Hanratty: Carl

Hanratty describes Abagnale's methods through the technical details of the paper and ink used to create fake checks:

Shea had tracked Abagnale to a motor inn. He knew he had to act fast. He didn't have the jurisdiction to simply arrest him on the spot, so he played a bluff that would make Hanratty proud. Shea knocked on the door and, posing as a fellow con man or a contact (accounts vary), lured Abagnale out. carl hanratty

When Abagnale opened the door, Shea tackled him. It was a gritty, physical takedown—no swelling John Williams score, just a struggle on a carpet floor. Abagnale tried to talk his way out, as he always did, but this time, the cuffs were on before he could finish his sentence. Shea knocked on the door and, posing as

So, the next time you watch Tom Hanks lamenting about losing a suspect at the airport, remember Joe Shea: the real agent who proved that while the "Maverick" might get the glory, the "Hanratty" gets the job done. Abagnale tried to talk his way out, as

Hanratty is relentless in his pursuit of Frank Abagnale Jr., even when the FBI doesn’t prioritize the case. He works long hours, follows leads across the country, and refuses to give up.

Shea preferred to remain anonymous during the film’s production, leading the writers to create the surname "Hanratty".