Letdown of an ending

Yes. Catherine learned to trust no one but herself. The most heartbreaking moment to me is when Moria compliments her dress (and at this point she looks lovely and has come into her own). After the compliment Moria asks for permission to walk the square. Catherine interprets the compliment as disingenuousness; she rebuffs Moria who sincerely met what she said. Her lack of trust in anyone that would anyone that would appear to hold her in esteem was complete.

akoolaidroom, I think you very insightfully answered your own question. Your sense of letdown is the product of too many overkill (no pun intended) endings.

Enduring the emotional and psychological pain of a subtler movie is tough, and people in industrialized nations have moved farther and farther away from anything that's tough. A big blaring colorful SHOCK of an ending GRABS you for a few seconds, then dissipates like smoke.

I'm glad you watched "The Heiress" and glad you thought to question your own reaction to the ending. Which was not in any way a missed opportunity or the product of censors. Director William Wyler was known for his compelling psychological portrayals, as was writer Henry James, on whose novel "Washington Square" this was based.

Take some time away from the flashy-ending movies and shows, and spend more with those that are character-driven.

Am I a product of the recent decades of movie making or is this a huge opportunity for an astounding ending squandered?

The endings you just described would have been too melodramatic. I couldn't see her killing Morris (especially since she admitted to still caring about him) and she didn't seem broken down enough to commit suicide. I liked how the film ended because it's truthful and satisfying. Catherine doesn't go regress into her old naive ways and Morris gets his comeuppance.

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I thought the ending was awesome. Like the rest of the film it was seductively ambiguous. Did she really get her revenge, was it satisfying and why was he so distraught? Did he really lover her or was he desperate in greed.
I thought it was a great ending.

The ending is brilliant. Catherine has, in fact, become her father; emotionally cold and cruel. A very tragic ending.

"I don't want no white man lookin' at my Tampax!"

The ending was perfection.

I remember watching this movie for the first time and to this day the ending is my favorite part.

I do not know why but I think it's because it's so simple and understated and unexpected.
She walking to that door and I then she locks it and just calmly walking upstairs. It seems all that took more courage than any other thing that she could have done it.

I kept imagining that I would never be that strong. I probably would do something tragic or dragged myself crying in the stairs but she was cold and in control and I think delivered masterfully her revenge.

I'm glad they didn't ended with anything else.