Babe does not know what the question means nor the interrogator's identity until Szell explains after torturing him.
When Szell finally concludes Babe knows nothing, he orders his people to dispose of the young man.
Though in great pain, Babe escapes and thanks to his training as a marathoner outruns his pursuers..
The police interrogate Babe for hours, until government agents led by Peter Janeway arrive.
Janeway asks Babe what Doc told him before he died, and informs Babe of his brother's career as a U.S. government agent..
As Laurence Olivier famously said to a strung-out Dustin Hoffman on the set of Marathon Man (after he'd stayed awake for 48 hours straight to simulate the torment of his character): "Why not try acting dear boy?".
Laurence Olivier was cast early on.
However, he had health problems, and at one stage, it was uncertain whether he would be able to do the film.
Richard Widmark auditioned for the part, but Olivier eventually recovered and was able to participate in filming..
Marathon Man (1976) - Laurence Olivier as Dr.
Christian Szell - IMDb..
When Szell finds out about this he believes Doc may have told Babe about the plan to rob him.
Szell's two henchmen abduct Babe.
Szell tortures Babe by drilling into his teeth without anesthetic and repeatedly asking the question, "Is it safe?", referring to Szell's appointment to collect his diamonds from the bank..
Marathon Man is a 1976 American thriller film directed by John Schlesinger
Thomas Babington "Babe" Levy is a history Ph.D. candidate and avid runner researching the same field as his father
• Dustin Hoffman as Thomas Babington "Babe" Levy• Laurence Olivier as Dr
Goldman was paid a reported US$ 500,000 (equivalent to $2.97 million in 2022) for the film rights to his novel and to do a screenplay
The film explores themes of endurance and the pursuit of Nazi war criminals
1974 novel by William Goldman
