hka-3 says > it's too predictable.
I don't think the movie is predictable at all. For one thing, it’s categorized as a comedy which usually means a happy ending. The end of this movie is hardly happy or comedic. The expected thing would be for them to somehow end up together. Either Ann runs off with Joe, choosing love over duty; or he turns out to be a prince in secret or has enough royal lineages that make him a suitable husband for a princess. There are also a number of other directions in which the story could have gone but didn’t. I like the ending as it is; it's sad but realistic.
I like how this screenplay accomplishes a lot in the final scene by giving Anne fairly enough reason to believe Joe and Irving won't betray her "faith in relations between people." After she and Joe part ways she'll have even more proof when she sees that they didn't publish photos or details about her holiday.
I saw this scene differently because I don't feel she has to 'wait and see' what will happen. She knows before leaving the room that they won't publish the story and pictures. She already knows that without a doubt before she walks out of that room. Here’s why:
When Ann walks into the press conference and spots Joe in the group of journalists, she tenses up. He's looking right at her and is not surprised to see who she is. It can only mean one thing; she's been scammed. He's been playing her for a story. As she answers the question about her ‘illness’ she can't help but wonder if she'll soon be revealed as a fraud.
She goes off script in answering the next question; using it as an opportunity to speak directly to Joe. When she says, 'she has faith in the relationships between people', she's speaking directly to him, even looking at him. It's her way of saying she hopes she can trust him; that he won't betray her. All her 'handlers' are confused by this statement and look in his direction. I don't know if they know who he is or because that's the direction she's looking.
He gets what she's saying and immediately reassures her by saying something equally generic that others won't get but specific enough that she'll understand. He assures her he will not betray her trust. She's happy and thinks she's off the hook.
Again, off script from what her handlers want her to say, she says Rome was her favorite leg of the tour. A reporter follows up asking if that's true despite having been sick the whole time there. This time, she answers confidently knowing her secret is safe. She and Joe have had a conversation with everyone in the room listening in but, with the exception of Irving, have no idea what they’re talking about.
Almost as soon as she's able to breathe a sigh of relief, Irving steps forward with the other photographers and takes pictures with his lighter-camera. She's once again thrown. She changes the script again saying she'd like to meet the news people. This gives her a chance to get up close and personal with Joe but it turns out to also be a good opportunity for Irv to give her the pictures he's taken. Now she knows she's scot-free but at the same time it's sad because it marks the end of their time together.
I think Irving realized how much Joe had grown to care for Anne and was affected by that enough to respect Joe (and Anne's) wishes of keeping details of her holiday private. Maybe it was more common for people to be able to practice discretion back then.
Though theirs was a different relationship from Ann and Joe’s, Ann and Irving shared some bonding experiences too. He still saw her as fair game but Joe’s decision to scrap the story helped him begin to understand what a violation of her trust that would be. Besides, Irving saw for himself what a different person she is in her role as princess. The pictures he took showed her having fun but they could may not necessarily be dignified for a princess. They could tarnish her reputation and interfere with her ability to carry out her duties in a respectful manner. I feel Irving's decision has more to do with respect for her than his friendship with Joe.
Reporters today may be able to get away with more but I think reporters have always looked for an angle. If they can slant a story the right way, people will be interested. For instance, Joe could have easily written Ann’s story as an exposé that shows how the spoiled princess selfishly neglected her duties to go have an undignified romp in the streets of Rome or he could write a heart-warming piece about how the young princess, so eager to connect with the people, left behind all the perks of being a princess to spend the day living as a commoner. Today’s reporters might tend to sensationalize stories more because that’s what sells but they’re just as likely to slant it a different way if they feel that is what will attract readers. It’s all about selling the story to the widest audience.
reply
share
hka-3
10 years ago
I don't think the movie is predictable at all.
Please remember to read posts in context. I never said this film is predictable. What I said was predictable was clearly in response to the part I quoted from
emvan regarding a hypothetical ending based on how Hollywood would handle it today.
I saw this scene differently because I don't feel she has to 'wait and see' what will happen. She knows before leaving the room that they won't publish the story and pictures.
I know she doesn't have to "wait and see" as you put it. I implied in my post that she's at least reasonably satisfied that they won't reveal her secret.
Mag, Darling, you're being a bore.
reply
share
mdonln
10 years ago
hka-3 says > Please remember to read posts in context.
I read the subject line and all the posts but I suppose I misunderstood what you were trying to say. Still, I think we see the movie differently. That's okay, it happens.
reply
share