Headscratchers / Ransom

• In the 1996 version, the audience quickly sees the identities of the kidnappers and their motives, as well as their arguments over their next moves. But in the 1956 version of the story, we never learn who the kidnappers are, or why they released young Andy unharmed. Were they afraid of being hunted down by a vengeful Stannard? Or did their consciences bother them?
• The 1996 movie explains why the kidnappers only asked for a $2 million ransom initially. It keeps things nice and simple for Tom and they know he’ll likely just pay it without question since it’s an easy amount for him to come up with in a short period of time and will have no lasting financial impact on him. However that seems like a tiny amount for the kidnappers if they were planning on fleeing after the transaction was made. After all we know their plan was to kill Sean so it’s doubtful they were planning on sticking around since it would be a capital murder case. If they were to divide the money up evenly that would only be $400,000 for each. While that might be a nice sum for all of them up front, it’s hardly enough for a bunch of people that appeared to be in their early 30s to live off of for the rest of their life. Gary Sinise was 40 at the time. Even if Larry was planning to double cross all of them all along $2 million would still only leave him with about $50-$60,000 per year to live off of if he lived an average lifespan. Less than he would’ve made as a cop.