Slapstick black comedy about a man (Reynolds) who finds that he hasn't much longer to live and has bungled his attempts at suicide.
Director:
Burt ReynoldsWriter:
Jerry Belson
From metacritic.com
"Bodyguard" star Richard Madden gives us the rundown of his record shattering new show.
Related News
-
The Paradoxes of F.J. Ossang
4 days ago | MUBI -
Banijay Moves Into U.S. Drama With Bunim/Murray & Yellow Bird Jv; Sets Up Three Projects
10 October 2018 | Deadline -
Trailers of the Week: ‘Dark Phoenix,’ ‘Creed II,” ‘Fantastic Beasts’
29 September 2018 | Rolling Stone
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: The End (1978)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
More Like This
Semi-Tough
(1977)
Comedy
|
Romance
|
Sport
Director:
Michael Ritchie
Stars:
Burt Reynolds,
Kris Kristofferson,
Jill Clayburgh
Hooper
(1978)
Action
|
Comedy
Director:
Hal Needham
Stars:
Burt Reynolds,
Jan-Michael Vincent,
Sally Field
Starting Over
(1979)
Comedy
|
Romance
Director:
Alan J. Pakula
Stars:
Burt Reynolds,
Jill Clayburgh,
Candice Bergen
White Lightning
(1973)
Action
|
Drama
|
Crime
Director:
Joseph Sargent
Stars:
Burt Reynolds,
Jennifer Billingsley,
Ned Beatty
Sharky's Machine
(1981)
Action
|
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
Burt Reynolds
Stars:
Burt Reynolds,
Rachel Ward,
Vittorio Gassman
Gator
(1976)
Action
|
Drama
|
Crime
Director:
Burt Reynolds
Stars:
Burt Reynolds,
Jack Weston,
Lauren Hutton
The Longest Yard
(1974)
Comedy
|
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
Robert Aldrich
Stars:
Burt Reynolds,
Eddie Albert,
Ed Lauter
Romance
|
Western
Director:
Richard C. Sarafian
Stars:
Burt Reynolds,
Sarah Miles,
Lee J. Cobb
Comedy
Director:
John G. Avildsen
Stars:
Burt Reynolds,
Art Carney,
Conny Van Dyke
Shamus
(1973)
Action
|
Comedy
|
Crime
Director:
Buzz Kulik
Stars:
Burt Reynolds,
Dyan Cannon,
John P. Ryan
Best Friends
(1982)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Norman Jewison
Stars:
Burt Reynolds,
Goldie Hawn,
Jessica Tandy
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Burt Reynolds | ... | Wendell Sonny Lawson | |
| Dom DeLuise | ... | Marlon Borunki | |
| Sally Field | ... | Mary Ellen | |
| Strother Martin | ... | Dr. Waldo Kling | |
| David Steinberg | ... | Marty Lieberman | |
| Joanne Woodward | ... | Jessica Lawson | |
| Norman Fell | ... | Dr. Samuel Krugman | |
| Myrna Loy | ... | Maureen Lawson | |
| Kristy McNichol | ... | Julie Lawson | |
| Pat O'Brien | ... | Ben Lawson | |
| Robby Benson | ... | Father Dave Benson | |
| Carl Reiner | ... | Dr. James Maneet | |
 |
Louise LeTourneau | ... | Receptionist |
|
|
Bill Ewing | ... | Hearse Driver |
| Robert Rothwell | ... | Limousine Driver | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (22) »
Storyline
Wendell Lawson has only 6 months to live. Not wanting to live his last few months of life waiting for the end, he decides to take his own life. He enlists the help of a humorously delusional mental patient, and the movie chronicles his many unsuccessful attempts to kill himself. Will he ever succeed...? Written by Afterburner <aburner@erols.com>
Plot Keywords:
mistress | mental patient | attempted suicide | slapstick comedy | best friend |Taglines:
Are there laughs before death? See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
10 May 1978 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
A vég See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$3,000,000 (estimated)Gross USA:
$44,917,151, 31 December 1978Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Wendell Sonny Lawson: [a bit confused] "Polish"?
Marlon Borunki: When I was a kid, I was tormented with Polish jokes. Oh, you know, "Who was Poland's Man of the Year?" - Nobody. "How do you sing the Polish ...
[...]
See more »
Written by Paul Williams
Performed by Glen Campbell and Paul Williams
(p) Capitol Records, Inc.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
James Best, who served as associate producer and has a small part as a pacemaker patient, was hired by Burt Reynolds to rewrite the script to make his character more in-depth. See more »Goofs
The end of the movie where Burt is swimming and talking to God, when he goes under water the soles of his trainers change colour when he re-surfaces. See more »Quotes
Marlon Borunki: [Talking about why he strangled his father, which caused him to be put in the mental institution] You know, a lot of doctors have different theories about why I did it: Mother complex. Father complex. Feelings of inferiority. Suppressed rage. But I, and I alone, know the reason that I did it... It was because... he was so Polish!Wendell Sonny Lawson: [a bit confused] "Polish"?
Marlon Borunki: When I was a kid, I was tormented with Polish jokes. Oh, you know, "Who was Poland's Man of the Year?" - Nobody. "How do you sing the Polish ...
[...]
See more »
Alternate Versions
The original theatrical version had Glen Campbell singing the movie's theme, "Here's Another Fine Mess", but later prints had Paul Williams singing the song. The Campbell version is restored on the current TV versions and the Olive Films Blu-Ray. See more »Soundtracks
Another Fine MessWritten by Paul Williams
Performed by Glen Campbell and Paul Williams
(p) Capitol Records, Inc.
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
Explore popular and recently added TV series available to stream now with Prime Video.
This is a seriously black comedy which, although it contains a fair bit of slapstick, also features some of the most subtle comedic touches I've seen in a film. Little things which may be missed on a first or casual viewing can delight a dedicated fan of 70s comedy.
I've been a fan of this film since I came across it by accident as a teenager and now as I approach forty, it hasn't lost any of its delights for me and I was lucky enough to pick up an old second hand copy of the video so I can sit back and watch it if I'm ever in need of a good laugh.
Do yourself a favour and watch this film.