MovieChat Forums > The Actress (1953) Discussion > What happened to Fred?

What happened to Fred?

posted 18 years ago by BrwnEyedGirl
5 replies | jump to latest

I think I missed something...so Ruth turns down his proposal after he tells her he loves her. Then I saw him come back later in the movie and try and talk to her. What happened then, did he give up or disappear? I would have said yes! Anthony Perkins was sexy and Ruth was acting really stuck up.

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May 4, 2007

[–] turboshark 17 years ago

I suppose he gave up. I found Ruth very selfish, how she said she would only date boys from New York or outside of it. She didn't seem to acknowledge him at all. She was too focused on her career, and completely oblivious to how lucky she was to have Fred.

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

turboshark says > She didn't seem to acknowledge him at all. She was too focused on her career, and completely oblivious to how lucky she was to have Fred.

Ruth wasn't dismissive of Fred. She cared about him. She told him his proposal was beautiful, it helped her feel good about herself, and if she were going to marry it would be him.

Ruth did the right thing. However 'lucky' she might have been to have Fred, she had to be true to her own dreams; otherwise, in time she might have come to resent him.

Fred may not have liked her decision but he understood. He stopped by to see her off when she was leaving for New York. They told each other they'd write and he said he would not take anyone to the school dance. She's the one he cares about; still.

Ruth left the door open to them seeing each other in the future. When he graduates, Fred could consider moving to New York City where there would likely be many opportunities for him.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

[–] artihcus022 16 years ago

Well what happened is that a portion of the film was cut by the editors which would have rounded up and resolved Fred Whitmarsh's character.

Basically Ruth realizes that if she says yes to Fred she would never be able to pursue her dreams of being an actress and according to Cukor the cut material would have cleared it all up but it was against the grain of the 50's ethos that a woman should want a career.

"Ça va by me, madame...Ça va by me!" - The Red Shoes

[–] vinidici 9 years ago

Besides, by the time she was finally ready to settle down she was attracted to much younger men; enter Garson Kanin!

[–] jellyree 8 years ago

He died. In 1927 of a heart attack.

Read Ruth's IMDB bio. It's all there!