It Must Be Love Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?
Complete breakdown of the climax, final twists, and spoilers for It Must Be Love.
It Must Be Love Ending Explained: Fernie Schmidt (Colleen Moore) lives with her parents in the rear of their delicatessen. Directed by Alfred E. Green, this 1926 comedy film stars Colleen Moore (Fernie Schmidt), alongside Jean Hersholt as Pop Schmidt, Malcolm McGregor as Jack Dugan, Dorothy Seastrom as Min. With a 10/10 audience rating, the ending has been widely praised.
What Happens at the End of It Must Be Love?
Fernie Schmidt (Colleen Moore) lives with her parents in the rear of their delicatessen. The smells of the business - cheeses, sausages, garlic and pickled herrings - repulses Fernie, who dreams of leaving this environment and moving into a life that's more rarified. Her father, Pop Schmidt (Jean Hersholt) has plans for his daughter to marry Peter Halitovsky (Arthur Stone), a sausage salesman, but Fernie is repulsed by the idea. At a dance, Fernie meets Jack Dugan (Malcolm McGregor), who tells her that he is in stocks, a paper-counter, and she falls for him. Because of her rejection of her father's chosen candidate for matrimony, Pop puts Fernie out of the house.
Alfred E. Green's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Colleen Moore (Fernie Schmidt)'s journey. The smells of the business - cheeses, sausages, garlic and pickled herrings - repulses Fernie, who dreams of leaving this environment and moving into a life that's more rarified.
How Does Colleen Moore (Fernie Schmidt)'s Story End?
- Colleen Moore: Colleen Moore's arc reaches a definitive conclusion by the final act, with Alfred E. Green delivering a resolution that feels earned after the film's 1h 10m runtime.
- Jean Hersholt (Pop Schmidt): Jean Hersholt's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
- Malcolm McGregor (Jack Dugan): Malcolm McGregor's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.
What Does the Ending of It Must Be Love Mean?
It Must Be Love concludes with Alfred E. Green reinforcing the comedy themes established throughout the film. The final moments with Colleen Moore leave a lasting impression — the ending is both a resolution and a statement about the story's central questions.