The Last of Sheila (1973)
August 28, 2022 10:39 AM - Subscribe
James Coburn, Raquel Welch, James Mason, Dyan Cannon, everyone is smoking, everyone is skinny, the pants are all bell bottoms, so much alcohol, the sunhats are so large, we're on a yacht! What more do you need?
Oh man! I remember when I grasped the "if you're smart enough" clue. Oh, jeez, it was right in front of us all along!
posted by SPrintF at 11:04 AM on August 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by SPrintF at 11:04 AM on August 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
The original boat sank before filming. Original cinematographer Ernest Day (A Clockwork Orange) was fired after a week. Joan Hackett refused to say certain lines of dialogue and was nearly replaced by Lee Remick. The Arab terrorist group Black September threatened to blow up the set. James Mason couldn't stand Raquel Welch. Welch ruffled the feathers of costume designer Joel Schumacher (later the director of Batman & Robin) by arriving with her entire wardrobe already designed and fitted by her boyfriend, Ron Talsky. Welch (my, her name does keep popping up, doesn't it?) temporarily halted production when she walked off the film threatening to sue director Herbert Ross for assault and battery.
No real spoilers in that review, but it's probably best to watch the movie before reading it.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:20 PM on August 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
No real spoilers in that review, but it's probably best to watch the movie before reading it.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:20 PM on August 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
A real classic of its era*.
When I'm reminded of this, I am always puzzled that it hasn't been remade.
With the recent popular response to things like Knives Out, and yet another wave of Poirot remakes, this brand of 'a bunch of awful rich people getting murdered on a yacht cruise' should do really well.
*we once had an argument over whether this was Peak Dyan Cannon, vs. Heaven Can Wait vs Deathtrap.
posted by bartleby at 3:00 PM on August 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
When I'm reminded of this, I am always puzzled that it hasn't been remade.
With the recent popular response to things like Knives Out, and yet another wave of Poirot remakes, this brand of 'a bunch of awful rich people getting murdered on a yacht cruise' should do really well.
*we once had an argument over whether this was Peak Dyan Cannon, vs. Heaven Can Wait vs Deathtrap.
posted by bartleby at 3:00 PM on August 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
Worth mentioning that the screenplay was written by Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins.
"Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins may seem like odd collaborators for this type of story, but the two men were friends and long-time mystery buffs. The idea for The Last of Sheila grew out of several real-life scavenger hunts and murder mystery games conceived and hosted by the duo. Attendees for those events included co-star Richard Benjamin, his wife Paula Prentiss, and Herbert Ross, who ended up directing The Last of Sheila. Several of the characters in the film are inspired by real-life Hollywood personalities, most notably Dyan Cannon’s flamboyant Christine, based on super-agent Sue Mengers, a powerful figure in the movie business during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. The razor-sharp, witty dialogue, and full-bodied performances add to the fun... Sondheim and Perkins did work on a couple of follow-ups to the film, which sadly never got past the early stages of development."
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 4:08 AM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
"Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins may seem like odd collaborators for this type of story, but the two men were friends and long-time mystery buffs. The idea for The Last of Sheila grew out of several real-life scavenger hunts and murder mystery games conceived and hosted by the duo. Attendees for those events included co-star Richard Benjamin, his wife Paula Prentiss, and Herbert Ross, who ended up directing The Last of Sheila. Several of the characters in the film are inspired by real-life Hollywood personalities, most notably Dyan Cannon’s flamboyant Christine, based on super-agent Sue Mengers, a powerful figure in the movie business during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. The razor-sharp, witty dialogue, and full-bodied performances add to the fun... Sondheim and Perkins did work on a couple of follow-ups to the film, which sadly never got past the early stages of development."
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 4:08 AM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
"I don't have any gloves. '
posted by mojohand at 11:19 AM on August 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by mojohand at 11:19 AM on August 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
This movie came up as an influence and reference over in the Glass Onion thread, so I borrowed the DVD from the library, and enjoyed it! It did feel like I should've taken notes or broken out a logic puzzle chart, though.
I wonder if Richard Benjamin / Tom was a style reference / inspiration for Ray Bloody Purchase in Toast of London?
posted by Pronoiac at 7:07 PM on January 29, 2023
I wonder if Richard Benjamin / Tom was a style reference / inspiration for Ray Bloody Purchase in Toast of London?
posted by Pronoiac at 7:07 PM on January 29, 2023
I looked at the cover of the DVD case and laughed at the label on the question mark, and who it's next to. It's an amusing Easter egg.
posted by Pronoiac at 3:00 PM on February 11, 2023
posted by Pronoiac at 3:00 PM on February 11, 2023
Got this from the library and watched it today. Was it rrally considered super-confusing? I guess, in the age of re-watching, we're more used to complicated plots.
A compare and contrast with Glass Onion would be interesting, not least for the "pandemic lockdown" condition and inclusion of an outside detective.
posted by DebetEsse at 4:52 PM on September 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
A compare and contrast with Glass Onion would be interesting, not least for the "pandemic lockdown" condition and inclusion of an outside detective.
posted by DebetEsse at 4:52 PM on September 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
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posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:00 AM on August 28, 2022 [4 favorites]