MovieChat Forums > The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) Discussion > Did Gil really love Cecilia?

Did Gil really love Cecilia?

posted 19 years ago by dianax007
55 replies | jump to latest

We watched this movie last week in my film class and my professor asked the class the question "Did Gil really love Cecilia?" She said there was an answer in the way the film was made. The class had mixed reactions but we didn't know what she was talking about since we were all amateurs.

But the answer is yes, he did really love her.. and here's why:
When they're in the music store, they start to recite lines from one of his movies. She says something along the lines of "If you must go, don't look back." Cut to the end of the movie when Cecilia is outside of the theatre and she turns to the right I believe. This scene then goes to Gil on the airplane. He turns to the left (so it looks like they turned towards each other). He looked back. He really did love her.

[–] tyrexden 11 years ago

i didn't notice that... well, actually i did subconciously, though wasn't aware the looking at each other was by intent.

But, he clearly looked sad on the plane, so i figured he loved her. I got the gist the producers forced him back to Hollywood, and he went along with them without a fight. He was always so worried about his career, he felt it was the smart move.

[–] elisedfr 11 years ago

I think he liked her and was ultimately feeling guilty and ashamed for dumping her (the airplane scene). But love ? He was basically a selfish man. HIs career mattered to him a lot. With Cecilia around, a complete unknown mixed in a strange cotroversy about his character, it could have threatened his public image and his future...If he really had loved her, he would have waited for her or came back.
Jeff Daniels gives a great dual performance. His Baxter is clear as crystal, good, sweet and reliable. While Gil is really an actor all the time. Even when he appears charming, there's something strained and phony about him.

" You ain't running this place, Bert, WILLIAMS is!" Sgt Harris

[–] maxtshea 10 years ago

I saw TPROC in the theater and maybe two other times in the 29 years since...wow, time flies...and then I saw it again this weekend. Each of the four or five times I've seen the picture, I thought Gil was going to be waiting at the theater for Cecelia at the end. I know a lot of people were pushing Woody Allen to tack on a happy ending, but I'm glad he didn't. Hollywood has enough happy endings. I like an ending that's bitter and hard to swallow sometimes. Anyway, at least Cecelia gets to enjoy the Fred Astaire picture!

[–] Lancer01 9 years ago

im not a fan of hollywood happy endings either but i think it would have worked here. it would have played to the 1930s movie theme where there was always a happy ending in those movies, especially during the depression. but i liked it nonetheless. :)