Review of The Last of Sheila (1973) by Stephen M — 30 Apr 2008

Almost nobody knows this film - that's what I used to think. But over the years I have met one person after another who tell me that they LOOOOVE The Last of Sheila! So it would appear that it has a big cult following; not out of the ordinary for Stephen Sondheim, right?

It's very clever, very original and very fun. I love a good mystery and I am a sucker for things from the seventies. It has that wonderful Hollywood incestuousness that seemed to permeate that decade (and the one just before it, for that matter). It uses actors who were huge stars at the time, as well as actors who were huge stars a few years before them. It blends them together well, giving a sense of continuity to the film and the public perception of what Hollywood is (and always has been ) like.

Perkins and Sondheim create a plausible (anything is believable when the rich and famous are involved) game and mystery and Ross is extremely effective in the way he shoots it. All of the actors deliver (sometimes Welch's speech patterns sound a little unnatural but she is so lovely and the dulcid tones of her voice draw you in and make you like her). I am especially fond of Joan Hackett (taken from us too soon but what an honest actor!) and Dyan Cannon who may seem over the top but if you have ever known someone like this character (and I have) you will know that she did her homework before shooting began.

Thank heaven the dvd came out because now many more people can get bit by the bug - and speaking of the dvd; the commentary with Cannon and Benjamin (which you can tell they recorded together) is really fun and informative. The other commentary with Welch is less of both but still worth a listen.