MovieChat Forums > The Quiet American (1958) Discussion > Vigot dislikes 'happy end' ?

Vigot dislikes 'happy end' ?

posted 18 years ago by dkiltz
5 replies | jump to latest

At the end of the film, just before inspector Vigot hands Fowler the telegramm informing him of his wife's consent to divorce, Vigot says something about happy ends. Unfortunately, I haven't seen the movie in English but he says something to the tune: "I don't like this kind of happy ends". And a little later, when leaving the room " it's like a bad American movie/picture". Has anybody got the exact English wording ? I'm slightly puzzled at what Vigot is referring to. Is he simply moralising/ disapproving of the fact that Fowler 'freed' Phuong by having his rival murdered ? Then, however, his last remark about 'bad american movies' is strange,as I've never seen one where a happy end is brought about by some rather unheroic assassination. On the other hand... is Vigot supposed to dislike happy ends as usually portrayed in American B or C movies? Hardly. So, what's the twist here ? What sort of (supposedly) 'happy end' does he refer to ?

[–] sjpatejak 17 years ago

I just saw the movie this afternoon. The line, as I remember it, is "I don't like happy endings like old American movies or the newer European ones." My impression is that Vigot and Fowler represent tired and cynical Europeans who don't realize the wonderful things that the can do spirit of wholesome Americans can do in a place like Vietnam (or Iraq for that matter.) The remake has a very different viewpoint, that of tired and cycnical Americans

[–] seamallowance 17 years ago

The "remake" is a lot closer to the novel (that it was based upon) and a lot closer to the historical truth behind the story.

[–] rwsmith29456 12 years ago

I got the impression that Vigot was relating to the 'ending' Fowler thought existed when he could have Phuong again for himself, but the inspector knew the whole story while Fowler didn't.

[–] mandrake62 14 years ago

I think Vigot is being sarcastic about how things resolved for Fowler at least up to the point Phuong rejects him. Fowler allowed himself to be tricked into setting up the American mainly because of his jealousy over Phuong.

Actually, in the book Phuong does go back to Fowler and goes with him to England. So, there was a happy ending for Fowler but haunted with guilt. As for Phuong, a young Vietnamese in her position could not afford to be so righteous. That was the most false and sentimental moment in the film.

[–] 14 years ago

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