I feel cheated. An unbelievably star-studded set of characters goes through an exciting mob war but, but, but it doesn't end like it should. Can't believe I never came across this movie before, thank you TCM.
It deserves a serious remake. That would be Cool!
Unfortunately, the reason it ends this way in the movie is because the original John McPartland novel ends that way...if you liked the movie, I suggest the novel because it helps answer some questions that the movie leaves unresolved.
shareI must have seen this movie some 35 years ago or more,when I was quite too young to do so. I stil remember that surprising, chilling ending.
shareGood to know that because I would have guessed that the movie ran out of money and the producers said to just wrap it up quickly. If the novel really ends that way - and the novel is reasonably good - then I'd say someone really screwed up on the movie.
If you say the novel helps answer some questions, then I would hope it would answer these:
What could possibly have changed Giordano from revered Mafia kingpin to glorified errand boy? We see someone who's a self-made, independent non-conformist transformed into a virtual automaton. The whole film would have been a lot more believable if they'd have just skipped the Italian countryside scenes at the beginning. (Not better, just more believable.)
What motivated the (new) Johnny Cool? Loyalty to the senior JC? If so, what could have engendered that loyalty?
At some point (after the little talk with Mort Sahl?) does he indeed come to the realization that he's just being used? What motivates him after that - the promise of incredible riches? Was that ever what he really cared about? (Apparently so, since he was evidently planning the death of the senior JC.) The beginning of the film suggested he was a man with loftier ambitions, like helping his poor countrymen.
Does the book also end on a note of impending doom for Johnny?
Badgers? We don't need no stinkin' badgers! But if you could show us something in a nice possum...
I agree with Doug. Even if that is the ending of the novel, that doesn't mean they had to stick with it. The movie is tremendously entertaining until there, but the ending is just too 'pat', even if it is dark.
And apropos of nothing, the Elizabeth Montgomery elements date very badly.
I agree with Doug. Even if that is the ending of the novel, that doesn't mean they had to stick with it. The movie is tremendously entertaining until there, but the ending is just too 'pat', even if it is dark.
And apropos of nothing, the Elizabeth Montgomery elements date very badly.