Carbon Copy - Clarification of ending - Carbon Copy (1981) Discussion

[–] leczorn 18 years ago

I don't think you're missing any hidden point. I think that as the movie progresses, it's obvious that Walter regrets leaving Roger's mother and when he decides to leave his wife and start a new life with his long lost son, he's trying to redeem himself. And now that he is starting that new life with Roger, it's easier for him to think back to his relationship with his mother without painful memories. That's my interpretation of it.

I hope you enjoy the movie. I think it's vastly underrated. I don't understand it's low rating at all. I gave it a much higher rating in my review.

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[–] rubes1 18 years ago

I think that there is a possibility Lorainne is actually alive. Why? Because Roger said, "Mom would want you to have this" & not "Mom would have wanted you to have this." But then again, if she were alive, he'd say, "Mom wants you to have this." But the look on Roger's face when he tells his father is like as if he's trying to tell him something more...

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[–] Byronik 18 years ago

Did you forget that Denzel Washington refers to his mother's death when he gives George Segal the old cardboard box that contains his belongings?

http://byronik.com

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[–] fallingforstars 18 years ago

I acknowledge that Roger's mother has died but that still doesn't explain the looks on BOTH their faces. Walter's expression of puzzlement and Roger's look of 'has he twigged the con yet?'. If we had been told earlier on in the picture that Walter's dobro had been recently purchased then we would have had a clear indication that it's all been a con as the dobro appears in the photo.

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[–] yray 18 years ago

I just watched the movie for the 1st time today. I had to rewind the part back a couple of times. I was wondering why he looked @ the picture so strangely. @first I thought that he didn't recognize the person on the picture, but it was clearly him in the picture. He even had his little guitar. I thought maybe they laughing about how Roger acted like he didn't even know what it was. I have no clue really. If I ever met Denzel, I will ask him.

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[–] fallingforstars 18 years ago

Thanks for your input yray. I have no copy of this film for further study of the ending but if you freeze frame it just exactly who is in the photograph? We know Walter and Roger's mum is in it but is anyone else? Is she holding Roger as a baby? If she isn't could Roger have taken the photo? (which to judge by Walter's reaction, jogged his memory into thinking that Roger couldn't be his son and so the whole thing was a scam!). I think I may be looking too deeply into this, but things which leave an element of doubt can be quite irritating.

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[–] reyna_loca 18 years ago

I just watched this on television, and I was confused by that ending too. The father had a look on his face like he just realized it was all a big prank or something. And is it me, or did the woman in the picture look like a mannequin? That ending was really odd.

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[–] fallingforstars 18 years ago

I'm gonna check that out Reyna as soon as possible now that I have just purchased the dvd. Does any one else have any views on this?

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[–] KAnnD86 18 years ago

I just watched this movie and at first, I thought the photo was going to be of a different woman, like the whole thing was a big mistake. But obviously that doesn't make sense and isn't what happened.

I think someone further up this thread had it right. The fancy little guitar Walter was so protective of was in the photo, right? Roger probably knew what it was all along and that's why they both got that look on their face. I know that's kind of a dumb way to end the movie, but it's as good an explanation as any.

Tomorrow's just your future yesterday!

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[–] curtin_parloe 17 years ago

I just finished watching it and came on here. It seems clear to me that there's no hidden agenda. We know Walter didn't know about Roger, so it stands to reason Roger didn't know about the Dobro. It does show why Walter keeps his guitar, it's a symbolic link to the relationship that is revealed at the end. Earlier in the film Walter mentions that he doesn't even remember what Lorraine looked like. Once he's overcome his institutionalised racism and accepted Roger for who he is, Roger then demonstrates his acceptance of Walter by giving him the photo. Walter's reaction is joy at remembering her again.
I suspect George Segal made it more confusing by his uneven performance.

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[–] TeaBunny 16 years ago

Yes, I think Walter thinks it will be a picture of just Lorraine, but when it's a pic of both of them he is pleased. His acting wasn't that great though, to convey that emotion.

------------------------
"Love means never having to say you're ugly." - the Abominable Dr. Phibes

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[–] LaurieMann 15 years ago

This movie was on TV just last night, but I only saw it from the time Roger meets Walter until Roger recovers his car.

The script tries desperately to send-up racist attitudes circa 1980. However, particularly in southern California, I have trouble believing that absolutely everyone was a racist, and that Walter was just an opportunist. If Walter was really as good at his job as he was supposed to be, I have trouble believing that some other company wouldn't grab him to work for them. Except in that "jive talking" scene when Roger meets Walter, I thought Denzel Washington was much better than George Segal, who seemed to be reciting lines rather than giving a performance.

I thought it was pretty clear relatively early that Walter regretted dumping Lorraine for financial security.

It probably would have been a funnier movie if the satire had been a little broader. It was really very awkward, and I had to stop watching it after a while.

One of the fascinating things about this movie now is that Barack Obama would have been about the same age as Roger when the movie came out. I wonder if he ever saw that movie, and what he thought about it?

Laurie Mann
The Road News and Rumors
http://www.theroadrumors.com/

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[–] Calinks 15 years ago

Man, I am sitting here drinking my water, late night in my room and you people have me cracking up. I just spurted a bunch of water all over my bed laughing at some of these theories. I can definitely see why people are confused at the end, I was a little confused as well, but some of these theories seem so funny to me. It would be stupid and messed up but it being a big scam is kind of hilarious. The notion that Walter would be laughing it up and smiling after he found out that he had been completely screwed out of his life would be ridiculous.

I lost it at the mannequin theory. Like Roger somehow screwed him and then gave him the ultimate slap in the face by giving Roger a photo shopped picture of a mannequin. LMAO! Hahah, just think about that for a minute. Someone else asked if maybe Roger was the one to take the picture in the first place...?? How the hell could a 17 year old boy take a picture before he was born? LOL, even if it was him that would be a cold piece of work. Man, I'm laughing way to much over this but I it just strikes me as SO funny. This is a good night!

"Cool will get ya dead." -Former NBA Power Forward, Karl Malone

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[–] MrsMonroe74 15 years ago

^ lol yeah the mannequin theory is kind of lame.

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[–] AccidntlTourist 11 years ago

Thank you Curtin_Parloe. I think yours it the most logical explanation.

I suppose directors sometimes like to have a little ambiguity in the endings - to stir up reactions, but if that's the case here it was surely more sabotage than success. I tend to think this ending was just plain poorly executed (and I almost always blame the director for this sort of thing; a seasoned pro like Segal could have given the director whatever he wanted).

I've read all the replies up to this point and, IMO, no one explains just what it is about the photo that proves there was a setup.

But, as of yet, I'm still open to a better explanation.

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[–] liquidbabydoll-391-515328 10 years ago

@ curtin parloe
You have the same ideas as me.
Earlier Walter did say he didn't even remember what Lorraine looked like. Walter also told the black lawyer he only saw the color black when he saw Roger, his son. I think when he saw the old picture , it refreshed his memory of Lorraine and made him see past just color for both Lorraine and Roger.
He probably also saw the resemblance in mother and son.

I also agree with you on that Walter's shock/surprised look confuses some people , especially ones that are looking for a sudden plot twist, like mistaken identity.

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[–] ellbad 14 years ago

I just watched the end of movie and I think Walter realized that Roger knew all along that his mother and Walter were really in love and a couple and that there was never any doubt on Roger's part - Walter just had to prove it. And, I agree with everyone that it appeared Walter thought that it wasn't him in the picture and he'd been duped - but the bond is already there, so it didn't matter. After seeing the guitar in the picture, I believe that it was just a simple acknowledgement that Roger knew all along that his mother and Walter had been in love.

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[–] RobBase086-1 14 years ago

I just saw this movie for the first time in I do not know how many years now. I think the last time I saw this on cable TV was back in the late 80's or early 90's to be honest with you. I just watched it last night on TMC. It is a very good movie to watch.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! www.deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

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[–] aliensatemybuick 14 years ago

A previous poster hit the nail on the head - Walter mentioned earlier in the movie that he could not recall what Lorraine even looked like, that he knew they had good times together, but couldn't recall exactly what good times (or something to that effect). I think he blotted much of her out of his life as a coping mechanism to deal with his shame over the way he treated her (which I think is what most people do - they don't like being reminded of what a SH*T they can be).

I thought Segal's reaction as acted was perfect - he was STUNNED at first to see that photo, to see the woman he once loved for the first time in over two decades, and how happy he was in those days. After he got over his initial reaction, his emotions turned to joy. The huge grin on Walter's facer seems genuine to me, and even a bit infectious. How often do we experience such joy that we smile like that?

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[–] RobBase086-1 14 years ago

It is not that often that we get joy like that to where we smile. It was great to see how well George Segal's character reacted when he found out about his son. I loved it! I think this is a classic to watch to be honest with you.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! www.deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

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[–] jlmoses06 14 years ago

I also agree that Walter's reaction was one of joy. Earlier in the movie when he was speaking with his friend/attorney he had commented that he forgot what Lorraine looked like and that the reason for it was that he had basically supressed all of his feelings about her when he began his career in California. It's really a sad story if you think about it in those terms. By showing Walter the picture of him and Lorraine together; it triggered many of those happy memories and connections that they had togethe and you can see it in the smile that he has.

I wonder who the lady in the picture was. She was very pretty:-)

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[–] RobBase086-1 14 years ago

You are correct about that because if you look at what has happened over the years now more and more people are accepting of different racial marriages now. He did seem very happy to hear he had a son.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! www.deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

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[–] calderone1921 13 years ago

OMG--It was meant to be a happy ending,but the makers of this film didnt really convey it well enough.It was a really good movie,but they didnt need to make it vague at the end,as proved by all the opinions on this thread. As far as im concerned,his mother was still actually alive,and that was the only part that he scammed him on. But a very,very pleasant scam, and they all go on to live happily ever after.............

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[–] RobBase086-1 13 years ago

Yes that was the plans for the movie was to end happy and not unhappy at all. Yes Denzel Washingtons character did con his father at the end of the movie but the main thing is that it ended happy though.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans! www.usaupallnight.webs.com/

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[–] sweetmelody 13 years ago

It's on right now here on KOCO in Oklahoma City. I thought Lorraine was really alive was the point of those pointed looks at the end. In the first scene between Walter and Roger, Roger pointedly refers to his mother as "gone" rather than dead.

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[–] RobBase086-1 13 years ago

COOL That it was on KOCO right now in Oklahoma City. She possibly could be alive. They never really said if she was or not. If they had came out with a sequel a couple of years later or so about Lorraine being alive it would help in answer the questions though. Basically I think it was a con job by Roger to see his father which I understand and totally agree about it.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans! www.usaupallnight.webs.com/

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[–] Furious77 10 years ago

This is the best evaluation of the ending I have read, and thanks for sharing. I like the movie even more with your insight, which is not just pleasing to hear, but I believe accurate.

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[–] jejozi 11 years ago

I just watched that scene, and it didn't look like skepticism, but more of a rueful regret. Kind like a flash of "what it".

This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.

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[–] Devans00 9 years ago

Here's a screenshot I took of the photo of Lorraine Porter and Walter Whitney as students. Lorraine was as cute as a button, no wonder Walter never got over her.

http://imgur.com/vtT02dw

I also think the look on Walter's face meant he enjoyed the memories that came back to him after looking at the photo. The Dobro steel guitar was to convince us that Lorraine and Walter did in fact know each other.

I think Lorraine did die because I doubt Roger thought he could meet his father for the first time AND bring him back to his living mother. Remember, he was smart enough to graduate high school early and go to college on scholarship.

I'm not convinced that the racism in the movie was that exaggerated. Some of the clues include Mr. Longhurst convincing Walter to change from a Jewish name. Vivian firing the old maid because she didn't show enough gratefulness for being a servant. Doesn't sound to me like very enlightened people. Of course they would socialize with people just like them, without the opportunity to every see any other point of view.

I thought it was pretty realistic that Walter wasn't able to easily pick up another job with one of his friends after Longhurst and his daughter basically black balled him. Shows what a joke the concept of "meritocracy" is in the business world. At least at the top layer. It's pretty much a closed circle of people who know each other socially. People get in by birth, marriage or school contacts. I guess some get in by knowing someone already in but it's not generally open to the public.

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

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