History Main / HandcuffedBriefcase

* During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII the British [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mincemeat dumped a body dressed in a British officer's uniform]] off the Spanish coast, with [[WeNeedADistraction fake plans on where the Allies were going to invade next]]. A leather-covered chain (used by bank couriers at the time) was attached to a briefcase, though since the cover story was that 'Major Martin' had been on a long air trip when his plane crashed into the sea, the chain was looped through his belt instead of run down the sleeve. British military couriers did not use such chains, but it was the only way of ensuring the suitcase stayed with the body--fortunately the Germans did not pick up on (or were unaware of) this discrepency.

->'''Max:''' Oh, miss, I seem to have lost something.
->'''Stewardess:''' Well, if you describe it to me, maybe I can find it.
->'''Max:''' Yes, well, it was a black attache case, about oh... ''(gestures with hands)'' so big. Morocco leather. Beautiful case. And let's see... Oh, yes! There was a man attached to it.

* ''Film/{{Ronin}}'' has a briefcase handcuffed to the wrist of a VIP the mercenaries are ordered to secure with a MacGuffin inside. The trope is [[DiscussedTrope brought up]] during a planning session when Sam gets increasing frustrated over the lack of information provided to them by Deirdre. The case is indeed handcuffed to someone's wrist, so they shoot him and break the chain with a tiny explosive charge.
-->'''Sam''': Is the case heavy? Is it explosive? Is it chained to some poor guy's wrist and we're going to have to cut it off?

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]

* During the opening of ''Film/SpiesLikeUs'', the courier delivering the satellite images has the briefcase chained to his wrist, and the photos are [[UpToEleven secured to the inside of the briefcase]]. Since he's not particularly cleared for the discussion about the photos, he's shoved into a closet. With the chain sticking out the door.

* During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII the British [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mincemeat dumped a body dressed in a British officer's uniform]] off the Spanish coast, with [[WeNeedADistraction fake plans on where the Allies were going to invade next]]. A leather-covered chain (used by bank couriers at the time) attached to a briefcase, though since the cover story was that 'Major Martin' had been on a long air trip when his plane crashed into the sea, the chain was looped through his belt instead of run down the sleeve. British military couriers did not use such chains, but it was the only way of ensuring the suitcase stayed with the body--fortunately the Germans did not pick up on (or were unaware of) this discrepency.

* During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII the British [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mincemeat dumped a body dressed in a British officer's uniform]] off the Spanish coast, with [[WeNeedADistraction fake plans on where the Allies were going to invade next]]. To ensure the plans stayed with the body they used a leather-covered chain (used by bank couriers at the time) attached to a briefcase, though since the cover story was that 'Major Martin' had been on a long air trip when his plane crashed into the sea, the chain was looped through his belt instead of run down the sleeve. Military couriers of the time did not use such chains, but it was the only way of ensuring the suitcase stayed with the body--fortunately the Germans did not pick up on (or were unaware of) this discrepency.

* During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII the British [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mincemeat dumped a body dressed in a British officer's uniform]] off the Spanish coast, with [[WeNeedADistraction fake plans on where the Allies were going to invade next]]. To ensure the plans stayed with the body they used a leather-covered chain (used by bank couriers at the time) attached to a briefcase, though since the cover story was that 'Major Martin' had been on a long air trip when his plane crashed into the sea, the chain was looped through his belt instead of run down the sleeve.

* In ''VideoGame/PAYDAYTheHeist'', Matt handcuffs a briefcase of loot to his arm after betraying and escaping the crew. He loses the key after crashing his van, and the crew chooses to fly him and the briefcase out together, as they have neither the time or the equipment to remove it through other means on-site (though that doesn't stop Hoxton from suggesting [[AnArmAndALeg one]]).

[[caption-width-right:350:Your important stuff is safe in that briefcase.[[note]]Unless [[AnArmAndALeg the bad guy/s resort to drastic measures.[[/note]]]]]]

[[folder:Film]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* ''Film/{{Daylight}}'': The man who transports the jewels that the robbers (that start [[DisasterMovie the whole plot]]) take carries them like this. The robbers use a very big wire cutter for the job, and also steal the man's car as a getaway vehicle for good measure.
* ''Film/{{Condorman}}'': Comic book writer Woody's task is to courier one to a Soviet FemmeFataleSpy. When someone throws a knife at him, Woody instinctively covers his face, raising the briefcase on its chain to miraculously block the knife. This convinces the Soviet spy that Woody really is the elite secret agent he's pretending to be.
* ''Film/TheGoldenChild''. After Chandler Jarrell gets the Ajanti Dagger back into the United States, it's kept in a briefcase chained to Chandler's wrist for safekeeping. One of the bad guys chops through the chain during a fight to steal the briefcase.
* ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork'': After a terrorist takes control of Air Force One, the President handcuffs a briefcase to his wrist and enters the plane's EscapePod. Later on it's revealed that the briefcase holds a tape which explains the secret of nuclear fusion.
* ''Film/TheDayOfTheJackal'': Viktor Wolenski, the OAS bag man who picks up the mail for the OAS heads while they're hiding out in Rome, has his briefcase chained to his wrist when making his pickups. The chief of the French Action Service points this out as an obstacle for the operatives sent to intercept Wolenski.
* Played with in ''Film/ForYourEyesOnly'' where the duty officer on a SpyShip is handcuffed to a console used to send nuclear launch commands in the event of war. When the vessel is holed by a SeaMine he drowns, unable to escape from the torrent of water flooding through the breech.
* In ''Film/TheManWhoNeverWas'', and the book, the dispatch case with the false documents intended to deceive the enemy is handcuffed to the courier's body to ensure they will be recovered when the body washes ashore, as part of an elaborate deception plan.
* In the Chinese comedy ''Film/GirlsVsGangsters'', the girls wake up naked on a beach with two of them handcuffed to a briefcase. [[WhatDidIDoLastNight They have no idea how this happened.]]
* ''Film/{{Lucy}}'': Lucy's boyfriend Richard tries to get her to deliver a briefcase full of drugs for him. When she is reluctant to do so, he handcuffs her wrist to the briefcase, forcing her to make the delivery.
* ''Film/Cube2Hypercube'': Colonel Maguire (apparently a high-ranking Pentagon liaison officer) [[YouWakeUpInARoom wakes up in the eponymous hypercube]] with a briefcase of this type, except the cuffs are not attached to him and the case is empty, so it's just [[OntologicalMystery one more thing to add to the mystery.]] The cuffs however are a ChekhovsGun which get used later.
* ''Film/SpyKids'': While exploring a laboratory full of spy gadgets, Juni finds an object that looks like a lunchbox which is presumably used to hold important materials. It has an attached chain and handcuff so it can be secured to a person's wrist.

* In the episode "High Court Storm" of ''Series/TigerCubs'', a High Court guard is seen going inside a courtroom with a briefcase that's been handcuffed to the guard's wrist.
* ''Series/{{UFO}}'' episode "Identified". Colonel Straker has a briefcase containing evidence of the existence of U.F.O.s chained to his wrist (it also has SelfDestructingSecurity). When the car he's riding in is attacked by a U.F.O., he's thrown out of it and the chain is broken. The evidence burns up in the fiery wreck of the car.
* ''Series/GilligansIsland'' had an episode where a briefcase with a set of handcuffs attached washes up on the island. Gilligan winds up handcuffed to the briefcase (fortunately, the key was inside the case) and has a dream where he's a spy.
* In ''Series/TheWestWing'', CJ's first day as the President's Chief of Staff includes a Bulgarian official who's been sent to sell the US a bunch of nuclear materials his country doesn't want anymore, and he has to awkwardly manage the metal briefcase of paperwork that's handcuffed to him. (Despite being a fairly realistic show about the Presidency, though, the nuclear football never makes an appearance.)

* One episode of ''Series/AgentsOfShield'' opened with two dozen men in identical outfits wearing identical masks taking the same train, each with a briefcase handcuffed to one wrist. Then the lights go out for a moment, and when they go back on, one man - the one carrying the real briefcase full of diamonds rather than a decoy - has his hand practically cut off, and his briefcase was missing.
* ''Series/{{Elementary}}'': In "Rip Off", the VictimOfTheWeek had his hand ripped off so the killer could steal a handcuffed briefcase containing conflict diamonds. The briefcase was then thrown into a dumpster unopened, which confuses the police.
* On ''Series/{{Atlanta}}'', a drug deal hits a snag when Darius brings the money in this fashion and forgets the key to the cuffs. The seller tells him ominously that they have ways of getting the money anyway. [[spoiler: (They just open the briefcase and take the money out.)]]
* [[CrimeAfterCrime This leads to a murder]] in an ''Series/InspectorMorse'' episode. The courier who's wearing the chained money satchel is a conspirator in the robbery, but unfortunately his partner-in-crime carelessly leaves the key elsewhere when changing jackets. As a result he's murdered so his hand can be cut off.
* ''Series/NightCourt''. In "Dan, the Walking Time Bomb", a man with a grudge against DA Dan Fielding handcuffs a briefcase full of dynamite to Fielding's arm, and orders him to walk around pretending everything is normal. HilarityEnsues.
* In Season 2 of ''Series/Daredevil2015'', the Punisher wipes out a meeting of TheIrishMob and the police wonder why one of the corpses is missing a wrist. It's a couple of episodes before we find out why, when we see Frank Castle in possession of a suitcase attached to a bloodstained handcuff chain.
* ''Series/MissionImpossible''
** One late episode had Casey impersonating a courier so she could deliver a handcuffed briefcase from the leader of one gang to the leader of another, allowing the team to locate the second leader so they could take him down. After Casey is cuffed to the case, the rest of the team learns that the briefcase contains a bomb meant to assassinate the recipient of the briefcase, leaving the rest of the team scrambling to keep up with Casey so they can get it off her before it blows.
** In the episode "Fool's Gold'', several guards are shown lined up to deliver foreign currency for exchange. Each guard carries the currency in a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist to make it more difficult to steal.

* Once when WesternAnimation/BugsBunny was a presenter at the Academy Awards, the envelope was delivered to him this way.

* In the Chinese comedy ''Girls vs Gangsters'', the girls wake up naked on a beach with two of them handcuffed to a briefcase. [[WhatDidIDoLastNight They have no idea how this happened.]]

* One late episode of ''Series/MissionImpossible'' had Casey impersonating a courier so she could deliver a handcuffed briefcase from the leader of one gang to the leader of another, allowing the team to locate the second leader so they could take him down. After Casey is cuffed to the case, the rest of the team learns that the briefcase contains a bomb meant to assassinate the recipient of the briefcase, leaving the rest of the team scrambling to keep up with Casey so they can get it off her before it blows.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. The Mayor sends Faith to pick up the Box of Gavrok from the airport, which is handcuffed to the courier. Kill-crazy rogue Slayer that she is, Faith just shoots the courier with an arrow, then when they can't find the handcuff keys, she takes out the CoolKnife the Mayor recently [[DaddysLittleVillain gave her as a present]]. The mook with her smugly tells her that the knife won't cut through steel. Faith replies with a smile: "No, but it'll cut through bone."

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Diana Prince is keeping a briefcase meant to be full of sensitive documents handcuffed to her wrist when the intel comes through that a bomb has been planted in it. Diana uses the opportunity to fake Diana "Prince"'s death via explosion.

->'''Max:''' Oh miss, I seem to have lost something.
->'''Stewardess:''' Well if you describe it to me, maybe I can find it.
->'''Max:''' Yes, well it was a black attache case, about oh... ''(gestures with hands)'' so big. Morocco leather. Beautiful case. And let's see... Oh yes! There was a man attached to it.

[[folder: Comic Books]]

[[folder: Film ]]

--> '''Sam''': Is the case heavy? Is it explosive? Is it chained to some poor guy's wrist and we're going to have to cut it off?

* ''Film/{{Condorman}}''. Comic book writer Woody's task is to courier one to a Soviet FemmeFataleSpy. When someone throws a knife at him, Woody instinctively covers his face, raising the briefcase on its chain to miraculously block the knife. This convinces the Soviet spy that Woody really is the elite secret agent he's pretending to be.

* ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork''. After a terrorist takes control of Air Force One, the President handcuffs a briefcase to his wrist and enters the plane's EscapePod. Later on it's revealed that the briefcase holds a tape which explains the secret of nuclear fusion.

* ''Film/{{Lucy}}''. Lucy's boyfriend Richard tries to get her to deliver a briefcase full of drugs for him. When she is reluctant to do so, he handcuffs her wrist to the briefcase, forcing her to make the delivery.
* ''Film/Cube2Hypercube''. Colonel Maguire (apparently a high-ranking Pentagon liaison officer) [[YouWakeUpInARoom wakes up in the eponymous hypercube]] with a briefcase of this type, except the cuffs are not attached to him and the case is empty, so it's just [[OntologicalMystery one more thing to add to the mystery.]] The cuffs however are a ChekhovsGun which get used later.
* ''Film/SpyKids''. While exploring a laboratory full of spy gadgets, Juni finds an object that looks like a lunchbox which is presumably used to hold important materials. It has an attached chain and handcuff so it can be secured to a person's wrist.

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

--->'''Oliver:''' You have a choice to make.
--->'''Minion:''' What choice?
--->'''Oliver:''' Whether or not to keep your hand.

[[folder: Music ]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games ]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Web Comics]]

[[folder: Web Video ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. In "Streets of Fire", a courier with a handcuffed briefcase is sent to deliver the antidote to the SuperSerum to Team Arrow, but is intercepted by goons who just use their SuperStrength to snap the chain after killing the courier.

* During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII the British [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mincemeat dumped a body dressed in a British officer's uniform]] off the Spanish coast, with [[WeNeedADistraction fake plans on where the Allies were going to invade next]]. To ensure the plans stayed with the body they used a leather-covered chain (used by bank couriers at the time) attached to a briefcase, though since the cover story was that 'Major Martin' had been on a long air trip, the chain was looped through his belt instead of run down the sleeve.

* ''Film/{{Ronin}}'' has a briefcase handcuffed to the wrist of a VIP the mercenaries are ordered to secure with a MacGuffin inside. The trope is [[DiscussedTrope brought up]] during a planning session when Sam gets increasing frustrated over the lack of information provided to them by Deirdre.

** The case is indeed handcuffed to someone's wrist, so they shoot him and break the chain with a tiny explosive charge.