MovieChat Forums > Nighthawks (1981) Discussion > Sergio Leone-style ending

Sergio Leone-style ending

posted 18 years ago by h-ahmad-1
4 replies | jump to latest

The climax to Nighthawks slightly reminds me of those Sergio Leone westerns where you see a close-up of the antagonists' faces before one of them draws. That's what you get when Wulfgar and DeSilva face off, the only difference being that Wulfgar has a knife. First, you see a close-up of DeSilva's eyes which show how mean and composed he is, then the camera pans towards Wulfgar's eyes, showing how shocked and eager he is to kill DeSilva. You notice one of his eyes twitching before he tries to stab our hero.

It's actually a nice homage to spaghetti western endings, even though it is a thriller.

[–] Lucabar80 18 years ago

The duel you are talking about is very similar to western's duels because we can see the main characters challenge theirselves but the atmospheres are very different,we pass from desert to a snow covered town like New York.
I like your analysis about Da Silva and Wulfgar,actually Wulfgar is very shocked when discovering the truth,his mood passes from security and power(we must remember his face when arrives close to Da silva believing that was his wife)to fear,shock and a situation of impotence(he realizes he will die soon and for him the game is over).

[–] h-ahmad-1 18 years ago

I am wondering if this partcular ending was tagged on. I know David Shaber is credited for writing the script, but I wonder if someone like Stallone may have written the ending where DeSilva finally dispatches Wulfgar.

The reason I ask is because originally, Dirty Harry was supposed to end with Scorpio being taken out by police marksmen as he came to the airport, but Clint Eastwood suggested the actual ending with Harry chasing, then killing Scorpio.

I have a slight feeling that maybe Nighthawks was supposed to end with either Wulfgar being shot by the ATAC marksmen as he entered the bus or driving his bus into the river, making it uncertain whether or not he is dead.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Lucabar80 18 years ago

I believe this movie is one of the best police story I have ever seen.
I am a fan of DIRTY HARRY and another movie I would advise is INTERNAL AFFAIR
for those who love this kind of movies.