richelieu's costume changed from red to purple?
Answer: Red is the "color" of the holy church; purple is the "color" of royalty. Richelieu aspired to royalty, not piety.
Question: Is this the only Bond film where the title song is being sung by a character during the film?
Answer: As far as I can tell, yes. Unless you count "Die Another Day," where the singer of the title song (Madonna) appears in a scene, as well as the song being remixed for the party scene in the ice castle.
Question: What is cordite? And does it really work?
Chosen answer: According to Wikipedia: "Cordite is a family of smokeless propellants made by combining two high explosives: nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin, i.e. it is a double-base propellant. However, Cordite N, a triple-base propellant is also used. Cordite is classified as an explosive, but it is normally used as a propellant for guns and rockets." So yes, it works.
Answer: Yes, cordite is classified a an explosive, but it's rarely used as such. It's a common propellant for artillery shells etc. Realistically, the Jackal would have used a plastic explosive such C4 or Semtex for a bomb. And the mercury fulminate tipped rounds are a fantasy, it's so unstable, it would explode before it had left the barrel.
Question: Who was the actress who played Hubbel's wife/girlfriend at The Plaza?
Answer: Suzanne Zenor. She was a working actress during the 1970's and 80's. She was always the sexy blonde.
Question: How did the wrecked train get in the desert?
Answer: It was established that railroad tracks were put through the desert. Probably a shortcut to save time or it was the only area they were allowed to build. Land deals, claim jumping and protected grounds were a big part of where tracks could be laid. It was after the train disaster that the tracks were discontinued.
Question: What kind of plane did Varrick use in the chase in the end with molly? could someone please answer this?
Answer: That is a Boeing 'Stearman' biplane.
Question: I understand the concept of spelling mistakes and an editor accidentally missing them, especially for an unknown actor's name. But how did "Callahan" end up getting misspelled when it was spelled correctly in the first film? Has any reason been given? Or if there someone with general knowledge of how end credits are produced, is there no editor?
Chosen answer: The error didn't necessarily start with the makers of the credits. It could have crept into the process at any point. Whoever typed up the names to give them to the technicians who made the credits could have misspelled the name.
Answer: Robin Hood, while disguised as a stork, wouldn't stop shaking Prince John's hand and it was starting to annoy him. Prince John was also robbed by Robin Hood earlier in the movie so he wanted to make sure that the jewels in his rings weren't stolen again.