Leica reference in "Traffic"

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Forgive me if this has already been discussed. I just saw the movie "Traffic" and, while it's not a great movie IMHO, there is an interesting Leica reference. The Michael Douglas character, the US Drug Czar with a heroin-addict daughter, comes home to find his house burglarized by guess who. And then his wife says, "And she took the Leica." The horror!

It all makes me wonder how many stolen Leicas out there have been pawned well below their actual value for a fix of heroin or cocaine.

-- Luke Dunlap (luked@mail.utexas.edu), December 06, 2001

Answers

Luke: Welcome to the club. Some more Leica movie cameos.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), December 06, 2001.

I've only taken 1 Leica in pawn in 10 years, an M2 w/50 LTM summarit+adptr and a 35 summaron. The consignee's grandfather left them to him and he kinda knew what they were in the broader sense and had taken photos with them. It was all in user condition, and he didn't appear to be a junkie and he always came back for them (rats). The shop I work at had taken in a black paint SL2 w/50 Lux all in mint shape before I started there, and I had the pleasure of helping it's new owner out of the $1500 it set him back.

-- Dave Doyle (soilsouth@home.com), December 06, 2001.

So, Dave, you pawn shop personnel know the value of Leica gear. Rats. I was hoping that some pawn-shopping might net me some nice Leica gear! Would you recommend this means of acquiring equipment?

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), December 06, 2001.

Most people who have inherited Leicas know they were special at the time acquired. So they expect a premium price. The same goes with pawn shops, who usually know the value of old-time luxury consumer goods such as Leicas or Rolexes. So you don't get the benefit on the re-sale by the pawn shop.

An exception was a friend of mine, who sold his inherited IIIf for $100 and bought himself a Pentax P&S 38-140!! I could have strangled him when he told me a few days later-for not offering it to me first.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), December 06, 2001.


Bob,

Possibly on the east coast, but here on the west we don't see too much Leica gear period. It's mostly pacific rim stuff(I've owned my share of that as well from the shop). I'm probably one of the few in So Cal that owns (and uses) 1 example of each type (so to speak) LTM, M, R and Digital!

-- Dave Doyle (soilsouth@home.com), December 07, 2001.



Traffic was a big disappointment. I have no idea why it did so well in the Oscars. The original BBC/European production of 1990 or thereabouts was to my mind much more involving.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), December 07, 2001.

Traffic I do have on DVD. I am excited about the new movie "Ocean's Eleven" more so than the Traffic movie. Like we really need more drug movies to be honest. I prefer a heist comedy instead.

Alfie

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), December 07, 2001.


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