said that the one disappointment in the ending was that they didn't pause to morn the death of John Wayne's dog or his Indian friend Sharpnose. I agree that there should have been some even if only briefly. But that didn't ruin the movie which is a great one indeed and well worth watching. Any other opinions?
shareI agree with you that it is a jarring omission; I suspect it was an editing decision along the lines of those that cut out a lot of Maureen O'Hara who was suspiciously under-used in this picture.
Those who study history are doomed to watch others repeat it.
They didnt mention if the other son who was shot at the begining was going to live or die either.
I have to agree that the movie ended too soon. Big Jake came off like a bit of a jerk. The dog was a bad-ass mofo who tbh spent the movie saving Jake´s ass and he deserved more. The indian was loyal, probably the most honorable character in the movie. Big Jake couldnt care less about those poor bastards and it sort of hurts the movie. Still a great Duke movie and i loved it but it did bother me.
How do you like your brandy, sir?
In a glass.
The writer of this script wrote many episodes of Have Gun- Will Travel, a series in which there was some nod to mourning for the dead. Richard Boone as Paladin delivered many a pithy and poetic epitaph over a dead man.
Perhaps the author did write some acknowledgement which left out of the final cut of the film.
Recently I learned the original cut of this film was an hour and some minutes longer than the theatrical version which was eventually released to the public. Doubtless there was a completely different wrap-up at the end of the film which took into account all the loose ends which bother us about the story.
John Wayne was a much better storyteller than the cut of the film that made it to theaters, believe it.
What you meant is not what you said.
Dog got knifed badly when he attacked Machete Man (MM) for the 2nd time AFTER the strongbox was finally opened by Richard Boone. Dog's squeals/ cries were later heard when he was finally killed by MM during his third ferocious attack on the man in order to save "the boy."
As for (not) knowing of Indian Sam's death, Richard Boone - just before being killed - wondered out loud to Big Jake if "the boy was going to get it" by machete or pistol just like the Indian.
Since we're never told of the death of the son Jeff, it's assumed that he (painfully) lived.
Yes I'm sure I have seen another ending....where they get back to the ranch and Bobby Vinton's character is all bandaged up but alive.
Now I have to go see if it's in the copy I have.
Kathy.....dog mom
[deleted]
we were discussing that under the DOG thread.....he cared about them both but then nothing.....