October 26, 2007
Let’s Try It This Way…
How many times have you watched a favorite movie or television series, or read a book and thought, ‘hmmm…I think I might’ve changed this, or done that, or ended it another way?’
I do it. I do it a lot. And I know I’m not alone in this.
I’ve listed a few examples of movies below for which the directors filmed alternate endings. I was surprised to find that I PREFERRED the alternate ending in most cases. What do you think?
FATAL ATTRACTION—The crazed Glenn Close character commits suicide, but frames ex-lover Michael Douglas first, so it appears he murdered her. Yum.
SUSPICION—following the famous ‘glowing milk’ scene (Hitchcock secreted a light bulb in the liquid), Joan Fontaine’s smitten character was to realize that the milk her husband had dished up WAS poisoned —and she drinks it anyway.
THE FUGITIVE—not the movie, the old series, starring David Janssen. The final episode was one of the three highest rated in television history, with Dr. Kimble proving his innocence and walking into the sunset, a free man. Janssen, however, wanted a slightly different ending. He wanted Dr. Kimble to somehow prove that a one-armed man had certainly done the murder…and after being exonerated, Kimble would return home, a free man…and unscrew his own false arm. Yessss!
SEX AND THE CITY—filmed three different endings, each with Carrie ending up with a different man.
Do you have a favorite film or novel whose ending you’d love to change? Which one, and how would you end it?



good question . . .
The only movie I can remember right this second w/ the alternate endings was Suicide Kings (probably one of the first movies that had that)
The Fugitive…funny taht reminds me of a Harrison Ford movie–the one with Bonnie Bedelia where she killed his lover and (I think) he got charged with the murder and got off and didn’t find out hit was his wife until after. Funny because Harrison Ford was in the remake of the movie The Fugitive.
I’d love to see Star Wars with Luke and Lea not being brother and sister
and that last Sandra Bullock movie could have DEFINITELY used an alternate ending 
Ames, that Harrison Ford movie was called “Presumed Innocent”. I remember it—it was good!
I was just thinking of “Rosemary’s Baby”.
I always thought Rosemary should’ve turned…killed that conniving s.o.b. husband of hers and taken control of the coven.
But I’m funny that way…
LOL usually I’d remake movies with happier endings. Like Pitch Black. The woman wouldn’t have died.
Oddly enough, I wouldn’t change the ending to Casablanca. That one would be left as is.
Richard wouldn’t die in Somewhere In Time. He’d be able to go back to Elise and they’d LIVE happily ever after.
Mechele, I agree about the Casablanca ending.
It should be left untouched.
When dh was deployed, he took both versions of THE ITALIAN JOB with him. Now, I happen to adore the old one. The ending is, literally, a cliff-hanger. Couldn’t be better! I usually prefer movies with closure, but this one was just too funny. The new one is a fun film, but bears almost no resemblance to the old one.
Same with OCEAN’S ELEVEN. Love, love, love the old version. The ending is just perfect. Bittersweet, with a kind of shocked laugh. The new one — with HEA — eh.
I totally would have changed the ending of THE DEPARTED. I hate movies where everyone dies. Hate ‘em.
Sela! that’s why I hated the Sandra Bullock movie…it was sad and twisted and cliff hangery…..I HATED the Departed too and up until the end I really enjoyed it