Film

The Last Picture Show (1971)

Director: Peter Bogdanovich

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Bogdanovich may have proved a wayward disappointment, but along with Targets this is a reminder that somewhere inside him the man has talent. Adapted from Larry McMurtry's novel, it tells of the problems of adolescence in a small roadside town in 1950s Texas. Sexual intrigue, the disillusionment of growing up, and gentle humour are common enough in many similar films. But where Bogdanovich scores is in his accurate depiction of period and place, so detailed as to be almost tangible, and in the unbridled sympathy he extends to his characters. The closing of the local cinema signifies the end of both personal and historical eras, but characteristically its function is never that of forced symbolism. In fact, the nostalgia for a simpler, quieter age is equally conveyed by the style of the film, which recalls nothing so much as the emotionally draining dramas of John Ford. Superb performances all round add to the charm of this fine, if now unfashionable film.

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