FAQ

During a Q&A at a screening of the film in Los Angeles, the film's editor Bud Smith claimed that this scene came out of technical advisor Randy Jurgenson's recollections of interrogation techniques that were actually used by the NYC police department precisely because they would appear absurd in any subsequent complaints about police brutality.

The movie's director felt that in the real case the movie is based upon that there was in fact more than one killer. This scene is meant to suggest that.

It's not completely clear, but the general concensus is that it was the roommate/boyfriend Gregory. Remember that he pulled a knife on Al Pacino when he busted into his apartment, and clearly was hostile about and jealous over his (Al's) friendship with Ted.

They show up again at the end of the movie when Capt. Edelson comes to view the murdered red haired neighbor's apartment. One guy is seen in the hallway taking a statement and the other is the guy telling Capt. Edelson about the crime scene.

You can tell Capt. Edelson makes the connection (remember the male prositute told him what the cops made him do at the begining of the movie) when he takes a hard look at the guy's name tag and says "DiSimone, sixth precinct," which is answered with a "yes sir." He doesn't say anything more beyond that on the matter.

DiSimone is also seen at the club during the scene right before Pacino's character meets up with Edelson to collect money.

Yes, here's what he says about...

1. The Ending: Friedking says it's meant to be ambiguious, that Burns will never be the same after his ordeal...he's still carying his leather outfit after finishing the case. As such it's a toss up who killed Ted, either Burns or his lover/roommate. 2. Killer's identidy: Friedkin states he firmly believes there was more than one killer involved in the actual case, so he wanted to convey that feeling here also. The first killer (the "Martian") gets himself killed in the park by another killer (Friedkin says as much) and at the end whomever we see entering the Cockpit (Pacino, someone else?). The only link between them all is the voice we hear a few times (Friedkin refuses to explain it). 3. Stewart being the killer: He did kill at least the guy at the peep show, but likely not all victims were his. Friedkin says that police always would get whomever looked good enough as a suspect and try to pin all the murders on them and even cut deals if they go along with it. Remember the 8 year sentence offer. 4. The 40 minutes of cut film: Friedkin says it's mostly sex scenes at the clubs and that the plot wasn't affected by the cut. 5. Questions unanswered: Friedkin states he meant to leave questions open and not answer them all. 6. Pacino knowing Stewart's exact song: The "who's here, I'm here, You're here" even though the police got it inacurate from the drag queen. How does Pacino know it accurately? To link him to the killer (he's dressing the same, feeling the same turmoil, maybe even picking up after him in the end).