MovieChat Forums > The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) Discussion > The ending kills me

The ending kills me

posted 15 years ago by cdjunkee-1
10 replies | jump to latest

I knew what was going to happen. but watching the movie I was sucked in. on the edge of my seat. whenever they became quiet for fear of being caught I was afraid to breathe. what's most sad is that they were so close to making it and being rescued. Her final diary entry and voiceover made me cry.

"It looks as though our stay here has come to an end. they've only given us a moment to pack. we can only bring a single bag of clothes. so dear Diary it means I must leave you. if anyone finds this please, please, keep it safe. I hope that someday"

~I love the rhythm it is my methoood!~

[–] nuke184 15 years ago

The moment the phone started ringing over and over again toward the end...that was scary as hell. What if it was the Germans? And what if it was their friend trying to warn them? As inaccurate as this movie is over the real series-of-events, it is a reality check of how evil and unfair the world can be...and how easy the rest of us who complain have it.

[–] rorysa 15 years ago

Here is an appropriate thread to remind people of the following:

After the initial roadshow engagements, Fox shortened the film substantially for its "popular prices" release. Gone were many bits and pieces of the film, including, shockingly, the final scene in the attic with Otto Frank's entire closing speech. This was the only version seen for some thirty years.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] briarswt 13 years ago

Part of me appreciates the drama of this show, the other is completely horrified by it.

Watch the capture scene in the Whole Story. EVERY bit as dramatic, and is completely accurate. And gives the truth about what happened to the helpers, who deserve to be applauded.

[–] njdocisin 13 years ago

Watching Otto Frank quietly resigning himself to fate and going to collect everyone's bags kills me every time. That and Anne's reaction. Millie Perkins said on the DVD commentary that she wasn't happy with how she played that moment, which surprised me because I thought it was incredibly powerful.

[–] aircrftmec 13 years ago

That last scene..Mr. Van Daan is standing on the staircase, then walks back up..walks into the room, then collapses. That was the most GUT-WRENCHING scene which spoke VOLUMES. It spoke a thousand words, (though he said nothing.) His worst fear was now happening. I've watched this movie for over 40 years, and that scene alone causes me to burst into tears every time.

[–] artistathome 12 years ago

I thought that was one of the only truly real reactions in the movie. To me they didn't convey the true horror of having to be quiet so long and when anyone was downstairs.

But the presence of the cat was unbelievable. Why in the world they didn't just let that thing go in the beginning is beyond me.
Was that actually true or just put into the movie?

[–] briarswt 12 years ago

I actually need to reread the diary, but yes, Peter did bring his cat into hiding while Anne was made to leave hers at home. It's also not too unreasonable an idea that a cat could knock stuff over and create a loud noise.

Also, apparently the warehouse had a cat or two - which wasn't unreasonable considering that mice would potentially be an issue.

So bottomline, there were cats.

Actually, Miep found Peter's cat when she came up after the Annexe was ransacked and the eight were arrested. The Attic shows it kinda poignantly - if using the wrong character (they show Jan and not Miep finding the cat). The sad thing is, apparently, iirc, the cat had been missing for a while. . . . So Peter may never have known his cat was actually ok. . .

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] astockton_uk 9 years ago

Even closer: from the attic they were taken to a prison overnight, then to a "transit" camp called Westerbork. They were sent to Auschwitz on the last transport to leave Westerbork before liberation.