I wonder if it's possible that Walter Brennan's character is intended to have died. We never get a clear answer, although he's not included in any of the groups of hostages we SEE get executed. Strange to see such an ambiguous loose end in a movie like this.
What's the Spanish for drunken bum?
He does not die. It's even mentioned just before the end. After the brewer is declared the assassin the interrogater informs the daughter her father will be released. Speaking of Brennan himself, this was my first time seeing him in a movie outside of a western or farm-themed picture (i.e., The Real McCoys). I thought he was outstanding. He is not one of my favorite stars, but I do have a greater appreciation for him after seeing him in this movie.
shareThe German interrogator tells the daughter that the hostages will be released. When she asks whether her father is one of them, he replies that he doesn't know. The question is left unanswered.
shareWe see him die, being shot and the burial afterwards when Mascha, accompanied by her brother and fiance leave a wreath on his grave. There's no ambiguity.
Did you say my eyes or thighs are beautiful?share
I just watched it. Poppy is right.
shareCould there be two versions of the film going around? Seems odd that anyone could have missed something like that.
sharePretty sure that scene was cut and only restored recently. DVD Savant's written several articles on it over the years. I've seen Hangmen several times and the version I watched ends on a much happier note.
I'm afraid that you underestimate the number of subjects in which I take an interest!
The version I just saw on TCM did not have him die. There was no wreath scene.
shareIncorrect. That is a fake out. They told the family he died thinking it would spur her to tell them the truth. They read in the paper that his name is not on the list of people executed. She calls (I think it was Gruber) and confirms that the list in the paper is correct and he wasn't executed.
It looks to me like his character was supposed to die, killing Brennan probably tanked the previews, so they added the scene where they read the paper. Because after he's still alive, his character all but vanishes anyway. Brennan was possibly unavailable to film an additional scene after production wrapped.
He dies. The scene you refer to with Masha occurred before his death.
A bird sings and the mountain's silence deepens.share