The Bad Seed (1956) final "curtain call" scene

[16lucylover]

This was actually pretty funny If u havent seen the whole movie

[MrColigings]

Did she ever play a sweet little girl?

[supersaiyangoku397]

1:08

[waivedwench]

I got the sense that, in this scene, the actors weren't in character and that it was an attempt to give a lighthearted ending to a serious film. If they had done this in the movie, Rhoda probably would have put her mother on the next "to be killed" list.

[Americaheritage]

@waivedwench Yep. Besides, the smiles on there faces as they did this last bit proves the fact :)

[Texasjim2007]

For an egotist like Rhoda this humiliation has to her worst nightmare and she's smart enough to realize there's nothing she can do to stop it. "Take a good look at my face. If my smile seems out place, look closer its easy to trace the tracks of my tears." Oh yeah. Perfect ending. This is why the other versions have never been as successful as this version.

[Texasjim2007]

It should be remembered that she's getting spanked after being killed by a lightning bolt so this is essentially Rhoda's final judgment in the afterlife when all the people she murdered

like Leroy have already been raised from the dead so she technically hasn't murdered anyone although she has defined her character as being a very mean and dishonest girl who's spanking will be repeated over and over again probably forever somewhere in cyberspace. :)

[leifericson923]

I remember I was watching this in english class and when she got nailed by the lightening I laughed.

[jimmyhd1969]

A spanking for killing three people? That's pretty mild.

[faeryquene]

@jimmyhd1969 Three people-that we know of...

[Kari166]

LOLOLOLOL. XD

[0ChildStar]

Funny and ouch!!!! XD

[DickieAnginson]

The cutesy curtain call was a wink-and-a-nudge joke. Rhoda was a murderous sociopath. She needed a bit more than just a good old-fashioned spanking! :)

[rhunter42dragon]

This would have made more sense if they had gone with the original ending (where Rhoda basically won instead of getting struck by lightning out of nowhere). People would have been horrified that the little brat got away with it... and then here comes Nancy Kelly to give her a sound spanking. As it is, Rhoda already got what she deserved. And the spanking makes more sense, and is a hell of a lot more entertaining, than the sudden lightning bolt.

[rhunter42dragon]

I wonder if Patty McCormack got teased by her friends about this scene.

[uszoninyc]

One of the GREAT performances from a child actor. I LOVE Rhoda, and, Patty McCormack - a BIG thanks!!!

[JubalCalif]

@uszoninyc

I second that emotion! One of the BEST performances by a child actor in cinema history. Patty was truly one gifted young performer!!! 

[jsrosa1282]

@JubalCalif And did you know Patty would go on to play sweet and fun-loving Anne Brookes on the Three's Company spin-off, The Ropers?

[JubalCalif]

@jsrosa1282

Heavens to Norman Fell! I did NOT know our precious Patty was a regular on that spinoff series! I never did see any episodes of "The Ropers" during the short time it was on ABC. My loss! THANKS for the fasciatin info! You've MADE my day! CHEERS! :-)

[archerdeejay]

lol i miss the old movies

[SlavicMaleChorus]

Today this child would be diagnosed as Autistic. I know of a person who would use others for their benifit. This person has a problem in empathetic social relationships.

The spanking of this kind of child would not alter their personality. They would only find another way to not get caught. Careful monitoring and guidance are needed to adjust this personality.

[MaffiasAngelO88]

@SlavicMaleChorus No not autistic, they'd have said she had a severe case of ADHD, with some schizophrenia thrown into the mix as well to make it sound good.

Peace

[Kari166]

@MaffiasAngelO88, sociopath/psychopath is more like it. XD

[Kari166]

@SlavicMaleChorus, autistic? I think not.

She'd most likely be a sociopath.

[stitchesful]

This movie does makes one wonder if certain people are born soiciopathic. I'd like to think not, but who knows?

[IloveMichaeljsomuch3]

@stitchesful Yes Some Children Are born Like That Its Not the childs fault there born like that it maybe in Trade mark In the family That people kill I knew a friend whos Brother was likehe use to kill animals instead tho But i stayed the hell away from as possible. But it would better if you looked it up They have all types of famous child murderes Like Rhoda online.

[harriettewinslow]

Christine should have done THAT in the first place!

[modrenwarefare]

Don't divulge the ending that means don't tell anyone the ending cause then that was harsh a kid getting killed by lightning

[hottyloxie]

@modrenwarefare i have to say it karma that killed her.for what she did.

[dltanner99]

Horror novel see video book trailer

[101Lanx]

Oh great - she does murder and the punishment? Slaps on the bottom! Totally makes up for it!! Where can I see the whole movie? Please answer!

[thephenom86]

@101Lanx doesnt she die in the movie bozo?

[msqundhari]

@101Lanx walmart.com 5 dollars

[Mezzotenor]

Oh, I'd have APPLAUDED the spanking scene if I'd been watching the original release. But I agree, it's a just a fun thing between the actresses -- watch carefully and you see them both laugh.

[mikey42]

The spanking was just a little playfulness between the two actresses, not the characters.

[Scorpiatrix]

Jeez, people, get a life! The spanking scene is between actors and done tongue-in-cheek and playfully after the credits roll. Don't be ignorant.

[Texasjim2007]

This scene after curtain call is actually Rhoda's punishment in the afterlife for all the evil she got away with before being struck by lightning and it will probably happen over and over again for eternity, sort of like Lee Harvey Oswald's perpetual shooting by Jack Ruby or Adolf Hitler's suicide. Justice isn't always controlled by rich lawyers.

[gorkakoldo]

It is stupid to put that spanking: First: Rhonda had killed people. Second: the film had already FINISHED. I suppose a paidophylic or so had that crazy idea.

[McRat1968]

That was nothing. It was all in good, clean fun. (Considering the girl had portrayed a sneaky, lying, caniving, murderous little monster, she "deserved" much more than a playful motherly-type spanking: she would've deserved a trial, conviction, and life-inprisonment or execution...! So, she got off lucky with a spanking! LOL.)

PS: There are movies with far-more disturbing scenes--which constituted child abuse by far! ...("Bastard Out Of Carolina" comes to mind.)

[DuttyGyal718]

@pipitail I agree. They should have used a belt!

[ravinagrey]

Good scene and the little devil deserved it. The only thing that would have been even more fitting is if she had gotten her skirt raised for it and got spanked in her underpants.

[pugcharlie]

But-the ending curtain call was done to put the 50s audience mind at ease since the story was so difficult.

[pugcharlie]

The end of the film was to shocking for it's time so thence, the silly curtain call.

[chem100]

@pugcharlie Great movie. I actually like the curtain call. It's nice to hear the character and actors' names along seeing them. It informs the viewer in no uncertain terms who the actor is. I wish it was done today.

[alexnsuzy57]

Great movie! Patty McCormack was gorgeous! The Bad Seed was a shocker in 1956. It has rarely played since that time because the plot suggested that Rhoda's behavior might have a genetic basis. Highly politically incorrect, nowadays. Also, there was a second ending to the movie where mom tried to kill herself and Rhoda with pills. Mom died, but Rhoda survived.

[elluzzi]

Very likely, JubalCalif, still an unnecessary and, in my opinion, irritating appendage to a good film.

[PlanesofExistence]

fuck the 50s!

[endthedisease]

I wonder if the ending was planned or totally spontaneous?

[wingsofhope2]

Patty McCormack was smiling the whole time she was being spanked.

[JubalCalif]

@wingsofhope2

I second that emotion, wings! The viewer can clearly see cute lil' Patty smiling all the way thru her on-screen "chastisement". Obviously Nancy Kelly wasn't smacking her tushie all that hard. A good time had by all...as Bob Hope would say, SPANKS for the memories...and thanks for your post! :)

[Writtenjustice]

Fantastic! Killing children. Totally not evil or anything.

[juant713]

What happens at the end?

[Jeff98177]

@juant713 She gets hit by lightning.

[musicaltheatergeek79]

@Jeff98177 in the original play the mother dies in the hospital and Rhoda lives to murder again. But they changed it for the movie so that the mother survives and Rhoda gets her comeuppence. Lame.

[Nightman221k]

Hmmm.... I think Rhoda deserved a hell of a lot worse than a spanking.

[UmyDearRthe1ifear]

Good Lord, she really wanted that medal.

[820LEV]

The book and the movie were great. I loved the way they changed the ending of the movie. That brat got what she deserved....

[3917Monkey]

Child Abuse the movie ! :-D

[fossefan]

Patty's clearly enjoying it.

[ReconOne123456789]

Paramore: That's what you get!

[atomic3939]

Actually...in the original ending..Rhoda gets away with everything. But when they prescreened it with a live audience..everyone was so appauled by that..so they changed the ending to where she gets struck down by lightning..and they "humanized" the cast in this silly introduction. It was a different time in the 50's. lol.

[kcullen09]

@atomic3939 yup yup..they thought the original ending was "too dark" for that time period

[SHIPP0DEMONS]

You can see Ms Pen smiling and the girl too XDD

[JubalCalif]

A rather odd silly & coming ending (the playful spanking) after a heavily dramatic film. But I suppose the studio wanted people to leave with a smile instead of having to worry about potential child murderers at home!

[MissAlainey1991]

@JubalCalif It makes sense. Like they said it was startling for a movie like that to produce in theatre. I guess they wanted to show something uplifting for its viewers. I liked it....it was different :)

[JubalCalif]

@MissAlainey1991

Thanks for your post, Miss A! I agree with your insightful comment! Hope you have a super groovy day! :)

[teeizhot]

@JubalCalif This was after the movie actually ended. I haven't seen it in yrs. but I'm pretty sure the little girl (bad seed) was struck by lightening.

[JubalCalif]

@teeizhot

I second that emotion, teeizhot! You are correct; at the end of the movie (SPOILERS!) lighting is seen to hit a tree little Rhoda is walking under & the audience is let to believe she's killed by it's fall. This "curtain call" does indeed come after that scene. Many thanks for your comment! :)

[teeizhot]

@JubalCalif :-)

[Jayee123]

@JubalCalif I agree, JabalCalif. It seemed they were trying to have it both ways. Could be the censors insisted something like that be inserted.

[mgrchip]

@JubalCalif And always remember to spank your children after committing such murderous acts!

[JubalCalif]

@mgrchip

Ha! Yep, better that a naughty girl get a warm bottom then to find herself in the "hot seat"! SHOCKING!

:-)

[WetKant]

hahaha, child violence, eternally funny!

[XxHuniBuniBooxX]

the little brat deserved it