MovieChat Forums > Helter Skelter (1976) Discussion > The Ending?

The Ending?

posted 13 years ago by Theodor_Birch
7 replies | jump to latest

Being a Manson... fan? Connoisseur? Enthusiast? ... I have for a long time watched, read and listened to everything Manson. It's become a bit of an obsession. But I watched this movie for the first time today, and though it was great, just the right length and mix of docu and drama, and even though Manson was portrayed poorly, it was well-done.

But the ending was a joke!
Sure, Manson IS pathetic, he did do it all for fame and glory and a feeling of belonging, sure he needs jail like you need cocaine, sure he is not as powerful or influential as he'd like, but he would never admit to that like that. The way Manson almost cried at the end... so much remorse... that is just a Hollywood dream, a fantasy, a "happy ending".

Did anyone else find that ending awful?

[–] bredlau3 13 years ago

I don't remember him almost crying at the end.

[–] StaunchWoman 13 years ago

I don't recall any tears or looks of remorse.

We've met before, haven't we?

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] bredlau3 13 years ago

Yeah..what remorse? I am not sure we are talking about the same movie here.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] hoyo-mont 12 years ago

Remember, this was a made-for-TV movie. The ending was somewhat simplistic and moralizing. Bugliosi, the good guy, delivers a stinging put-down of Manson, the bad guy, and Manson is left in shame.

The lines Bugliosi say happen to be absolutely true in my opinion, but you're right, it's just a Hollywood/TV ending. But that goes for much of this film, and it's not a surprise that they cut corners and simplify things for a tv movie. It takes a really great film maker to make a different ending (think "Taxi Driver") and it definitely wouldnt be made for tv.

The book is so much more fascinating and totally bizarre.

[–] ActorMan22 12 years ago

Are you fascinated by Manson like some people are fascinated by Hitler? Pure evil IS interesting, but your statement that Manson would never feel remorse or cry (he did neither in the movie) sounds a LITTLE like admiration. I'm just saying.