What Happens at the End of This Song for Jack?

In 1982, Robert Frank was on hand at the Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado, to film the Jack Kerouac Conference, a 25th-anniversary commemoration of On the Road in which poignantly aging Beats and fellow-traveling authors, activists, and composers (Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Gregory Corso, Michael McClure, Herbert Huncke, Anne Waldman, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Ken Kesey, Abbie Hoffman, David Amram) gathered on a rain-swept Chautauqua porch to recite poetry and raise a glass to their patron saint. Particularly memorable is Frank’s humorous encounter with a group of grizzled and well-lubricated onlookers. — Museum of Modern Art

Robert Frank's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on William S. Burroughs (Self)'s journey. Particularly memorable is Frank’s humorous encounter with a group of grizzled and well-lubricated onlookers.

How Does William S. Burroughs (Self)'s Story End?

• William S. Burroughs: William S. Burroughs's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Allen Ginsberg (Self): Allen Ginsberg's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• John Clellon Holmes (Self): John Clellon Holmes's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of This Song for Jack Mean?

This Song for Jack's ending attempts to resolve the major plot threads, though some narrative elements involving William S. Burroughs may feel rushed. Robert Frank's final act has been both praised for its ambition and criticized for its execution.