MovieChat Forums > The Killers (1946) Discussion > Question about ending (Spoilers)

Question about ending (Spoilers)

posted 16 years ago by kathyselden
6 replies | jump to latest

I've been wondering, did Colfax know about Kitty's plan to take the money? If so, was it HIS idea or hers? At first I always assumed they were in on the scheme together, but the look on Colfax's face when Reardon told him that Kitty had been with The Swede in Atlantic City has given me some doubts...

Also, if Colfax did know about the plan (which he probably did) then that means he essentially pimped her out to Anderson: how the hell did they get THAT past the censors in 1946?

Fiddle-dee-dee!

[–] kathyselden 16 years ago

Bump

Fiddle-dee-dee!

[–] PinstripeWillie 16 years ago

My interpretation of the twist was that Colfax indeed set up the plot. He knew the Swede was in love Kitty and used it against him. As far as Dum-Dum and Blinky were concerned, the Swede double crossed all of them. Which is why after Dum-Dum spoke with Reardon he put two and two together after hearing about Kitty and the Swede in Atlantic city. When the police showed up at Colfax's mansion they found Dum-Dum in a gun fight with Colfax.

Whether you can say Kitty was being "pimped" it's hard to say. No sex was ever shown and older movies have a nice way of insinuating things that are never shown. Unlike today's films where the audience NEEDS that sex to even know that it happened. Reminds me of The Big Sleep (also in '46) where Bogart goes into a back room with a woman after some witty banter and it time lapses and he leaves with his tie somewhat loose. Audiences of today would never assume that they had sex, but I've read many interpretations that they do.

Would the Owner of an Ounce of Dignity Please Contact the Mall Security?

[–] kathyselden 16 years ago

I think there's very little doubt about whther Kitty and Ole had sex. It's obviously not shown in the movie, but it's definitely hinted at. Why would he and Kitty be sleeping the same hotel room, on the same bed (I'm pretty sure there was only one bed in the room that Ole tried to kill himself in), and not have sex? I thnk there's more evidence in the movie to suggest that they did than didn't. I read in Lee Server's book on Ava Gardner that the censors thought the movie was too explicit aout the nature of Kitty and Ole's relationship. I just wonder how the director managed to release the film as it is in 1946!

Fiddle-dee-dee!

[–] AliciaHuberman59 15 years ago

He did, indeed, pimp her out, as you say. Hot stuff, for 1946. Didn't Server's book also mention deleted scenes that hinted at a slightly S&M relationship between either Kitty and The Swede or Kittly and Colfax?

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6544) 5 years ago

Hadn't Kitty actually been with the Swede earlier, until her previous boyfriend was released from jail? And then she went back to him. I think at one point the Swede asks her why she had done this? So it's really just a renewal of a previous relationship for them.

[–] Stratego (31081) 2 years ago

Uhm, yes, they were both in on it. It's implied Colfax set the boarding house on fire while she went to tell the others the location had changed.

Personally, I think it was her idea since she knew how much The Swede was into her.