MovieChat Forums > An Affair to Remember (1957) Discussion > Am I the only one here who gets how unin...

Am I the only one here who gets how unintentionally funny the ending is?

posted 10 years ago by Cinemaskype
15 replies | jump to latest

To me, the romantic ending was somewhat spoiled in a "wtf" moment by the subtle double entendre of the last lines spoken by the crippled nightclub singer to her artist playboy: "If you can paint, I can walk. ANYTHING can happen, you see?"

Did anyone else catch that?

*edit* - I was just now double-checking the ending on YouTube and stumbled across the ending of "Love Affair," the 1939 version of "An Affair to Remember," which closes with the same lines but the delivery's entirely different. Apparently in "Love Affair" it was intended to be a less-than-subtle double entendre given Irene Dunn's grin when she delivers the lines, and Charles Boyer's wincing reaction. "An Affair To Remember" plays it so completely straight that the double entendre probably flies over most people's heads.

[–] Wilde_child 10 years ago

Pardon my ignorance, but what is this double entendre in the ending?

[–] mrwalrusq 9 years ago

To answer your question, yes, you may be the only person that thinks that. Perhaps you could elaborate.

[–] MsSpiderGrrl 9 years ago

That's not double entendre. More akin to sarcasm or humorous barbs-- but not double entendre.

[–] Rex16 9 years ago

"If you can paint, I can walk. ANYTHING can happen, you see?"

I agree with the OP. It feels like the next thing Terri might say is, "And pigs might fly." It sounds like an insult to Nicki's artistic abilities.

[–] Cinemaskype 9 years ago

Rex16 got it! 😄

[–] pauli_gomez 8 years ago

I have no idea what you are talking about.

[–] Cinemaskype 8 years ago

Okay, this is my explanation to the humor-impaired.

"If you can paint, I can walk. ANYTHING can happen, you see?" can be interpreted as insult: "If an idiot like you can paint anything can happen, even a cripple like me walking."

GET IT?

[–] pauli_gomez 8 years ago

Ah, all right. I had never thought that. Thanks!

[–] Ghetto_Defendant 8 years ago

I get what you're writing, but she's not being sarcastic. She's saying, in effect, that if Nikki can make a good living by painting art (not billboards), then perhaps she can walk again soon (and not depend on the kindness of ex-boyfriends).

[–] npaxton-3 8 years ago

Exactly. Nickie never took his painting seriously or he was too critical of his early work and refused to paint for years. I took it to mean that if he could actually be serious and attempt to make a living painting, she may be able to walk with the same kind of determination and effort.

[–] judygmartin 8 years ago

This is an honest question to the OP. How old are you. I'm really interested.

[–] 8 years ago

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