MovieChat Forums > The Ninth Configuration (1980) Discussion > Which ending?

Which ending?

posted 19 years ago by spinwit
6 replies | jump to latest

Spoilers of course follow.

I hated the idea that Kane intentionally killed himself in the DVD version I have. Letting himself die I can deal with but to so blatantly kill himself?

It destroys the whole concept! Kane never set out to die or sacrifice his life. hHe simply found himself in a position where his death might help. To have Kane intentionally kill himself is wrong. There is a difference between allowing oneself to die and actually commiting suicide.

I hate the version on the DVD.

[–] Vandaria 19 years ago

I completely agree. I first saw this movie on the old VHS version thanks to my husband about 4 years ago and fell totally in love with it...one of those omg how could I have missed this film for all these years? I was excited to see it come to DVD so I could replace the VHS copy which is showing some signs of age but prior to purchasing it my husbands son already had and let us borrow it and yes to my horror saw they have the suicide ending. The whole film with all it's meaning was gone in my opinion. I now have a hard time recommending the movie to someone unless I am able to actually sit with them and show them the VHS version.

[–] spinwit 19 years ago

I now have a hard time recommending the movie to someone unless I am able to actually sit with them and show them the VHS version.

That's the problem I have as well. Such a small change alters the very nature of the film so fundamentally.

Kane killing himself is stupid yet Kane allowing himself to die is another matter entirely.

Remember Cutshaw's coment about Kane? "He gave up his life for me". For Cutshaw, he didn't intentionaly kill himself and to have Kane commit suicide ruins the moment.

The old vhs edit is better despite the fact that the DVD is widescreen and filled with extra's.

[–] PunchB 19 years ago

Kane said earlier in the movie that taking your life to save others is not the same as suicide. As such the DVD ending is in tune with the meaning and theme of the movie.

[–] spinwit 19 years ago

Kane said earlier in the movie that taking your life to save others is not the same as suicide. As such the DVD ending is in tune with the meaning and theme of the movie.

That's open to debate.

The movie is great and I think the issues it raises are timeless and important for all people to consider but the shift from Kane allowing himself to die to an overt act of suicide changes the tone.

When you watch the film Kane is obviously suffering from a mental problem, he is filled with self loathing. The philosophical anecdotes don't relate to him if he simply decides that stabbing himself will work as a method of "Shock Treatment". He didn't jump on a grenade... it was a considered decision.

He has options while the examples in the tales leading up to it do not. The person with the disease in the boat has no options.

The "being stabbed by the biker" ending opened the window for more interesting issues. Did he know it was a fatal wound? Did he think he had an opportunity to help others based on that? Not to mention the conection between the bisexual nature of the bikers and the "knife" slipping in...

The "Hari-Kiri" ending just made me think he was depressed and killed himself.

[–] PunchB 19 years ago

Ok, it is open to debate... but the fact the Blatty included the conversation about there being a difference between suicude abd taking your life (which actually is considered suicide by "normal society"), and then having the protagonist kill himself... would suggest that one ties into the other.

[–] treetherealest 19 years ago

In a way, it's almost like the versions you saw are what KANE (the character) would have wanted you to see. It seemed he wanted ASTRONAUT guy to think that Kane just "let go"...when he was actually killing himself. I hope you can follow what I'm saying.