MovieChat Forums > Rope (1948) Discussion > Final Jimmy Stewart Speech

Final Jimmy Stewart Speech

posted 11 years ago by Jantonini
16 replies | jump to latest

After being confronted with the fact that his teachings were the inspiration of the whole murder Jimmy Stewart makes a kind of confusing speech but I think it is really important if you want to look at the weird philosophy side of this movie. My question is, upon hearing all that, does Jimmy Stewart finally realize how flawed his teachings are OR does he feel that his teachings were misconstrued by Gay Ben Affleck.

At one point he says "who were you to think your superior" is he just in denial of his own theories?

[–] Phoenix-Locust 11 years ago

I actually wondered about that too and it left me feeling slightly unsatisfied.
He seemed to contradict his 'beliefs'. Was his philosophy merely a joke, just to wind up the narrow minded? Did he really believe what he taught and if so why was he so disgusted when his teachings actually became a reality? Naturally he would have felt full responsibility for the actions of the murderers but even so I was still confused.

[–] Jantonini 11 years ago

I think he did believe in it and I think at the end he was as unsatisfied and confused as you and I because he saw what it really meant.

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 9 years ago

I think that his theories were a lot of BS. Even the way he strutted his theories during the party, it was obvious that he wasn't being too serious.

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💕 JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen 👍

[–] PKLarkins 10 years ago

I think at that point he did realize that what he'd been teaching was flawed and untenable.

[–] kitschykorner 10 years ago

I think he's taking a lot of blame upon himself for what they did. And maybe realizing that telling those kind of things to impressionable upper-crust boys who think they can do whatever they want isn't such a good thing.

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 10 years ago

I think he realized the flaws in his own theories.

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JimHutton (1934-79) & ElleryQueen

[–] nicolemariejohnston 10 years ago

James Stewart pretty much said in the speech:
"You've twisted my words into meaning for your sick experiment. You make me ashamed of everything I've ever stood by"
So yes, he does change his views, because murder is no longer just a thought he had, it became real. To someone he cared about.

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 9 years ago

In my opinion, a lot of his theories were nothing but talk. He theorized a lot, but he would never have put his theories into action. I think it hit him hard that someone actually acted on his words.

~~
💕 JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen 👍

[–] highlord_leader_apocalypse 10 years ago

The movie is simply weak.

[–] franzkabuki 10 years ago

The movie is weak? F-cking movie is weak? YOU are weak!

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] theallenjohan 9 years ago

Yeah I thought he should have joined in with the guys or something. He talked all that BS theories excitedly and he was mad because someone actually performed it? Sounded very pretentious to me.

Love the film, but the ending put me down.

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My Top Animated: http://www.imdb.com/list/zyDiSPMGtuM/

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 9 years ago

If he really believed what he said about murdering people, then he would have joined in with the guys. I don't think he ever really believed those BS theories of his. I think he just liked to hear the sound of his own voice.

~~
💕 JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen 👍

[–] momur (107) 6 years ago

Brandon even says to Philip that the only reason he didn't invite Rupert to help with the murder is because Rupert wouldn't have joined in - at best, he would have sat and watched. He just thought Rupert would still somehow appreciate the "art" in what they'd done. And in the conversation they all have about the ethics of murder, Rupert's contributions are relatively funny and lighthearted (advocating murder as a solution to waiting in line at the theatre or waiting for a seat at a restaurant etc.); Brandon's the one who clearly takes the whole philosophy 100% seriously and Rupert even seems a little disturbed at how vehemently Brandon defends the theory to Mr Kentley - heck, in his speech at the end, Rupert even says that there's something in him that meant he could never follow through on the theories he spoke about.

[–] Rolltide (964) 3 years ago

Stewart's character loved to intellectually play with people so it is hard to pin down what he really believed. He liked tweaking people.

He was arrogant but his purpose in the film is to show that you can share some of those beliefs but not to the point where you think your life is worth more than others.

[–] Rolltide (964) 3 years ago

The speech almost ruins the film. Right after he says that Brandon gave his words a new twisted meaning he says that he is ashamed of his own words.

Political correctness is not just a modern concept apparently.

[–] TheArgentinian (6512) 6 months ago

Well yeah, it caused people to murder. Do you think Oppenheimer was PC, too?