The End (1978)

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 Reynolds

Writer:

Jerry Belson

Stars:

Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Dom DeLuise

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

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...?

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Plot Keywords:

mistress | mental patient | attempted suicide | slapstick comedy | best friend | 

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Taglines:

A comedy for you and your next of kin.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 May 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

A vég

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$44,917,151, 31 December 1978

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gordon-Reynolds Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Second theatrical feature movie directed by Burt Reynolds.

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Goofs

During the landscape truck getaway Sonny and Marlon drive through a construction zone, up a trailer/ramp and perform a jump. Cut scenes during the jump alternately show Marlon in the truck bed holding-on a frame rail and no one in the truck bed.

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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 ...
[...]

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Connections

References Love Story (1970)

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Soundtracks

Another Fine Mess
Written by Paul Williams
Performed by Glen Campbell and Paul Williams
(p) Capitol Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Burt's show but Dom steals it

"The End" is a black comedy that should have been even darker. Had it been I think it would have been regarded as a classic. Burt Reynolds stars as a man who finds out he's dying and decides he's going to kill himself. After a lackluster start where Burt sees his parents, his daughter, etc., he goes into action. And that's when the film buckles down and takes control for the last half.

After a failed suicide attempt Burt is placed in a mental hospital where he meets fellow patient Dom DeLuise, who is as nutty as a loon. Dom decides to help Burt fulfill his dream of suicide and the laughs keep coming. Dom is so good in this film that we really miss him every time he's off screen. Burt is good in the film and has a classic moment at the end when delivers an impassioned soliloquy to God. That is worth the price of admission (or video rental), if you see it in its un-cut form.