#The Alternate Ending For Ronin We Didn’t See In Theaters

The ending we see in the theatrical cut of “Ronin” is just about perfect. The quiet contemplation following the high-stakes action scenes gives the two thoughtful mercs time to evaluate. Reno’s monologue sums it all up rather nicely:

“No questions. No answers. That’s the business we’re in. You accept it and move on. Maybe that’s lesson number three.”

So, why wasn’t the film’s alternate ending used? That’s one question that can be answered. During the film’s audio commentary, director John Frankenheimer explained it: “We tried that ending, and the audience really hated it.”

It turns out that the alternate ending was actually the ending that was originally filmed, but test audiences were unhappy. The rather finite ending for Deirdre proved to be too much, and so it was edited into the theatrical ending we see today. In fact, you can still see a remnant of the original ending, when Robert DeNiro exits the bistro and looks around — presumably hearing Deirdre’s screams as she’s dragged off into the van. However, it still works in the final cut, coming across as a pensive glance, instead.

Despite audience reactions, Frankenheimer preferred the original ending, saying that it “really worked.” But I have to disagree. I can’t help feeling that the addition of Deirdre’s kidnapping disrupts the flow of DeNiro and Reno’s final scene, adding nothing but a small measure of dramatic irony. Ultimately, Frankenheimer chose to edit it down, explaining that “with the tremendous investment [the studio] had in this movie, you have to kind of listen to the audience.”

But it turns out Frankenheimer also filmed a second alternative ending.