Review of The Last Picture Show (1971) by Sam I — 24 Nov 2006

When this, his second major film, opened Peter Bogdanovich got a phone call from a colleague who suggested he sit down. He then proceeded to read Bogdanovich a review that called The Last Picture Show the best film by an American director since Citizen Kane.

That means less to me as I find Kane rather overrated but it gives some idea of just how great this film is.

Covering a year [1952] in the life of the small town of Abilene, Texas The Last Picture Show isn't a film of earth shaking events, instead it finds drama in the everyday interactions of normal people; teenagers, their parents and older people.

For the film Bogdanovich assembled one of the finest ensemble casts ever seen. Between them the cast netted 4 Oscar nominations and two wins. It's almosst ludicrous to try and pick standout performances as everyone is brilliant. The Oscar winners were the veterans; Ben Johnson won in a small supporting role as Sam the Lion and Cloris Leachman won for a hugely moving performance as Ruth Popper, the wife of the high school basketball coach whose desperate loneliness leads her to an affair with one of his students.

Cybill Shepherd hasn't done anything of note in years but a couple of early performances suggested that she's a real talent, this is one of them. As the high school beauty Jacy she's scheming and manipulative, but sexy enough that you can see why her various suitors are chasing her. Particularly excellent is the scene where she and Jeff Bridges have taken to a hotel room to lose their virginity. Bridges is also excellent in his first really notable role as the high school jock who doesn't really know what he's going to do after high school ends.

Bogdanovich creates an immediate sense of period by shooting in black and white and keeps things stylistacally sedate, letting the performances do the work.

It's not short and moves slowly and the lack of big events may leave some audiences cold but with a script and perfromances that ring true throughout and Bogdanovich's sure handed direction I think it's a masterpiece.