Man Finds, Returns 10k in Cash

Quote: Asswhoopermcdaddy

And given the fact that their are cameras and people everywhere, you minus well make a good faith effort to return the money. Last thing you want to do is lose sleep over money that could be tainted.

There are still some funny missing sections to that story. The guy who lost the money running to catch a plane is suspicious. Who puts bundles of cash loosely in their hands and then drops them? The guy who picked up the envelopes of cash waited until he got home and then discovered they were cash. Cash has a very distinctive size. If you pick up an envelope stuffed with cash then you know what it is immediately. Instead he stuffs it in his luggage, and waits until he is home to look at it.

Isn't it more likely that the man picked up the cash, and shoved it in his luggage because he was afraid that the surveillance cameras would spot him?

Just ask yourself would you go through airport security with a strange envelope that you found without opening it ?

Right on Pacomartin. The more likely scenario is he found the envelopes which were clearly marked with the casino's tag on them. Knew it was $$$. Stuffed it away quickly to avoid onlookers and cameras. Realized how stupid it was to do that by the time he got home. Started to worry that the money might belong to someone who would not take too kindly if someone stole it. Decided that the smart thing to do is go return it before a big Italian dude with arms the size of tanks comes knocking on your door".

I think I would have made an effort to return it.

Whether he did the right thing at the airport or
when he got home, isn't the important thing
that he did do it ?

Quote: JohnnyQ

I think I would have made an effort to return it. Whether he did the right thing at the airport or when he got home, isn't the important thing that he did do it ?

I think we all saw the movie and we know what kind of people keep cash. All I was saying is that the circumstances seemed unusual. And even if he had a change of heart, it would have been nice for him to say it. It would have humanized the situation more. I took the cash home, but I couldn't keep it in good conscience.

Besides Uncle Billy, who mistakenly drops giant wads of cash?

Quote: screenplay

Uncle Billy folds Potter's paper over the envelope containing his $8000, and flings his final taunt at the old man.

UNCLE BILLY After all, Potter, some people like George had to stay home. Not every heel was in Germany and Japan!

In a cold rage, Potter grabs his paper and wheels off toward his office. Uncle Billy smiles triumphantly and goes toward deposit window with his deposit slip.

...

TELLER Well, aren't you going to make a deposit?

UNCLE BILLY Sure, sure I am.

TELLER Well, then... it's usually customary to bring the money with you.

UNCLE BILLY Oh, shucks...

...

Potter is now behind his desk. He spreads the newspaper out in front of him, muttering as he does so.

POTTER Bailey...

He sees the envelope, looks inside at the money. Then, to his goon, indicating the office door:

POTTER Take me back there. Hurry up.(as they go) Come on, look sharp.

Potter opens the door just a little, and peers through into the bank.

INT. BANK
CLOSE SHOT – DEPOSIT SLIP DESK

Uncle Billy looks around for the money envelope. It is not there. He looks puzzled, thinks hard, then a look of concern creeps into his eyes. He starts thumping his pockets, with increasing panic, and looks in the waste paper basket on the floor. He finally rushes through the door and out into the street.

INT. POTTER'S OFFICE
CLOSE SHOT – POTTER WATCHING THROUGH THE DOOR

POTTER(to goon) Take me back.

The goon wheels him back to his desk. He is deep in thought, with a crafty expression on his face.

And Potter never does give the money back, which was a
crime then and is a crime now. How did the Hayes Office
let this slip by them. In the 40's, every crime committed
on the screen had to be punished by the time the movie
ended. This was true till the late 60's. I believe the first
movie to show an unpunished crime was The Thomas
Crown Affair.

Quote: EvenBob

And Potter never does give the money back, which was a
crime then and is a crime now. How did the Hayes Office
let this slip by them.

Quote: Jay Seller, Ph.D.

The fact that Lionel Barrymore steals $8,000 and apparently gets away with it bothered a lot of people. Capra received a lot of letters complaining about this fact. Considering the restrictions of the Hayes Office, the Production Code Administration, many people were surprised that it was allowed to happen. The Code stipulates that criminals must be punished of their crimes.

Capra wanted to leave the punishment to the audience’s imagination.

Its possible that Capra didn't know that found
money is not legal to keep. 'Finders keepers
losers weepers' was a well known phrase even
then, and most people didn't know it was illegal.

Capra knew it was illegal. He got away with it because it was implied that somehow "good wins in the end". No one was going to prosecute him because he didn't violate the spirit of the code.

Besides "finders keepers" doesn't apply to cases where you know who lost it.