Sheila

In 1973, at age 17, I walked into a movie multiplex (three theaters under one roof) in a neighboring city with little more on my mind than to kill a couple of hours before an appointment. I'd never heard of "The Last of Sheila" and therefore had no preconceived notions about it, but the starting time was right. I then had the rare and happy experience of seeing a movie I knew absolutely nothing about -- and loving it.

I subsequently dragged my friends to see it and was even inspired to host a "game" of my own (similar to the movie's central event) in my small home town. Granted, central Illinois is not as glamorous as the south of France, but we made do.

So the other night (many miles away and nearly 30 years later) when I saw the videotape at the neighborhood rental store I was almost reluctant to rent it and risk ruining a good memory. Would the movie hold up?

I have to say that while no longer quite so passionate about "The Last of Sheila" (or anything, for that matter), I'd still recommend it.

"The Last of Sheila" is, first of all, wonderfully of its period. The cast includes Richard Benjamin (Portnoy's Complaint), Dyan Cannon (The Love Machine), James Coburn (In Like Flint), Joan Hackett (Support Your Local Sheriff), James Mason (The Mackintosh Man), Ian McShane (Pussycat, Pussycat I Love You), and Raquel Welch (Myra Breckinridge). Add an early Bette Midler hit song and you have a quintessential early 1970's experience!

The screenplay is by film actor Anthony Perkins and musical theater lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim. Combine the sophisticated intricacy of Sondheim's song lyrics with Perkins' long association with macabre cinema and you have the tone of "Sheila": witty, complex, dark and ironic.

I remember a magazine article from the time about Sondheim's passion for games and how it influenced the screenplay. This movie is like a game the viewer can play -- but don't expect to win. This is a fun, fast moving murder mystery with lots of clues and lots of red herrings, and its perhaps best just to sit back and pay attention to the scenery and bon mots.

One can forgive some lapses (personally, I cringe when Raquel opens her mouth) as overall the film is so interesting.

Conversely, I have to put in a plug for the lovely and vulnerable Joan Hackett, who is virtually unknown today but who is one of my favorite actresses from the era. If you've never seen her work, I recommend this film as well as "Will Penny" and "Support Your Local Sheriff." As Leonard Maltin says "Hackett had a special quality - along the lines of a Jean Arthur or Margaret Sullavan - that was simultaneously truthful and enchanting."

Citymars (6/19/02)

"the last of sheila" an amazing collaboration of two of entertainments finest .. anthony perkins ("psycho") and stephen sondheim (composer) this witty and very tongue in cheek homage to both the murder mystery genre and the cut throat world of movie making. the films looking a little dated but holds up even now as being one of (if not THE best) who done its ever filmed. a very clever story this one, with many plot twists and red hearings. keeps you guessing the whole time your watching and gives an amazing climax with some very unexpected conclusions (though on later viewings its hard to see how these clues were missed) filmed entirely on location in the south of France (including the studio stuff) and with a stellar cast of characters most notably Joan Hackett (a personal favourite in the acting cannon) this intelligent piece of filmaking will prove a very entertaining experience. the plot is clever, the script is genius, i wouldn't like to give too much of the story away, as you may not of seen this film. basically the story goes as follows: Clinton Green (Hollywood film producer) has invited 6 guests to join him aboard his luxury yacht in the south of France, a year after his wife was killed in a hit and run accident back in Hollywood. the guest include Joan Hackett as "Lee" wife of screenwriter "Tom" Richard Benjamin. English director "Philip" James Mason, actress "Alice" Raquel Welch and husband/manager "Anthony" Ian Mcshane and last but not least Dyan Cannon as Hollywood agent to the stars "Christine". all have been a big part of Clintons life and that of sheila his dead wife. Clinton a master game player has been planning some fun evenings for his 6 guests and its not long before the fun begins but someone is using the game to their own advantage and its not long before a death takes place...... if you've never seen this movie, then i strongly advise you to check it out next time its shown on TV or rent it on DVD or video. the cast is to die for ,plot is fantastic and the locations are a joy to see. Herbert Ross who has directed this amazing movie is also responsible for steel magnolias another movie favourite of mine. He is both stylish and very creative in his approach to directing and i believe "THE LAST OF SHEILA" to be one of his finest achievements.

The Last of Sheila, a star-packed murder mystery written by Broadway legends, really doesn't start or even progress with much momentum at all, but when the true wheels of the actual murder puzzle start turning, it pulls a lot of palpable tension and sharp dialogue out of nowhere and does the job. It doesn't help that first half that I was tempted to turn it off, but the fact that the intrigue ratcheted up at the precise moment when I was going to is what saved it by a hair's breadth. And I'm glad I stuck it out. It proved itself worthwhile.

The movie comes out of a fine heritage of murder puzzles from such as Agatha Christie and Patricia Highsmith. In fact, it's a little rare to see this material showing up first as a movie. It feels like the sort of story that would start life as a play. Bringing seven people together and then doing the old "one of the people sitting here amongst us is a murderer" schtick is inherently stagy. Nevertheless, it functions well as a movie, perhaps since the screenplay has as much to do with characters as with crime. The movie was written by Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins, and they flaunt an apparent sense of showbiz manners and dialogue. They've also play Name That Tune with us: We can enjoy speculating who the bitchy agent was motivated by, or the director on the skids, or the centerfold, each played respectively by Dyan Cannon, James Mason and Raquel Welch, two out of three of whom kept me watching purely just to watch.

I like the concept of a murder mystery set among showbiz types because Hollywood is often thought to be shy about death and shrink from it. Genuine sorrow seems quite rare. The movie opens as a watchful-waiting stratagem concerning Coburn and the killer, which is latently intriguing though it rambles too far away from the point of tension and plays more like a '60s romp than an expository double-blind. Yet it makes a striking hairpin halfway through. And it actually is a game to them; they don't spend time mourning when somebody dies, just clean up the blood and tally one more loser against their competition for a win. And yet it's barely started until just two of these characters spend a great deal of time deliberately hammering out the true significance of the clues, a scene so tight, well-acted, well-written and loaded with sharp wit that it makes the whole package worth it.

A better part of the performances are pointed and mercenary, and very good, particularly James Mason with his typical cultured obstinacy. Dyan Cannon as the agent. Joan Hackett is beautiful and tender, and Richard Benjamin treads a fine line between voice of reason and a screenwriter trying to think in formulas. Coburn is always entertaining owing to his sheer presence and it's interesting watching an Ian McShane so much younger than anyone my age is aware he ever was. Welch is quite wooden by comparison, but as I said before

Unknown and forgotten for several decades, this whodunnit has a new life following the recent KNIVES OUT movies. Although theres no direct connection, the influence of LAST OF SHEILA is very apparent. This is a clever, funny murder-mystery with a megawatt cast. Set on a boat in the Mediterranean, the plot centers on a group of friends who suspect each other of murder as they reveal personal secrets and scandals. The script was written by Anthony Perkins and Stephen Sondheim, so that alone makes it a must-see. Perkins adds a biting, cynical critique of Hollywood and celebrity as most of the characters are in the movie industry. The actors are excellent, and its especially great to watch Richard Benjamin in top '70s form. And James Mason - endlessly quotable.

The Last of Sheila is a totally engaging, intriguing, and all round entertaining whodunit, it features some wonderful actors, beautiful locations around the French Riviera, and a truly memorable ending.

The setup is such a clever one, the plot is really rather intricate. What surprises me most is just how intensely dark it is, if you watch closely you'll see some rather bleak clues, darker then it appears on the surface.

Plenty of beautiful people, Dyan Cannon, Raquel Welch and Richard Benjamin, but the acting all round is excellent.

Some witty lines, all well delivered. It is very much of its time.

Cleverly done, a favourite. 9/10