Man of La Mancha/Tear Jerker

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


  • Quite a few bits in Man of La Mancha, particularly when Alonso Quijana dies. The fact that he dies in a state of euphoria doesn't help matters.
  • The sum total of the last two scenes, from Aldonza's rendition of "The Impossible Dream," when Quixote remembers who he is and stands triumphantly, to Quijana's death, to Cervantes walking toward the Inquisition while everyone else sings the reprise ... sobbing. Like a little girl.
  • The two most beautiful songs in Man of La Mancha (to my mind) are "What Do You Want of Me?" and "The Impossible Dream." Of course they just have to also be the most tearjerking.

This is my quest, to follow that star!
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far...

    • God, "The Impossible Dream". As heartwarming as it can be, it's also tear-inducing.
      • Especially when Brian Stokes Mitchell sung it for Ted Kennedy's funeral.
  • Aldonza desperately begging for him to call her Dulcinea again. It doesn't work. At least not at first.
  • "Aldonza". Watching Quixote's illusions ripped from him is horrible, and you feel so badly for poor Aldonza.
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