MovieChat Forums > Bordertown (1935) Discussion > depressing/racist ending?

depressing/racist ending?

posted 13 years ago by melissy87-928-30530
9 replies | jump to latest

i felt sad about the ending. i wish he wouldve married bette davis charcter..and not chased after that snob ..who call him a savage and then went home to his mother..most depressing ending ever.

[–] EspoSeeblay 13 years ago

Agree.

Especially since the movie didn't have to present it as racist and end with him going home to his own kind. Even in a society of 100% whites or 100% of any type, the line, "We come from different tribes" is actually a valid statement regarding social division based on "class".

The fact is that with the social boost he received by working his way into his MONEY, he had broken out of his "ghetto" and had many opportunities, but not to the point of marrying such a prominent socialite. However, she would undoubtedly have rejected at least 99.9% of the members of her own race too.

[–] BoyWiththeGreenHair 12 years ago

Who would wish anything so horrible upon a character as the prospect of having Bette Davis for a wife? I would have gone back to the barrio too, lmao.

[–] melissy87-928-30530 12 years ago

lol robert, excellent point !

[–] Helpfan65 10 years ago

Frankly, I was surprised the user socialite paid for her racism by getting run over, Lol! Also, I thought they were going to find some way to blame him and send him to jail, so the ending was not that bad.

But the attitude that he needed to stick with this own people was a downer.
________________________________________
Get me a bromide - and put some gin in it!

[–] gribfritz2 10 years ago

I think everyone misses the point that he was trying to escape his background, his people, etc... because he had such a grimy past. After seeing the other side of the fence, he sees that the rich, privileged non-Mexicans are even worse than "his" people and why he goes back to them. Also, he helps fund the law school, giving back to his downtrodden community. It's actually a wonderful and positive message for a minority from a depressed background if anyone actually cares to look.

[–] DracTarashV 9 years ago

Let's see, if I had to choose between a murdering psychopath or a racist snob... I think I'd rather go back to wherever I came from than having to deal either of those two, ha ha.

But honestly, even if Muni's character was going to be better off with his "own" people, in the end he deserved something better.

Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!

[–] melissy87-928-30530 9 years ago

point taken...wish it was more upbeat though, like oh ive a nice girl waiting for me already ...idk .

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] Drmccormack (743) 7 years ago

I thought that ending was awful. Are we supposed to be happy that he's going back "to his own kind"? Ugh! What a defeating movie this is! Paul Muni's accent is utterly ridiculous. He sounds more like a Eastern European Union Han a Mexican. I'm not even sure I understand why it's called Bordertown". Is that what people call Los Angeles? Still, it's a great cast and an okay looking movie.