Frank William Abagnale, Frank Williams, or any of the other aliases he gave people, cruised through life alternately as an airplane pilot, pediatrician, civil lawyer, academic professor, and finally as a researcher/writer in what he thought was the safe haven of Montpellier, France. He bought a nice cottage there, and he brought a suitcase full of cash with him.
Touring Europe with an entourage of 12 or so gorgeous flight attendants who are oh so happy to be doing an advertising campaign for Pan Am is fun. Too bad that they do not realize yet that it was all a sham, and they definitely do not work for Pan Am. It was more convenient for Abagnale to have a crew though, as traveling without a crew ("deadheading" as it was called) aroused more suspicion on the part of the hotel staff. The ladies helped, and Abagnale certainly liked women; that is for sure.
The Movie Was Awesome!: I tend to agree with most movie/book consumers that I have spoken with: usually the book is better than the movie. In this case, the book is definitely more accurate than the book, since it is written by Abagnale. However, the movie was directed by Steven Spielberg, and it features Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio as co-stars. Great acting, superb directing, and awesome cinematography. Spielberg stated that he made the movie not for Abagnale s cons but for what he has accomplished in the 30 years since. The real Abagnale actually played a minor role in the film as one of the French police officers who arrested Abagnale (played by Leonardo DiCaprio).
One of the best scenes in the movie is of Abagnale walking through an airport in full view of law enforcement, flanked by his "crew" of airline stewardesses. Another touching scene is of Abagnale seeing his stepsister through the window of his mother s new house during Christmas time. Then he put his hands up and was arrested. Abagnale also escaped through the bottom of a toilet during the landing of the plane that brought him back to the United States from France by unscrewing the flooring. That escape happened in real life as well, amazingly enough.
The 2002 movie was also made into a Broadway musical called Catch Me If You Can.
Career Cruising: I am enthralled with Abagnale s story because he is so smart and his story of assuming so many admirable careers through his con artistry is fascinating. I love the fact that Abagnale gallivants about in different careers, since I am so interested in people s career development. He spent time combing people for information casually who were in the industries that he purported to be a part of.
National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
Frank Abagnale s books
Books about the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Source: www.nypl.org
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