MovieChat Forums > Meet John Doe (1941) Discussion > Am I the only one who liked/cried at the...

Am I the only one who liked/cried at the ending?

posted 17 years ago by Shearer_Goddard_Russell
17 replies | jump to latest

I don't usually cry at movies. Maybe it was Barbara Stanwyck's delivery of the speech that made me so emotional. I've read some posts on this board complaining about her talking about Christ, but I was really struck by that. "The first John Doe," and "that's why those bells are ringing, John," "if it's worth dying for it's worth living for!" Wow. That just gets me every single time I watch it.

"Just close your eyes...but keep your mind wide open."

[–] Greenster 17 years ago

Hello, Miss Goddard, all.

You're not the only one affected by Meet John Doe’s spectaular ending. I, too, regard this as one of cinema’s finest.

In addition to Stanwyck’s superb delivery of this well-written discourse, especially considering its quotations, which you cite, Gary Cooper performs at his best here, while Ann Doran, Regis Toomey and James Gleason tug at the proverbial heartstrings.

Why Miss Doran isn’t credited among its 23 other major players remains a mystery, especially considering her Honey Hansen as third female lead, she delivering more lines than the flock of politicians at D.B. Norton’s banquet or than the radio announcers at the John Doe convention, who are included among its credited cast.

At any rate, I completely agree with your keen assessment of this indisputably Classic scene.

“Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

[–] marvel88 17 years ago

I love the ending of this film. Everything that happens throughout the film comes alive during the last 15 minutes of the movie and just ends with a bang. In my opinion, one of the best endings in cinema.

"I know you're in there, Fagerstrom!"-Conan O'Brien

[–] Shearer_Goddard_Russell 17 years ago

I'm so glad other people feel this way!

"Just close your eyes...but keep your mind wide open."

[–] PenTheater 17 years ago

I was very impressed.
I love endings where the message of the whole movie hits you in the face! A masterpiece.

Acussed here of being a 12YO or an 8YO, as if either of those were bad things!

[–] omari322 17 years ago

Didn't cry at the ending because I'm tough and tough guys don't cry or dance...just kidding.

The ending was very moving and dare I say edgy with the way Long John and Norton stated their positions on the city hall roof. Miss Stanwyck's speech was heart tugging but seeing Gary Cooper with tears in his eyes is something that gets me every time. This was the first movie I really appreciated Coop's range as an actor because beforehand he was just the 'Yup' and 'Nope' cowpoke. Seeing him emote like that in a movie well before screen tough guys were supposedly allowed to show emotion like that gave me much respect for him for taking that kind of a risk with his image.

I watch this one at Christmastime every year now along with 'A Christmas Story', 'The Greatest Story Ever Told', and 'The Little Drummer Boy.' I like 'It's A Wonderful Life' and all the brighter holiday movies but off-kilter, somber fare is more to my taste.

[–] mjr1114 16 years ago

I always tear up at the end. Shoot, just reading it made me tear. That's sad, I'm a cornball. I am so happy to see there are people that GET the ending. Too many posts on here stating they don't like the ending or that it was weak or that he should have jumped. I don't think they get ALL that is being represented at that moment. There is a lot going on in that small moment, its perfect. Capra, they say was not happy with it, but I think he may have been being too hard on himself. If movies of today could leave you like this one does, then I'd be broke going to the movies trying to see them trying to outdo each other. Who could get their message across best??? This is my all-time favorite movie. AND I love movies.

[–] bonbk 16 years ago

The ending is perfect IMO, and yes, I cry.....everytime!! I too am a cornball who tears up pretty easily during moving moments in cinema. (happy, sad, bittersweet, endearing etc)

Capra really new how to wring out great performances from his stars, especially with such a well written story.

BTW, the Adam Sandler "remake" was SO awful!!!!! WHY?!?!?

[–] DKSalazarR 16 years ago

BTW, the Adam Sandler "remake" was SO awful!!!!! WHY?!?!?

Adam Sandler remake? Are you thinking of Mr Deeds goes to town?

[–] KongKongAGAIN 15 years ago

I felt the ending was sappy and crappy; a stronger impact would have been made by Doe's actually committing suicide.

[–] madbandit20002000 14 years ago

Acutally, there was an alternative ending that had Doe jumped, but when it was screened, preview audiences didn't like.

As for me, I cried when Doe gave his speech on the radio.

[–] katzmeow13301 14 years ago

I saw this movie recently and I loved it, both Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper were great. Reading that Capra struggled in coming up with an ending that satisfied him, I guess the one he went with was the best possible version since many viewers hated the suicide ending in the previews. Nonetheless, I think the ending worked because I certainly cried! But I don't think it would have quite gelled if it weren't for Cooper and Stanwyck, especially Stanwyck, her pleads to him to not jump certainly tugged at my heartstrings.

[–] mjr1114 12 years ago

I get a little choked up at that point, as well.
I love this movie.
It's still my favorite of all time.

[–] Errington_92 11 years ago

Kudos to Barbara Stanswyck, driving the climax's atmosphere to a high range. Her pleas were moving and I could place myself in Doe's position.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".

[–] zhu_bernard 11 years ago

i know i did, on every watch.

[–] donofthedial 11 years ago

Barbara Stanwyck saves that scene. That's a lot of very pointed dialog to get out and many other actresses would never have succeeded.

Brava Stany!

[–] vinidici 11 years ago

Indeed. Miss Stanwyck had more acting chops in her little finger than a heckuva lot of actresses today have in their whole bodies!

Cooper was splendid in this scene (and throughout the whole movie) also and it seems to me that he and Stanwyck enhanced each other's performance here. I don't know of any other Gary Cooper picture in which he ever wept as in this scene and it was something even Clark Gable only did once in any of his movies (GONE WITH THE WIND.)

Okay folks, show's over, nothing to see here!

[–] donofthedial 11 years ago

It's a tough sequence all in all.