The Ending (Spoilers)

The film's ending brought to mind the ending of "Sunset Boulevard", released the following year...Rosa descending down the stairs of her "dump" of a house, in a feverish delusion, brought to mind Norma Desmond descending her own, caught up in her own delusion of recaptured cinematic grandeur. Rosa trudging - dying - towards the rail yard brought to mind Joe's own escape - dying - towards Norma's swimming pool.