THE END

US, 1978, 100 minutes, Colour.
Burt Reynolds, Dom De Luise, Sally Field, Strother Martin, Joanne Woodward, Myrna Loy, Pat O' Brien, Carl Reiner, Robby Benson, Norman Fell.
Directed by Burt Reynolds.

The End has been the summary reaction of many reviewers. The film is disappointing - considering Burt Reynolds' ability at offbeat humour (and he is directing here as well as acting), Joanne Woodward's presence and a strong supporting cast including Sally Field and the humorous Dom de Luise. The film is black satiric comedy and the subject terminal illness and death. Anything human can be a laughing matter, and it is worthwhile to experiment with humour about death, about which we may be overly and unrealistically reticent and fearful, but unfortunately, the film as a whole doesn't seem to work. There are certainly funny pieces but, at the end, it is a curiosity item.

1. Interesting, entertaining? The film was not a commercial or critical success despite the stars. their ability at comedy. Why? The film was criticised because of its theme, black comic treatment of death. Is this inappropriate? Was it not successful?

2. The significance and emphasis of the title? Its irony? Background to black comedy of death. illness, suicide? The audience's desire to experience a comedy on these themes? The contrast with the desire to experience a serious film on these themes?

3. How appropriate are jokes about illness. death, suicide? In themselves as joking material. as human experiences which can be joked about? The purpose of this kind of black humour? For a greater sense of realism about these human realities? The importance of good taste? The jolting nature of such humour, potential for offence? The particular conventions of black comedy? Its acceptability?

4. Burt Reynolds and his image., reputation? The hero of genial action comedies? His place in this kind of film - as star, as director? The stars that he had working with him and their reputations, especially that of Joanne Woodward? Audience expectations of their presence in this kind of film?

5. The characteristics of American black humour - the broad style, the use of farce, the tendency to heavy-handedness? For what audience is American black humour designed? Level of appreciation?

6. The film as particularly American - California, colour.. locations, the Californian types? The portrait of families.. businessmen, doctors, priests, lawyers. asylums? The attitudes of the audience towards California - as a place for this kind of black humour? The background of convention and the satire on conventions?


7. Audience identification with and sympathy for Sonny? Burt Reynolds’s style as Sonny? The introduction to his predicament. the way that he handled the news from the doctor, the moving into hysteria and a mad reaction? How well did he communicate to the audience his feelings about his terminal illness? How realistic their response, how contrived - especially for black laughs? The repercussions of the news on him? Fear? The compulsion to talk? His desire to put some kind of order in his life? The way that others handled his news? The character of Sonny in himself, his work in real estate, a Californian, his way of communicating with people? His strengths and weaknesses? An American Everyman of the 70s?

8. The character of the doctor. his deadpan approach, his communication of the news, his feel for Sonny? The satire on the communication of this kind of news to patients? How was this taken up with satire on the medical profession and therapy with the satire on the doctor who wanted to help Sonny with exercises and who dropped dead? (Carl. Reiner and his particular brand of zany satire as appropriate in this kind of film?)

9. The initial encounters of Sonny with people who could help him put his life in order? why the choice of the priest? Such a young priest? The exchange of names, the sympathy of the young priest, his inexperience in handling the situation? The Confession sequence - humour, satire on religion, the value of religion? The priest and his inadequacy of response, his playing with his collar? The curiosity about the sexual sins? Good-natured inadequacy? The contrast with the lawyer and his experience, his inability to say anything practical or helpful for Sonny?

10. The relationship of Sonny and Mary-Ellen? How attractive a girl, her love for Sonny, her being preoccupied with herself? The sexual relationship and the way this was portrayed? Her inability to understand? How supportive of Sonny was she in general, in this predicament? Why did he rely on her?

11. The contrast with Jessica? The background of their marriage, the breaking up, her hard approach to him, her going out with her boyfriend, her new life without him? Her not taking him seriously? Her reappearance after the suicide attempt? How helpful was she? Did he really love her? What did the illness and his imminent death indicate to him about his relationship and life with her?

12. How attractive a character was Julie? As a character, her relationship with her mother, growing up, the presence of her father and his absence? The enjoyable outings, her missing him? Talk, communication, her loving and understanding? The support in his predicament?

13. The significance of the visit to his parents? The contrast with his wife and Mary-Ellen? Their being preoccupied with themselves and not understanding him? Their love for him but taking him for granted? His father and his art and being preoccupied with this? His mother and her chatter and the television? Their not being any help? A satiric glimpse of the older generation - the points being made about them?

14. The black and farcical aspects of the build-up to the suicide attempt? Then its reality? The repercussions for him? The reprisal of his life?

15. The change of mood in the film when he was in the hospital? The background of the asylum. audience reaction to these straitjackets, Jessica's visit to Dr. Kling and his patter about the way that he ran the hospital? The various personnel helping him.. nurses and doctors? His surviving, reaction to waking up, the need to survive? The insanity driving him further towards death?

16. The introduction of Marlon and the growing zaniness and madness of the film? Dom de Luise and his comic styles - appropriate to this kind of film? How funny, how grating? His portrayal of a schizophrenic - the humour of the style of his talking to himself and changing personalities? The wisdom and insight in his madness? His advice to Sonny, his compassion? The farcical nature of helping him with the suicide attempts - the build-up of the car chase and the satire on dramatic car chases in films, the falling out the window, the stabbings? Pushing Sonny towards further escape?

17. How serious was his swimming out into the water. the irony of his not drowning, surviving? Sonny as born to survive? Swimming back? The final confrontation with Marlon and the audience leaving him there? What had been achieved? Did the ending say anything? What did it leave the audience with?

18. Is a black satiric comedy about terminal illness, death and suicide really possible?