How stupid are these townsfolk?

[fgadmin]

Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Long, Hot Summer

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jpgr1 — 12 years ago(March 06, 2014 10:49 AM)

Ben has obviously been working at the general store when the fire starts. Unless he can teleport himself he has an alibi.

[fgadmin]

curlew-2 — 11 years ago(April 11, 2014 06:23 PM)

Well, to answer your question, the people in that town were so stupid they thought "Alibi" hung out in a cave with forty thieves. But let's try to follow their logic for a moment.
A. No barns burned before Ben Quick arrived.
B. Ben Quick arrives and a barn burns. QED.
B(2). Besides . . . ain't had a lynchin' in the town in quite some time and, seein' as how LSU didn't make it into the playoffs this year, what else these people going to do for entertainment?
"I'm not reckless . . . I'm skillful!"

[fgadmin]

lmh-10 — 11 years ago(April 28, 2014 12:06 PM)

It is possible he didn't need to be present to start the fire. Something as simple as a smudge pot rigged to tip over would do the trick.
But mostly they are just pissed off at the Stranger, Ben Quick.