[Note: Steiger had stiff Best Actor competition from Warren Beatty inBonnie and Clyde, Paul Newman inCool Hand Luke, Dustin Hoffman inThe Graduate, and Spencer Tracy inGuess Who""s Coming to Dinner.Audiences were struck by the film""s downbeat, tragic, dehumanized and ironic ending.While initially considered perfect for drive-ins or as a ""midnight movie"" after its debut in October of 1968, it was soundly criticized as grindhouse schlock and unredeeming gory trash.When he brought Ron to view the mirror, Ron only saw himself as "head boy...holding the Quidditch Cup" as he captain.Rather than showing the future, the mirror displayed what the viewer most desperately wanted.According to Dumbledore, it reflected "the deepest and most desperate desires of our hearts".He had found Harry addicted to the Mirror""s visions of loving family life.He warned it could become destructive - and therefore it had to be removed ("It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, and forget to live").He was astonished to realize that the Special Forces men and the mercenaries appeared to be working together.