Deserves a Remake


I thought the entire concept of this film, with the exception of the ending. I think they should have let Jean become a real hero. His final decision to turn himself in was played down, making it seem like a natural choice rather than the noble thing it was. He had the chance to flee, and no one knew who he was anymore. For all purposes, most thought him to be dead. He could've taken off, with the girl, and done whatever he wished. Instead, he saves the lives of countless innocents for turning himself in for a crime he didn't commit.

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I don't understand a lot of the criticism the film gets for the narrative, as I thought it was well played out and made the characters, including Flynn's criminal Picard, most sympathetic. Oddly I was wondering about a remake myself as I was watching it. Given that it was made in late 1943, I truly understand the aspect of making the hero self-scarificing. Flynn himself sought out such parts as he felt it was his patriotic duty to support the war effort in spirit if not in body. (He was 4-F due to various conditions.)

With a modern audience, not likely to accept such an ending, perhaps having him somehow escape his death twice would be more appropriate. If so, it might also be better to make his first conviction obviously unjust instead of slightly ambiguous. But yes a modern remake in the right hands could be very good.

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