Most Supprising Ending Ever!
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frank-gibbard — 19 years ago(March 01, 2007 05:43 PM)
May I throw into the ending mix those featured in "The Bridge On The River Kwai" and The Third Man" for their similar surprise value. I agree it is a great climax to "The Defiant Ones" as others have implied here. Good subject, I watched again today on British TV. Frank
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Nic_hse — 18 years ago(April 25, 2007 11:48 AM)
I didn't think the ending was suprising at all. The whole movie was building up to an ending like this. The bond between the two of them was growing throughout the movie. The ending was good but not suprising.
Now if Joker would have ran off with that woman and child and Poitier got caught/killed OR if Poitier's character would have stayed on the train and left Joker behind to get caught, OR if after all the bonding they end up getting each other killed because of their hatred then these would have been more suprising plot twists. They would have been more of a suprise if not more satisfying. -
raiserroofer — 16 years ago(February 21, 2010 07:19 AM)
The ending was moreover well executed above anything else, and was the best part of the film. What a satisfying last shot really leaves the film kind of hanging with you. Like a previous poster stated, they really don't really end films like that anymore.
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Seth_Rogue_One — 9 years ago(October 15, 2016 03:41 AM)
I think it was just that initially the 2 hated eachother but in the end they were cuddled up and got caught and truly cared for one another, basically a message saying that it's hard to be racist if you truly get to know someone of another race.
Also they had had their fun on the outside for a while and now it was back to reality.
They freed themselves of the mental chains if you will.
Death to mainstream cinema! -
vinidici — 14 years ago(January 16, 2012 06:55 PM)
Well, what was the point of remaining on the train if BOTH of them couldn't hop it? If Poiter had left Curtis behind, those who were hot on their trail would have found Curtis right away (the way they were both found in the actual end) and they'd immediately figure out that Poiter had hopped the train; he wouldn't get very far after that. They'd signal ahead to the train's next stop and it would be all over for Portier, who might even have got himself killed at that point.
Besides, the ending makes a great statement by suggesting it's possible for a racist ignoramus (Curtis) to wise up, mend his ways and earn the respect and friendship of his former adversary (Poiter, of the maltreated portion of Jim Crow society.)
Whatever you do, DO NOT read this sigACKKK!!!
TOO LATE!!! -
LesterFester — 14 years ago(January 16, 2012 07:03 PM)
it seems all the posts are in agreement with one another i saw the movie for the first time today .. i was surprised by the ending i thought it was headed toward one of them surviving due to the action(s) of the other i also did not think their opinion of one another would change so dramatically
" Three can keep a secret, if two are dead " -
cdjunkee-1 — 14 years ago(February 18, 2012 05:33 PM)
That scene where Curtis is reaching for Sidney's hand was very well filmed. it was very poignant. when they both tumbled out of the train down the hill I felt soo sad.
I literally went "Awwe!" I wanted them both to escape so bad.
~I love the rhythm it is my methoood!~ -
Zanza8 — 13 years ago(November 27, 2012 07:52 AM)
I wanted them to make the train, but realistically even if they had they wouldn't have escaped. Tony Curtis was badly hurt and wouldn't have got much further, and Sidney Poitier wasn't about to leave him. The sheriff would have wired ahead and the train would have been held up and that would have been that. And I bet both men knew that-that there was no way they could ever escape at that point.
The thing is, it makes a difference, spiritually speaking, that Sidney jumped. If he hadn't, if he had done the selfish thing and stayed on the train, he would have been caught anyway and he would have regretted abandoning his friend. Sometimes the only victory possible is the one you have over yourself. Both men triumphed over their own hatred of the other's race, but when Sidney jumped, that put the seal on their friendship. It showed that he would never go back to what he was before.
http://thinkingoutloud-descartes.blogspot.com/ -
DukeTogo1300 — 12 years ago(February 02, 2014 04:28 PM)
I think some are missing a point or two about the ending. The film is clearly more preoccupied with the growth of their characters than whether or not they escape. It is about being forced to look a man in the eye and judging him for who he really is.
Yeah, they are criminals, they are re-captured, and
maybe
the code had something to do with that, but Cullen was apprehended of his own free will. It is a major sacrifice, an ultimate gesture of trust and friendship, and that trust could not be tested without their recapture. The closing shot shows the two men huddling together as if those chains were still attached, and it is very bold. -
mvksmall — 11 years ago(January 19, 2015 07:08 PM)
I think the ending was ambiguous enough to theorize that the sheriff may have had thoughts like Big Sam - he smiles and puts his gun up, and it has been made clear that he is out of his jurisdiction. He left the group, is alone, and made his point to himself that he would find them. He doesn't call out to the others, so just maybe, he's going back to being a lawyer
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Seth_Rogue_One — 9 years ago(October 15, 2016 03:35 AM)
I knew it was only 93 minutes Well the version I watched clocked in at 96 minutes but anyway, yeah so that wasn't surprising to me
Didn't find the ending too odd, it was obvious that eventually they would get caught, I suppose that they got caught with a smile was a bit odd maybe but it made sense. The movie was more of a coming of age buddy flick anyways than a outlaw on the run get free or die trying type of film.
Anyway it was a nice way to end the film the way they did.
Death to mainstream cinema!