The Greatest Film Ending of All Time
 

Which film has the greatest ending of all time? I am not looking for a list so much as just one film and the reason why you feel it most deserving.

I would pick Chaplin’s The Circus. The ending is simple and bittersweet – the Little Tramp, selflessly letting go of the girl he loved so that she could be with the one she loved, sits alone in the center of what had been the ring. A scrap of paper – a remnant from the girl’s horseback riding act – is at his feet. The tattered paper with a star in the center represents everything he lost; fame, hope for the future and the girl he loved. He picks it up, crumbles it into a ball, and kicks it backward. Then, the solitary figure, straightening himself up, shakes off his past and walks away from us into the morning light and an uncertain future.

Chaplin, of course, used this image often (and even satirised it in his dark comedy, Monsieur Verdoux) but never was used to such a brilliant effect. Perhaps, the single loneliest image in film and for me, the greatest of all time.

To see clip, click here

By the way, the clip was filmed in Glendale, CA., approx. the spot where Woodrow Wilson Middle School is to-day.

You know my pick, but I do not know yours. Pray tell.

Wow... haven't seen that particuar one, but I was going to nominate a similar silent film starring Lon Chaney - can't remember the film's name, but he plays a thief who pretends to be an armless knife throwing sideshow act, falls in love with a girl who is afraid to be held by a man. He loves her so much, in fact, that he goes to a surgeon to get his arms actually removed lest she discover his ruse, and while he's recovering she gets over it and falls in love with the man she was afraid to be held by. He gives her up and has to live the rest of his life w/out arms.

Night of the Living Dead (original)

Soylent Green, baby!

Okay, not really.

Oh, and Morrigoon is thinking of The Unknown (1927) - The object of Lon's affections? None other than Joan Crawford!

I like the end of "The Searchers", the way they use the doorway and the shadows.

the original Planet of the Apes has a great ending.


I can't call it, or any, the best. But I'd be happy to suggest candidates as they occur to me.

My favorite is still The Godfather. That look of utter horrific realization in Diane Keaton's eyes as the door closes had me utterly stunned.

"Jungle red!"

(^^^ what I was expecting Cherny to say)

Slight tangent, but I oft think of my favorite OPENING to a film: Desperado. Steve Buscemi is bloody brilliant in this opening. Fun film!

Blade Runner (the director's cut), Brazil, Fight Club...

"Nobody's perfect!"

I'm sure I'll catch hell for this one, but Empire Strikes Back.

And I'll add Manos: Hands of Fate. I hardly remember what the ending was, but it doesn't matter because the sight of that movie actually being over was the happiest of my life.

My problem with the ending of Empire is that it's more of a denouement. If the movie had ended with the scene between Luke and Vader... now that's a swell ending. But the whole falling down, hanging in space, saved by Leia, and then testing the new mechanical hand before the actual ending gives me too much time to catch my breath.

LSPE just reminded me:

The Italian Job (the version with Michael Caine) - for one of the best cliffhanger endings in movie history.

LSPE has identified the best closing line ever, and in a movie that features the glorious Del Coronado to boot.

I really like Bruce Campbell's agonized howling at the end of Evil Dead 2, and the similar cry of anguish in the unused ending of Army of Darkness.

I'm with ISM - I'll throw stuff out and see what floats

Citizen Kane - Rosebud
Raiders of the Lost Ark - Big Warehouse
Dr. Strangelove - We'll meet again
2001 A Space Odessy - Star Child



As for openings, I like:

Delicatessen - The Rythym
Contempt (Le Mépris) - Do you like my ankles?

There's a few I can think of, some have already been mentioned.

One that popped into my head was Cinema Paradiso when the grown up Toto views the film Alfredo made for him. Gosh... just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. :)

"Do I have something here?"

Dr. Strangelove is one of my favorite movie endings

Bambi Meets Godzilla

The Sixth Sense. No other movie has taken me so by surprise at the ending. I didn't see it in theatres, I had rented it, and I literally watched the whole thing again immediately after to see if Buce Willis had had any interaction with characters other than the boy (after he was shot, that is).

Suddenly Last Summer
Sunset Boulevard
Hannah and Her Sisters

H just reminded me of the excellent ending to Time Bandits:

"Mom... Dad... it's evil! Don't touch it! Mom? Dad?"

Some Like it Hot, no question IMO (speaking for myself anyway)

Aha, LSPE beat me to it, and Flippyshark, as well...

Most tear-jerking = "Longtime Companion"

This would be my favourite too.

....and I had lunch at the Hotel Del. :p

Animal House.

:D

Ack! You just brought up my least. favorite. film. ever.

The ending of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band - The Movie is a great compilation of RSO recording acts and people of the 70s (and some weird clothes, too).

This thread is making me realize...movie endings apparently don't really stick with me. Nothing's bubbling up. I guess my brain doesn't retain endings so much, at least not in a way that leads to easy recall.

City of Angels - I screamed at the top of my lungs "WHAT THE HELL KIND OF ENDING IS THAT?!?"
The other theater goers weren't amused.

A few -

Sunset Blvd. - "Ready for my close up..." Prob. the most remembered ending in a film.

Superman the Movie - Chris Reeve flying above the earth and just before the roll of the credits he looks into camera, smiles and winks.

Star Trek II the Wrath of Kahn - Spock doing the "Space.. the final frontieer.." speach while the camera pans over the newly created Genisis planet coming to rest on his "casket."

My personal fav. - Somewhere in Time - Christopher Reeve dying of broken heart and going towards the white light where Jane Seymour is waiting for him, with the building music score and all. Wonderful.

Gone with the Wind

Good one.

Casablanca.

Play It Again, Sam: "I'm short enough and ugly enough to succeed on my own. Here's looking at you, kid."

One of my longtime favorite movies. :snap: Mousepod

A beautiful friendship, indeed.

Maltese Falcon "Uh, the stuff that dreams are made of." and the fadeout of Brigid O'Shaughnessey having the elevator grate stand in for ther prison bars soon to enfold her. Terrific.

LOL but that wasn't the end of the movie, only the end of a scene :P

(The ending to "The Women" is with Rosalind Russell asking Norma Shearer : "Mary Haines, don't you have any pride?" to which she responds, "No pride at all. That's a luxury a woman in love can't afford!"). And is a rather silly ending ;)

The Usual Suspects comes to mind

Ooh, I thought of one. 12 Monkeys

I like that one.

Just remembering the ending makes me want to watch the movie again. Good one.

City Lights. For me, no other ending comes close.

Canonball Run (which i think is the first ever ending to have presented 'easter eggs' in the form of bloopers)

Blazing Saddles has a good ending, even if it is the typical "riding off in the sunset" cliche

It's not the ending, but it is close

I still have the soundtrack to that one:)

Ray Stevens baby:cool:



I'd have to say Peter Sellers Being There had the best ending. Although I did like the ending to Ferris Beulers Day Off as well.....the School Bus ride home for Mr. Rooney and then Ferris himself asking the audience why they are still in the theater ..."go home, it's over":snap: :snap: :snap:

I agree with you. I love showing Being There to people who know nothing about it. I think the ending is one of the purest moments of modern cinema. Peter Sellers was arguably never better then in his role as Chance the Gardener. The ending is also a nice counterpoint to the film-ending I choose as the best.

To see the ending, click here

But if you haven't seen the movie, by all means, forget the link and just put it on your Netflix. You'll regret seeing the ending first, trust me.

When my parents first bought a VCR(paid like $900 for it.....in 1980!) the very first movies we rented were Harold and Maude---which has a pretty good ending too---, Breaking Away, My Body Guard,and Being There We watched them all back to back in a row enjoying our new toy. I loved them all but the ending to "Being There" is just so good:D

Speaking of Being There, it also has bloopers running in the end credits, and that was two years before Cannonball Run. Not all prints of Being There had the outtakes. I remember reading that director Hal Ashby preferred they not be included, as they kind of break the spell of that film's poetic ending. All the same, they went over well with the audience I saw that movie with back in '79.

I saw the movie - but I can't remember how 12 monkeys ends

At least he remembers seeing it. I do not.

so.... did the 12 monkeys die or what ?

I've never seen 12 Monkeys, but I've seen the French version. It was based on a French movie, right? I'm not imagining that? If it was based on a French movie, was the ending the same?

That would be Le Douze Minkees

12 Monkeys used La Jetée as a jumping-off point, for sure, but it's an entirely different animal.

I can't for the life of me remember how 12 Monkeys ends either. And I saw it not too long ago. Hmmmm.




Now, Carrie ... that's an ending!

I just thought of one.
The ending of City Lights gets me every time. It's wonderful. The close up shot of Chaplain at the very end is so very amazing. If you haven't seen this movie, see it.
:)

It sort of ends at the beginning- the airport.

A Christmas Story.

Chinese turkey!

The Usual Suspects is my favorite, but I also like the ending of Leon (The Professional). Very bittersweet.

The ending of Ghost Dad. I was so happy when it was over.

Seriously, though, I've been trying to think on this for two days and nothing is jumping to mind. For some reason I have always been more interested in how a filmmaker decides to start a film than how exactly it is ended (it doesn't help that more often than not I think the director waited at least 5 minutes too long to end it, most epilogues should be cut).

Mostly I'm posting because I'm hoping by admitting I can't think of anything that'll clear my brain and suddenly I'll have those "damn it! I should have said..." moments.

I like the ending of Star Wars: A New Hope. Leia presides over Han and Luke's wedding. So touching... a real tear-jerker.
:D

But what happened to the bloody monkeys ????

Heathers: "Heather, my love, there's a new sherrif in town."

Usual Suspects, Ferris Bueller, - I agree
Don't remember 12 Monkeys either, but I know I saw it.

12 Monkeys viewing party at my house!

I love 12 Monkeys - I actually have 12 Monkeys on one of my nametags at work.

Hehe.

I pulled out my Chaplin box set yesterday and watched City Lights again.

Wow. What an ending. I think the last time I watched the movie was in high school. I don't remember being as moved as I was yesterday, sitting alone in the living room with my dogs wondering why I was sniffling.

Thanks for bringing it up, GC.

Yeah, it's the ending of "Some Like It Hot".

It was as affecting last night as when I first heard it in 1991:

"Lowenstein . . . . Lowenstein."