MovieChat Forums > Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) Discussion > About the studio forced ending...

About the studio forced ending...

posted 12 years ago by RaxR1991
6 replies | jump to latest

I like downer endings (the ending in The Mist is a great example, although the pacing was too rushed and because of that, it made a great movie into only a good one) but I dont think that this movie would work with that approach. The reason why I think the "studio" ending works is not just because the efforts by the hero are not in vain. The "studio" ending inadvertently follows the spirit of the novel, in that humans will fight back, and might even win.
P.S. - I just saw the movie for the first time, and I liked it a lot (though there were some problems). I actually felt suspense towards the end, which for me almost never happens with "oldschool" cinema.

"Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity." - George Carlin

[–] vestdennis 12 years ago

In this case I believe the studio was correct in demanding the change. The movie is bleak enough as it is, and the ending at least leaves us with the impression that mankind has a chance to fight back.

It is a wonderful film with marvelous writing & acting, with a very dark & dismal outlook for us all until the end. Though we are left to insert our own conclusion (after the ending)it is comforting to know that other humans are alerted to the danger (though our survival is still not ensured).

[–] RaxR1991 11 years ago

Also, there are a lot of movies now which end with the hero telling the truth and everybody deeming him nuts/locking him up. This ending actually feels somewhat fresh to me.

"Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity." - George Carlin

[–] stevenackerman69 10 years ago

I think it was better that they had some hope, rather than none.

[–] Strangerhand 10 years ago

AFAIK, if it'd ultimately been up to director Siegel, the "bookend" beginning and ending at the hospital wouldn't have been, except for the studio.

I don't dislike the bookends, they're not bad, and don't seem too "tacked-on" to the rest of the production in-between.

However having seen the film many times, I find I might agree with Siegel over the studio. I'd bet the movie would be even better without the studio-bookends. But the voice-over narratives would then also have to be removed. Yeah, I bet that would be cool hehehehe It would be an almost-but-not-quite "director's cut", but no you wouldn't call an unofficial edit anything like that, no hehehe For experimental purposes, ya know hehehehe

Yeah, basically: Remove the "bookends", the beginning and ending scenes at the hospital, also remove Dr. Bennell's voice-over narrative, and no other changes, except as necessary the opening and closing titles, ya know hehehehe Put the "The End" on the screen at the end of the scene of Bennell on the highway, que closing-theme hehehehe

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] RaxR1991 9 years ago

I agree entirely.

"Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity." - George Carlin