Lockpicking in Motion Pictures? ( Picking in Movies & Film )

[FFVison]

So, I was watching the new series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles last night. At one point, John Connor had snuck out of his house to break into another house. They had a closeup on a doorknob in the inside of the house. The doorknob was shaking for a few seconds, then it swung open and showed John Connor holding a lock pick in his hand, and nothing in his other hand. Like in a lot of movies, they don't show the most important device to lock picking and that's the wrench. It seemed like the door wasn't actually locked and he ended up just putting the pick in the lock, then used his other hand and shook the doorknob for a few seconds before turning it to open it.

Incidentally, I have intentionally left out other details to not give away much of the story for those of you who still wish to watch it.

Incidentally, I DO use the word incidentally a LOT. My girlfriend likes to make fun of me. She counted how many times I said it a few times. I haven't said it much lately, but if someone wants to, they can click on my profile and check my posts and count how many times I said it... I don't recommend this unless you are REALLY bored.

i didnt even know there was a terminator series.

Yeah, the pilot episode was on Sunday at 8 on the Fox network. There was a second part to it last night (Monday) at 9. Each episode was an hour long, and I think they are going to be airing on Monday nights at 9. I'm not certain if this was just a special date or if this will be its regular time. It was a little weird not seeing Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor. Actually, I found it a little weird to see different actors for roles of people we know from the movies. But hey, the same thing happened before with Stargate. After seeing the movie, I got used to thinking about Kurt Russell as Colonel Jack O'Neill. Then after watching SG-1, even casually, I got used to seeing Richard Dean Anderson as Colonel Jack O'Neill. So, it will probably be a similar situation, especially if the series lasts anywhere near as long as SG-1.

[gstrendkill]

im gonna have to look for it next time im flipping through channels

[Clead]

I'm new...
Wasn't there an lockpick extreme close-up in "Bound" with Jennifer Tilly and Gine Gershon? It was several years ago when I saw it, and I had only read the MIT guide at that point, but I'm pretty sure something was wrong. IIRC, she did use a TW though! It might have been upside down... TW against the pins.

[dboeren]

Was watching an episode of "Monk" the other day where they are all trapped in a bank vault and the police chief picks the lock on a safe deposit box within the vault.

[raimundo]

Clead, those were Gina Gershons earring lockpicks. I liked that movie too.

[freakparade3]

Snakes On A Plane a bad guy has a small handheld drill he used to drill the shearline, he then yanks the plug out of the lock with a drillbit.

[FFVison]

I'm new...
Wasn't there an lockpick extreme close-up in "Bound" with Jennifer Tilly and Gine Gershon? It was several years ago when I saw it, and I had only read the MIT guide at that point, but I'm pretty sure something was wrong. IIRC, she did use a TW though! It might have been upside down... TW against the pins.

You can actually use the tension wrench in front of the pins instead of at the bottom of the keyway. I actually use this technique to provide me with more room to pick. You will find that with some restrictive keyways, this is a good option. This is, of course, assuming that I'm understanding your description correctly. It can be a little tricky though, as there isn't as much of the wrench in the keyway, so it sometimes pops out, if you aren't careful to apply tension on the exact side of the wrench. Yeah, that drives me crazy when I see movies or other types of shows that people pick locks without even using a tension wrench. Ah, the magic of Hollywood, I guess.

[DaWolfMan]

The show N.C.I.S. has a decent amount of picking in it and if memory serves me correct they do use a TW when doing it.

In Terminator 2 when sarah is in the mental hospital she swipes a paperclip and uses it to unlock her bed restaints, it looks like a handcuff key opening so that one is believable, but then she breaks it in half and uses it to pick the deadbolt on her door.

The Italian Job has some lock picking in it and some really cool safe cracking.

The James Bond movie (Tomorrow Never Dies) the oriental lady picks the handcuffs with her earring.

Thats all i can think of off the top of my head for now.

DaWolfMan

[freakparade3]

There is also a new "Jack In the Box" commercial showing a locksmith picking a lock.

[Squelchtone]

There is also a new "Jack In the Box" commercial showing a locksmith picking a lock.

yes it does! and he's using a tension wrench too.

[apb]

Any body seen the new Jack in the Box commercial? He refers to the "24hour lockout guy" regarding everday heroes. I don't recall the name of the latest fatpill he his is selling during the commercial but when they show the locksmith,he is picking the lock with a pick and tension wrench and look like he knows what he's doing (comparatively to every other fake depiction of LP'ing i've seen). Just thought its was funny after X amount of movies and games which just are full of s**t, a cheap sarcastic food chain gives the american public a glimpse of a real technique.

[apb]

Didn't even see the two topics above this (mine) one concering the commerical, sorry but it just got to me.

[Mutzy]

there was this bank robber movie not too long ago, i forget the name but they opened a bank safety deposit box with two HPC picks in about 3 seconds using one another as tension wrenches.... i was like ..........NOT!!!

I think that may be The Inside Man. IIRC, they pulled the entire mechanism out later on in the movie.

My favourite lockpicking blasphemy was McGyver picking a lock with the knife on his pocket knife. No extra tools required.

"Boy, that McGyver must be good at picking..."

Australian Locksmiths rule.

*Takes off hat*
*Headbutts door down*

/Winner.

[FFVison]

...
In Terminator 2 when sarah is in the mental hospital she swipes a paperclip and uses it to unlock her bed restaints, it looks like a handcuff key opening so that one is believable, but then she breaks it in half and uses it to pick the deadbolt on her door...

Actually, according to the IMDb, they actually taught Linda Hamilton how to pick the lock and she actually did it on camera. Now, from what I understand, much like the handcuff thing mentioned before, if properly restrained, this should not be possible. I know someone who was restrained at a mental hospital and the restraints are not anywhere near loose enough to allow you to reach across to the lock.

I'm back, btw. I haven't been on here in well over a month.

[raven252000]

robin-b-hood with Jakie Chan has him picking a lock in a fight its good and funny . some neat vault locks too.