Burt Reynolds was at the absolute peak of his "Smokey" fame in 1978. He could basically greenlight anything. So, what did he choose? A movie about a guy trying to kill himself. Yeah. Seriously.
The movie is called The End, and if you’ve never seen it, you’re in for a weird ride. It’s a black comedy that tries to find the humor in a terminal diagnosis. Most actors would have played it safe with another car-chase flick, but Burt wanted to prove he could direct something with "substance." Honestly, it’s one of the most polarizing things he ever did. Some people think it’s a misunderstood masterpiece. Others think it’s a tasteless mess.
What Really Happens in The End?
The setup is pretty grim for a "comedy." Burt plays Sonny Lawson, a guy who finds out he has a terminal blood disease. He’s got maybe six months to live. Instead of doing a bucket list or going to Hawaii, Sonny decides to check out early. The problem? He’s absolutely terrible at committing suicide.
He tries the pill route. Fails. He ends up in a mental institution, which is where the movie shifts gears from a depressing drama into a full-blown buddy comedy. This is where we meet Marlon Borunki, played by the legendary Dom DeLuise. Marlon is a schizophrenic who’s in the facility for murder, and Sonny convinces him to help him "finish the job."
It sounds dark. It is. But the chemistry between Burt and Dom is what saves it. They had this shorthand—this weird, frantic energy—that you just don't see in modern movies. You can tell they were best friends in real life. They’re constantly ad-libbing, stepping on each other's lines, and basically just trying to make the other one crack up.
👉 See also: Getting the Most Out of the FXM TV Schedule Today: What You Need to Know
A Cast That Makes No Sense (In a Good Way)
One of the coolest things about The End movie Burt Reynolds directed is the supporting cast. It’s like Burt just called everyone in his Rolodex.
- Sally Field: She plays his girlfriend, Mary Ellen. At the time, she and Burt were actually dating, which adds a weird layer of reality to their scenes.
- Kristy McNichol: She plays his daughter, and their scene together in the park is surprisingly touching. It’s the one moment where the movie actually slows down and feels real.
- Robby Benson: He’s a young, incredibly earnest priest who hears Sonny’s confession. It’s hilarious because Sonny keeps calling him "Dave" instead of "Father."
- Old Hollywood Royalty: You’ve got Myrna Loy and Pat O’Brien playing Sonny’s parents. It’s such a bizarre flex to have these legends in a movie about a guy failing to drown himself.
The Directorial Style: Why It Felt Different
Burt didn't direct this like a standard Hollywood blockbuster. He actually talked about being influenced by European directors. He used a ton of close-ups. Like, uncomfortable close-ups. He wanted the audience to feel the "suffocation" Sonny was feeling.
The pacing is wild. It’ll be a somber scene about mortality one minute, and then a chaotic car chase through an asylum the next. Critics at the time hated this. They thought the tone was all over the place. Vincent Canby from the New York Times basically said Burt didn't know what kind of movie he was making.
👉 See also: Who is Gypsy in The Flash? Why Cynthia Reynolds Deserved Better
But looking back? That’s kind of the point. Life is messy. One second you’re crying about your own death, and the next you’re being chased by a gardener in a truck. Burt insisted on keeping his beard, too, even though the studio wanted him clean-shaven or playing a race car driver. He was fighting to be taken seriously as an artist, not just a mustache with a laugh.
The Famous "Ten Commandments" Scene
If you remember one thing from this movie, it’s the ending. Sonny finally manages to get into the ocean to drown himself. But then, the survival instinct kicks in. He starts bargaining with God.
He starts shouting that he’ll follow all the Ten Commandments. Then he realizes he doesn’t know what they are. "I'll learn the Ten Commandments, and then I'll obey them!" It’s peak Burt Reynolds. It’s vulnerable, pathetic, and hysterical all at once. It’s the moment the "life force" wins out over the depression.
Why People Still Talk About It
The movie made money—about $45 million on a $3 million budget—but it hasn't stayed in the public consciousness like Smokey and the Bandit. It’s a "cult classic" in the truest sense.
People love it because it’s brave. You have to remember, in 1978, suicide wasn't a "funny" topic. Hollywood usually handled it with violins and soft lighting. Burt handled it with Dom DeLuise trying to strangle him as a "favor."
The Real Legacy of The End
Kinda makes you wonder what else Burt could have done if he hadn't spent the 80s making Cannonball Run II. This film shows he had a real eye for dark, character-driven comedy. He wasn't afraid to look weak. He wasn't afraid to let Dom DeLuise steal every single scene he was in.
There’s a lot of "Burt" in this movie. He once said that the character of Sonny was closer to his real personality than anyone realized. Beneath the charm and the laugh, there was a guy who was often worried about his own relevance and mortality.
Next Steps for Fans of Burt Reynolds:
🔗 Read more: Why the 1993 Three Musketeers Movie Disney Produced is Still the Best Kind of Trash
- Watch the Blu-ray: If you can find the recent Kino Lorber release, grab it. The transfer is way better than those old grainy TV broadcasts.
- Compare it to "Gator": This was Burt’s second time directing. Watch his first movie, Gator, right before this one to see how much he grew as a filmmaker in just two years.
- Check out the Jerry Belson Connection: The script was written by Jerry Belson, who was a legend in TV comedy (think The Odd Couple). It was originally written for Woody Allen, which explains a lot of the neurosis in the dialogue. Imagine Woody Allen in this role—it would have been a completely different movie.
Whether you think it’s a classic or a "guilty pleasure," there’s no denying that The End movie Burt Reynolds put his heart into is a fascinating piece of 70s cinema. It’s a reminder that even the biggest stars in the world have something they’re trying to say, even if they have to hide it behind a few jokes and a mustache.