And yet, 57 years later, one particular director would release a cult movie where the very ending that felt cheap to you here, was utilised to great effect and to the delight of many an audience :)
I didn't know that the end of the movie would have supposed to be different, in fact I didn't know much about the movie at all when I started watching it (which is always a good idea.) So after thinking that I was watching a "regular" film noir classic, the surprise ending did not feel cheap to me at all. Because I watched the above mentioned more recent movie before this one, I found it very amusing to find such an obvious inspiration to one of my favourite modern-day movies in a film from the 40s!
As for the topic of this thread, I am far from able to name a 'dream cast' because I just don't know enough about the names, looks and strengths of current actors (I only know one of the five names you mentioned yourself).
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jon5000_66
15 years ago
Edward G Robinson was so amazing - it's really hard to imagine anyone else in one of his roles, isn't it. William H. Macy?
"It's as if God created the Devil...and gave him...JAWS"
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Altho73
15 years ago
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'I think this film is amazing for it's first 90 minutes. The ending keeps it from being an all time favorite though. It is so obvious that the studio interfered. I haven't been able to get past it in order to push this film into one of my all time favorites. But it is extraordinary for most of it. The ending does have a sort of smirking glee, like Lang is saying "here's your happy ending!" while he is really just mocking it.'
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I take a totally different view regarding the ending. When I first watched the movie (without knowing anything about it beforehand) I thought the entire movie was excellent, moving at breakneck speed and keeping the viewer constantly occupied. Then the shock ending added something extra making it an even more excellent movie.
The studio did not interfere with the making of the movie, it wasn't even a major studio production, it was made by an independent producer.
Without the surprise ending the movie would never have been allowed a release to be shown in cinemas!!!!!!! Film production at that time was rigorously examined and controlled not only by the Hays Office but also by the Catholic Legion of Decency and suicide was considered a mortal sin and would never have been permitted to have been shown on film in 1944!!!!!!!!!
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