Scarlet Days Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?
Complete breakdown of the climax, final twists, and spoilers for Scarlet Days.
Scarlet Days Ending Explained: Rosie Nell, a woman of disreputable dance halls in early lawless California, is wrongly charged with the murder of one of her fellow entertainers. Directed by D.W. Griffith, this 1919 adventure film stars Richard Barthelmess (Don Maria Alvarez), alongside Eugenie Besserer as Mrs. Nell Winters aka Rosie Nell, Carol Dempster as Lady Fair, Clarine Seymour as Chiquita aka Little Flameheart. With a 6/10 rating, the ending has divided audiences.
What Happens at the End of Scarlet Days?
Rosie Nell, a woman of disreputable dance halls in early lawless California, is wrongly charged with the murder of one of her fellow entertainers. Because her daughter, who knows nothing of her mother's station in life, is to return the next day from her school in the east, Rosie is granted three days of grace to be spent in company with her daughter at a nearby cabin. The three days begin happily enough, thanks to the serenades of heroic bandit Alvarez and the poetry of romantic Randolph. But Bagley, the dance hall manager, has seen the daughter and has determined to make her his own.
D.W. Griffith's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Richard Barthelmess (Don Maria Alvarez)'s journey. Because her daughter, who knows nothing of her mother's station in life, is to return the next day from her school in the east, Rosie is granted three days of grace to be spent in company with her daughter at a nearby cabin.
How Does Richard Barthelmess (Don Maria Alvarez)'s Story End?
- Richard Barthelmess: Richard Barthelmess's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
- Eugenie Besserer (Mrs. Nell Winters aka Rosie Nell): Eugenie Besserer's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
- Carol Dempster (Lady Fair): Carol Dempster's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.
What Does the Ending of Scarlet Days Mean?
Scarlet Days's ending attempts to resolve the major plot threads, though some narrative elements involving Richard Barthelmess may feel rushed. D.W. Griffith's final act has been both praised for its ambition and criticized for its execution.