O Fim de Sheila

"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.

On the first anniversary of his wife's death, wealthy film producer Clinton Greene hosts a week-long get-together aboard his yacht, the Sheila; named in honour of his late love. His guests include actresses, directors and screenwriters- all of whom were present the year before when Sheila kicked the bucket. Greene, an avid parlour-gamesman, informs his guests that the week's entertainment will be the 'The Sheila Greene Memorial Gossip Game,' in which everyone is assigned a secret which they must keep from the others. Soon, it transpires that Greene's sinister competition is based more on fact than fiction, and there may be a murderer among his guests; facts which transform the proceedings into a crazed game of cat and mouse where the stakes are life or death.

Written by Anthony Perkins and Stephen Sondheim, Herbert Ross's 'The Last of Sheila' is a camp mystery comedy that holds entertainment value, though is really rather convoluted. Inspired by real life scavenger hunts Perkins and Sondheim would arrange for their friends in the late 60's, the film takes elaborate steps to concoct a narrative seeped in intrigue and suspense, but overwhelms with its attempts to mystify; coming across as needlessly- rather than satisfyingly- cryptic. Unlike the best whodunnit mysteries, the film's twists and turns seem arbitrary when they're not predictable, and are frequently both.

Perkins and Sondheim's characters are also problematic, with most being unlikable and dimly illustrated caricatures of little to no depth (an issue only heightened by the performances from the cast, which vary in quality). While the camp comedy works for the most part, a lot of it feels forced, and despite some clever lines of dialogue and a few suspenseful sequences; one is left rather disappointed by the time the credits roll. Had Perkins and Sondheim tightened up the core mystery and added dimension to some of the characters, they could have had a fine film on their hands; instead of the mildly amusing, slightly banal one 'The Last of Sheila' turned out to be.

Shot in Nice, the cinematography from Gerry Turpin is surprisingly mediocre, considering the beauty of the surrounding area. Turpin's approach is too straightforward, lacking flair and seeming flat and uninspired. 'The Last of Sheila' is the kind of film that requires stylish, unconventional cinematography in order to match the camp, mysterious and borderline over-the-top subject matter; Turpin's work is sadly lacking in this regard.

As is Edward Warschilka's editing, which is loose and haphazard, dooming the film to the realm of the unevenly paced. John Jarvis's set decoration isn't lacking, however, with his work being rich and highly detailed. The locations are brimming with intricate knick-knacks and props, seeming most authentic and intriguing. Joel Schumacher's costume design is also of note (and arguably more interesting than his directorial features later in life), while Billy Goldenberg's score is atmospheric and thrilling.

'The Last of Sheila' features an all-star ensemble cast of varying degrees of quality. While James Mason, Dyan Cannon and Ian McShane deliver measured, intelligent performances, the rest are a mixed bag. Raquel Welch phones it in completely, while James Coburn goes wildly over-the-top, and is actually very entertaining (and probably the most appealing aspect of the film). For their parts, Joan Hackett and Richard Benjamin seem uneasy to be involved with proceedings and unsure of how to approach their roles; leaving little impression on the viewer whatsoever.

'The Last of Sheila' is a muddled movie that doesn't quite make it, an underwhelming though amusing mystery-comedy that doesn't make many waves or break any new ground. Featuring an all-star cast and a screenplay from Anthony Perkins and Stephen Sondheim, the film should- and could- have been much more intriguing and humorous than it is. Though there are some bright spots in the screenplay and from the cast, it's mostly an underwhelming, convoluted caper that is easy to watch and easier to forget.

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.

Exotic locales on the French Riviera form a beautiful setting for this highly complex whodunit story about six Hollywood movie insiders who agree to participate in a reality-based game to celebrate the life and tragic death of Sheila, another Hollywood insider, whom they all knew.

The game's host, Sheila's multi-millionaire husband Clinton Green (James Coburn), has devised six pretend pieces of gossip; the idea is for the participants to guess everybody's secret. As one participant says: "That's the thing about secrets; we all know stuff about each other; we just don't know the same stuff; how did (Clinton) find out? Sheila, probably." The game winner gets top billing in Clinton's forthcoming movie: "The Last Of Sheila".

The script's underlying premise is ingenious, and the story is quite well executed. The plot has more twists and turns than a corkscrew. Every scene is important in some way. The identity of the killer is not at all easy to discern. Indeed, my guess was wrong.

The film has an ensemble cast, and they all give convincing performances. I especially liked James Mason and Dyan Cannon. Color cinematography is topnotch, and includes some difficult camera shots of and on a luxury yacht. My only complaint about this film is its relative lack of suspense. I could have wished for more spooky chills. For a murder mystery, the tone is just a tad too playful.

Inadequate suspense aside, this is a terrific movie that will appeal to mystery lovers especially. It's got some classy characters and dialogue, great visuals, fine performances, and a riveting plot.

This is a perfect example of mature entertainment for its day, made in the deep dark days of the mid 1970s when the F word was rarely heard in cinema not shown in Times Square. Saw this one in the drive-in; yes the drive-in when I was a wee lad with my folks. I don't understand why it isn't better known, but most people I'm sure have never heard of it. It's a good one. Macabre, clever murder mystery with a cast you can sink your teeth into. The clothes, lingo and attitudes are so pathetically 70s; I sometimes find it hard to believe I'm actually this old when I watch something like this. Most of the action takes place on a yacht anchored off of the Italian Riviera, and to me it has always had twisted adult Gilligan's Island feel to it all. The scenes in the monastery are good old fashioned creepy. Find me a director who can do any of this now, without showing bare tetons or dismembered alien corpses, and I'll eat my bellbottoms.