Review of The Last Picture Show (1971) by Donald W — 02 Apr 2010

This movie started the 1970's obsession with the 1950's. I first saw this movie on TV. Of coarse it had all the nudity cut out. When I was a freshman in college I had to write a report about nostalgia for a freshman English class.

I referenced this movie as an example. I wasn't the only one. The professor was not happy. He made a five minute talk to the class letting us know that "The Last Picture Show" was not "nostalgia".

I guess I was confused. I liked the movie because it reminded me of the little towns in Oklahoma I grew up in. I guess "nostalgia" is supposed to be happy and idealized. This movie shows the seamy side of life in a small town.

It was also about how all these small towns were dying. It's true, during the 1950's and 1960's, these small rural towns lost over half their population as the younger generation moved to larger towns to find work.

By the 1970's the decline had stabilized and in the 1980's during the oil bust they actually grew a little as unemployed families moved back to their hometowns to live with their parents. When the economy recovered they moved out again and the population reverted back to the 1970's level.

I didn't see the R rated version until it came out on DVD. The swimming pool scene is interesting. Old Ben Johnson won an Oscar for his role in this movie. Cybill Shepherd became famous because of this movie.

Jeff Bridges got his first nomination for this movie.