La Dernière Femme sur terre

On the 5th of April 2005, the legendary horror producer/director Roger Corman turned 79 years old and that was my reason (the obsessive geek I am) to re-watch one of his most overlooked films. Last Woman on Earth is a modest but ingenious SF-thriller that got pushed back and eventually forgotten due to other, bigger cinema projects handling about the same topic. That's quite regretful, as this is a well written and entertaining little film with quite some tension and above average acting performances. The plot is fascinating and follows a rich couple and their lawyer friend on vacation in Puerto Rico. When they make a day-trip out on the open sea to dive a sudden and unexplainable lack of oxygen kills off the isle's entire population…likely the whole world! They initially collaborate to survive and work out an escape plan, but pretty soon the first fights appear. The situation gets really complicated when the lawyer also develops feelings for … the last and only woman on earth. Like nearly every Roger Corman product, the film lacks budget and eye for detail. Yet, the Puerto Rican filming locations are beautiful the man's directing is very straightforward. The constantly increasing hopelessness of the characters is terrifically portrayed and the inevitable climax of paranoia is very impressive. The ending is somewhat disappointing (as other reviewers already pointed out) and hard to accept after the overall convincing first hour. But then again, it's not easy to shoot an appropriate climax to an apocalyptic-minded movie, is it? The three-headed cast delivers good performances. Especially compared to that other film Corman quickly shot in Puerto Rico – Creature from the Haunted Sea – this is a good and recommended picture. Pay close attention to Robert Towne, by the way. Around the time of Last Woman on Earth, he was still an unnoticed Corman pupil but he soon after became one of Hollywood's most praised scriptwriters.

While not officially listed (on IMDb) as having been worked on by cult director Monte Hellman, he confirmed his involvement on this Corman cheapie during Criterion's Audio Commentary for his own TWO-LANE BLACKTOP (1971). In fact, it was one of four (3 originally helmed by Corman and another by himself) which he was commissioned to extend for TV showings: ironically, these alternate versions have since virtually become the official ones! I do not know which scenes Hellman devised for the film but it was interesting to note the cockfight in the very opening sequence, given that he would make the screen's best depiction of this violent sport with COCKFIGHTER (1974) – which Corman himself would produce! Incidentally, when I acquired the film under review, I was unaware that it was supposed to be in color (though, by all accounts, this had faded anyway in surviving prints): had I known, however, I would have made it a point to check out the version recently broadcast – in the original language – on late-night Italian TV!

Anyway, though the title had always struck me as intriguing (preceding THE LAST MAN ON EARTH by 4 years), the film was slapped with an unflattering – but, in retrospect, undeserving – BOMB rating by the "Leonard Maltin Movie Guide". Curiously enough, the picture it was shot back-to-back with i.e. the recently-viewed CREATURE FROM THE HAUNTED SEA (1961) – another Corman effort 'doctored' by Hellman and with which this shares its three leads – rates *1/2 in Maltin's book but it is a much less rewarding experience in my opinion! Yet one more picture made during this time and using the same locations was the war movie BATTLE OF BLOOD ISLAND (1960; which, however, Corman only produced) – collectively, the films would come to be known as "The Puerto Rican Trilogy" (and they were released as such on DVD as well).

To get back to the matter at hand, the plot of this one is pretty spare: a crooked businessman (Bogie look-alike Anthony Carbone), his girl (Betsy Jones-Moreland) and his lawyer (Edward Wain aka renowned scriptwriter Robert Towne, who also penned this) convene in the South American town to discuss his latest indictment However, while taking some time off deep-sea diving, the entire world population apparently expires from radioactive fall-out (hence the title)! Needless to say, Carbone is not the easiest guy to live with, so Moreland finds solace in the younger and more genteel Wain. This, of course, does not sit well with his 'boss', so we are treated to the usual eternal triangle dilemma albeit set against an apocalyptic back-drop – this idea in itself would have been great, had it not been already dealt with the previous year in THE WORLD, THE FLESH AND THE DEVIL (which actually added a racial issue to the fray and is a film I also own but have yet to watch) but, then, Corman was well-known for his shrewd commercial sense in concocting a quick cash-in to the next big thing (notably the reincarnation-themed THE UNDEAD {1957} following hot on the heels of the critically-lauded THE SEARCH FOR BRIDEY MURPHY {1956})!

Unfortunately, the narrative sticks to this one (rather drab) situation and, perhaps in view of the limited setting as well, does not develop further when Corman and Towne could pretty much have gone in any direction imaginable: given Carbone's self-confidence and ruthlessness, would it not have been logical for him to turn megalomaniacal rather than merely jealous! The latter stages, in fact, have him banishing Wain from the hotel they were living in but the latter and Moreland double-cross him by leaving together. He sets out in pursuit and finally confronts his romantic rival in a fortress (a good set-piece), with the unexpected – and strangely moral – ending then relocating to the inside of a church (as would THE LAST MAN ON EARTH itself oddly enough!), where the hero/interloper dies (soon after going blind from having received numerous blows throughout in the region of his eyes!) and the 'blessed' couple can have a go at saving their marriage!

"Last Woman On Earth" moves along at a steady clip and has an exciting ending (with a disappointing conclusion).  It is a film that benefits from smart writing, an on location shoot, and an interesting meshing of script with Jazzy soundtrack. There is an underwater scene that was quite excellently filmed. For that matter, the whole film was quite excellently filmed.  Even though this film predates the first James Bond film, it has a bit of a "Dr. No" feel to it.  No, it is no "Dr. No", but neither was its budget a Bond budget. You're not missing much if you never see "Last Woman On Earth", but if you do see it you won't feel like you wasted 71 minutes of your life.  It's a pretty good film -- a sad little tale about good and evil.

This sci-fi tale examines the fate and the human struggles involved in the incredible realization that a woman and two men may be the last surviving humans on Earth, following a peculiar catastrophy.

The analysis of selfishness, love, jealousy, money, work, accomplishment and the purpose of life are very well examined. All in the context of these extreme circumstances, the issues become very vibrant. The dialogue and acting help you feel the despair and distress of the characters.

Unfortunately, what could have possibly been one of the best black & white sci-fi movies, fell short- very short- in the end. The ending is uselessly incoherent, improbable and needlessly violent (a horrible fight on top of everything).

Still worth a watch for the first hour of the film.

I bought this film because we(my sons and I) were really curious about the fact that it was set in Puerto Rico, and I was a surprised it was. I look in old films to mostly to look for acting and photography techniques and specially atmosphere and locations( to compare with current lifestyles or everyday life). This film was a trip to the 60's way of living in PR, and it is fair to the Island, in many films we are portrayed as natives or Indians, and in some series like Roger Moore's "The Saint" they portrayed us very poorly and like other South American stereotype or Latin type, which we are but with very different history and experiences. We enjoyed the film a lot and had much fun when they find a dead "stiff" paradise bird on the "jungle". My sons are hard critics and they found interesting the fact that really they doesn't need explanations of the air shortage to find the film amusing and interesting. I really enjoyed it and found it one of Corman's best movies.