MovieChat Forums > The Mechanic (1972) Discussion > About the ending...*spoilers*

About the ending...spoilers

posted 20 years ago by T_dude
10 replies | jump to latest

Someone posted in a different topic about an ending in which Bronson fakes his death and then watches as the car explodes...
I had always thought (or hoped) that actually the Bronson character knew about Steve (Jan-Michael Vincent) trying to poison him and only faked his death to be able to retire for good (remember his bosses wanted him dead).
It's pretty logic if you think of it... We know he knew because he planted the bomb in the car and the only way to start over (or stay in business) was to fake his death...

It is also very unlikely that his character would be fooled into drinking poison...unless he wanted to. I don't quite remember but I believe he only took a sip at the cup, which means that he faked drinking the poison. If I recalled wrong, then the chance he took an antidote previously seems fairly possible.

What do you think?

[–] tricksofthetrade 20 years ago

While I 'rooted' for Mr. Bishops character throughout the film, and there has been talk of an alternative ending, I was pleased with the way they wrapped it up. The film is unique in a two ways, they are the start and end. The beginning had the first 14 or so minutes with NO diaologue! Absoulutley unheard of! And the ending has both main characters DIE!! Also very rare!

In todays movie market, your idea would have been used to ressurrect the character of Mr. Bisop. It is logical that Mr. Bisop took precautions, and your death to escape the mob theory holds water (has been done in a very good film a year later) but when Steve saved his life on the boat, maybe Bishop relaxed a little bit, which was his only fatal mistake.

[–] layton59 14 years ago

A big part of why this movie is so memorable is that the lead character is killed by his cocky upstart.

I silly HOLLYWOOD ending would have had Arthur living.

************************************************
Ye Olde Sig Line:

It should be "I can NOT care less."

You are at the lowest level of caring.

[–] Max06 14 years ago

Agree with the above posts. Wonder if the remake will feature the same ending... or a Hollywood, preview audience-approved ending.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] oldschoolfan 14 years ago

I fear it is the latter of the two....

They changed a morally ambigious storyline (there actually are no classic heroes or good guys in this at all, every character has both good and bad sides) into a revenge flick, making Bishop a heroic character that he never was.

Remember for example in the original it is Bishop himself who kills Harry McKenna.

So I'm afraid we get some shot of the two driving a powerboat into the sunset smiling while the credits roll or something.

I very much like the original movie, but I always thought that the makers never saw the real potential that the story had. And, unsurprisingly, todays movie producers have eliminated that potential completely to give the audience what it (supposedly) wants....

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Jeff0015 14 years ago

fellas, lets be reasonable! the dry poison in the glass was a slick move.. bishop saw him open the bottle right there, and trusted him a little for saving his life.

[–] Rekaert 14 years ago

Agreed, and dare I say as Steve is explaining his 'mechanic' for killing Bishop, we can see not only recognition on Bishop's face, but also a little bit of embarrassment as well that he was caught like this with Brucine?

Let's face it, throughout the film, Bishop 'is' getting soft. He's having anxiety attacks, needs to play-act with a prostitute to simulate a healthy relationship, and can no longer perform as well in his work on his own.

More than that, I get the impression that he wants companionship as well as a partner, and seeing as he can't have any relationship that is considered 'normal', he has opted for one that he can be completely open in, that of a mentor-student.

He allowed an opening in his life that resulted in his death. Seems perfectly reasonable to me.

[–] tensaip 14 years ago

Bishop did want to die -- subconsciously.

That was the purpose of showing his deteriorating mental state with pharmacy's worth of anti-anxiety medication -- to which he has become immune. He ignores the prescription the doctor prescribes for him because he's already taking stronger stuff to no effect.

Consciously, his survival instinct is too strong, but he's unconsciously sabotaging himself by taking on an associate who is a complete and thorough sociopath, not just an external sociopath.

As Steve chastises the dying Bishop, [parapharasing] "you went against everything we talked about, you needed a license...from THEM! I'll pick my own marks."

[–] chas77 14 years ago

Bishop did want to die -- subconsciously.

I agree. It's not displayed in large letters for the average dope to discern but it's pretty obvious that he's at the end of his line -- the anxiety attack, lack of interest in anything -- and probably killing his one normal link to the outside world (Steve's father) took away what little will to live he had left. He knew Steve would try something and instead of being a chump about it he had a little "going away present" for Steve once Steve got back...

Nice '70s slice of existentialism, Bronson-style. I wish more films were made like this.