MovieChat Forums > Ellery Queen (1975) Discussion > Why would you show up for the big ending...

Why would you show up for the big ending reveal?

posted 9 years ago by rockmail
7 replies | jump to latest

Always cracks me up how the guilty party shows up at the end for the big reveal at the end of these types of detective shows.

Guilty? Nope, I'm not showing up, why would I? So you can beat or trick a confession out me? Guilty by absence? Yea, prove it and good luck with that.

Not guilty? I've got better things to do, not coming. Maybe if I'm super curious about the solution I might show up. Probably not.

I realize that convention is necessary for the dramatic structure, but it does lean a bit heavily on the structure of live plays. The actors all want to appear at the end if the story allows, to get more stage time. But it's a bit clunky and unnecessary for television.

What would I do instead? I don't know, I'm not a mystery writer, but the gimmick is more than a little tired.

Oh well, it was popular.

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 9 years ago

That sort of thing was extremely common back in the 30s and 40s. Agatha Christie's Poirot mysteries were like that, for instance.

I agree with your points. I would also like to add that the suspects were not expected to answer any of Ellery's questions because Ellery wasn't a cop...just like the suspects in the Agatha Christie mysteries didn't have to answer to Miss Marple and Poirot.

It was just a fun gimmick back then. Unrealistic, but still fun. Of course, in reality, it wouldn't happen that way.

~~~~~
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen 🎇

[–] NickKitt 9 years ago

Yes, but when you think about it, that would be the only party who would have something to hide. Also, the guilty might, I say MIGHT, be able to sway the opinion. And as a suspect, you could be ordered to attend if the police was involved. If they turned tail and ran, then they might as well as sign their name to the crime. And not only that, if there was a large amount of money involved, most murderers don't want to lose the chance to grab the booty they killed for. And last but not least, there's dramatic license.

Be as wise as a serpent and as harmless as a dove

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 9 years ago

True, but they might still wonder why the conclusion is being outlined by someone who isn't a cop.

Even if they all showed up, they would undoubtedly be there with their lawyers (in the real world). No way would they confess to anything unless the cops had very definite evidence against them.

~~~~~
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen 🎇

[–] Jimmy-128 8 years ago

True, but they might still wonder why the conclusion is being outlined by someone who isn't a cop.

Not actually a cop themselves, but in Ellery and Poirot's cases, so obviously affiliated with the police that it's practically the same thing. There's one Poirot novel where the jury at an inquest returns a verdict of Willful Murder against him, and the coroner tells them that that's ridiculous.

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 8 years ago

Still, because the conclusion wasn't done by someone who isn't a cop, the killers could challenge the methods used and they could be allowed to walk free.

That's in the real world, of course.  In mysteries, justice would be served no matter who traps the killers.

~~~~~
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen

[–] aer71367-313-155069 8 years ago

I see what you mean. I don't think I would go either.

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 8 years ago

In the real world, I doubt that anyone would go. In mysteries, everyone just has to be there.

But then, in real life, some crimes take years and years to solve.

~~~~~
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen = 