Looking for more examples of a movie trope
January 22, 2015 9:51 AM Subscribe
This question contains spoilers for two movies, Kiss of Death and Gran Torino -- so I'll put it below the fold.
At the end of Kiss of Death (1947), Victor Mature deliberately sets himself up to be shot and killed by Richard Widmark in such a way that Widmark will be arrested for murder and unable to threaten his family. At the end of Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood does something very similar.
I'm sure Eastwood and his screenwriter had seen Kiss of Death, but are there examples of this plot twist in other movies or media?
Bonus question: did they keep this ending in the '90s remake of KoD with David Caruso?
At the end of Kiss of Death (1947), Victor Mature deliberately sets himself up to be shot and killed by Richard Widmark in such a way that Widmark will be arrested for murder and unable to threaten his family. At the end of Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood does something very similar.
I'm sure Eastwood and his screenwriter had seen Kiss of Death, but are there examples of this plot twist in other movies or media?
Bonus question: did they keep this ending in the '90s remake of KoD with David Caruso?
A couple more appropriate TV tropes pages - The Hero Dies and Heroic Sacrifice.
posted by pintapicasso at 10:06 AM on January 22, 2015
posted by pintapicasso at 10:06 AM on January 22, 2015
There is something of the kind going on in Downton Abbey (minus the heroism) between Mr. Bates and his ex.
She commits suicide by poisoning her food, but circumstances make is seem like he killed her. In typical Downton fashion (or Bates fashion, rather) it's never fully made clear whether she actually framed him, or the whole thing was just a coincidence.
posted by Namlit at 10:13 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
She commits suicide by poisoning her food, but circumstances make is seem like he killed her. In typical Downton fashion (or Bates fashion, rather) it's never fully made clear whether she actually framed him, or the whole thing was just a coincidence.
posted by Namlit at 10:13 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Following pintapicasso's last link, Gran Torino is also listed under Self Sacrifice Scheme.
posted by biffa at 10:14 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by biffa at 10:14 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
True Romance. The scene between Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken.
posted by Sticherbeast at 10:21 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Sticherbeast at 10:21 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's such an insane spoiler that I'm going to blind link it: Click this for spoilers
posted by Rock Steady at 10:23 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Rock Steady at 10:23 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Leave Her to Heaven has a similar plot twist: the main character takes her own life and arranges it to appear as though her sister murdered her. The reason: the main character's husband had fallen in love with the sister.
The 90s remake of "Kiss of Death," btw, does not keep that ending. I don't recall exactly what does happen, but Caruso survives.
posted by holborne at 10:23 AM on January 22, 2015
The 90s remake of "Kiss of Death," btw, does not keep that ending. I don't recall exactly what does happen, but Caruso survives.
posted by holborne at 10:23 AM on January 22, 2015
The Life of David Gale with Kevin Spacey has a convoluted variation on this theme.
posted by umbú at 10:29 AM on January 22, 2015
posted by umbú at 10:29 AM on January 22, 2015
The ending of Breaking Bad, I think, falls under the self-sacrifice scheme (I mean sort of and eventually).
And it's not at the end of Dexter but episode 48 described here is another example, I think with Arthur Mitchell.
posted by Beti at 10:51 AM on January 22, 2015
And it's not at the end of Dexter but episode 48 described here is another example, I think with Arthur Mitchell.
posted by Beti at 10:51 AM on January 22, 2015
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posted by jbickers at 10:01 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]