Wuchak
Released in 1969, "Last Summer" relays the random escapades of three teenagers - two guys and a gal - who form a close-knit trio while vacationing on Fire Island, NY, where the film was shot. The girl, Sandy (Barbara Hershey), obviously enjoys the attentions of the two boys (Richard Thomas & Bruce Davison), who essentially deem her a goddess. Then an average-looking, pudgy girl named Rhoda enters the picture and tries to join the trio (Catherine Burns). One of the guys, Peter (Thomas), starts to develop a genuine relationship with this new girl which naturally stirs up jealous malevolence in Sandy.At one point, When Rhoda and Peter are enjoying some time together, she remarks (paraphrasing): "You seem like a totally different person when you're with me than when you're with them." This leads to an unexpected ending which is reminiscent of "Lord of the Flies." "Last Summer" is a unique coming-of-age film featuring a fascinating study of the herd mentality: Alone, the three are normal teenagers, but together their inhibitions and sense of morality diminish. Set at one of the most beautiful beach settings on the East Coast, the film hints at the possibility that Fire Island itself is an accessory in unleashing the youths' disturbing deviance.But, mostly, this is a commentary on the dark side of hedonistic adolescence and the power of a sociopath, meaning Sandy. Her maniacal laugh, what she ultimately does to a seagull, her treatment of Rhoda, and her manipulation of the two naïve boys, testify to this. Naturally, entry into Sandy's clique is the admission of some past act of cruelty. Why? Because she subtly revels in cruelty and despises compassion.Unfortunately "Last Summer" is only available on VHS and, of course, is ridiculously expensive from sellers. But TCM (or AMC) will likely show it again sometime.GRADE: A
kayaker36
The cinematography is artistic, with seascapes and vistas of the beach at Fire Island that are relaxing to the eye -- a pleasure to watch. Some of the acting is passable, overcoming the cliché-ridden, preachily didactic script.The three protagonists are young and attractive, rich and privileged. They also are homophobic, racist, classist and "lookist", even the female member of the trio, played in space cadet style by Barbara Hershey. Their victims, a not-so-pretty teenager and a Hispanic man, are wholly innocent and impliedly entitled to special protections. The homophobic aspect is quite bizarre in that there is a definite homosexual undertone to a relationship of two young men latching on to one girl.As the politically committed sixties gave way to the seventies "Me" generation it was inevitable that Frank and Eleanor Perry's left-wing films would go quickly and permanently out of fashion. Eleanor Perry, a former campus bolshevik some fifteen years older than her husband, later penned a bitter account of their partnership and breakup, which no one by then cared to read.If you like propaganda, laid on with a trowel, this picture is for you.
HumanoidOfFlesh
"Last Summer" actually has a lot in common with such films as "The Lord of the Flies" or "The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With the Sea" in which a young boy ends up murdering and dissecting his mother's lover.It also reminds me a little bit Mendal W.Johnson shocking novel "Let's Go Play at the Adams".These are stories about children untamed.The film is unsettling not because of what these three teenagers do to their friend,but because of how little it bothers them and how easily they begin to see her as outside of humanity."Last Summer" follows the random activities of four teens during a summer on Fire Island.Rhoda is shy and overweight and targeted for teasing by the others.As sexual tensions increase,the more experienced and dominant Sandy encourages Dan and Peter to rape Rhoda.The climax of "Last Summer" is truly powerful and disturbing as it clearly shows the banality of evil.9 out of 10.
Woodyanders
A strikingly clear-eyed and nonjudgmental portrait of adolescent explorations into sex, friendship, loyalty and cruelty which deftly captures the essential amorality and irresponsibility of that uncertain period of one's life with considerable candor and an admirable dearth of sentiment. Three carefree, unsupervised teenagers -- conniving, domineering, flirtatious strumpet Sandy (a deliciously wicked Barbara Hershey, wearing a skimpy bikini outfit that shows off a lot of her toothsome, voluptuous figure), aggressively libidinous Dan (Bruce Davison in his solid film debut), and the slightly more thoughtful Peter (a strong turn by Richard Thomas) -- become involved in a playfully steamy menage a trois on Long Island's tranquil Fire Island resort. The two guys are both completely infatuated with Sandy and vie with each other to seduce her. The rowdy trio engage in a wild group grope in a movie theater, drink beer, smoke grass, nurse a wounded seagull back to health, bask in the sun's unwavering rays, and cut loose during an especially crazed impromptu heavy petting/hair washing session. Their delicate, uninhibited fantasy world gets upset when pallid, pudgy, deeply uptight and morally responsible plain jane Rhoda (superbly played by the endearingly ungainly Cathy Burns, who deservedly got an Oscar nomination for her first-rate performance) enters their precious circle and steals Peter's attention away from Sandy. Eleanor Perry's astute, keenly observed script offers many painfully truthful moments as the gawky, confused main characters grapple with mortality (Rhoda's monologue about the untimely death of her mother is simply incredible), intense, unfulfilled sexual longings, sexual rivalry, and feelings of extreme callousness. Directed with great tact and restraint by Frank Perry, gorgeously shot in dewy, creamy, golden-hued soft focus by Gerald Hirshfeld (the expansive beachside scenery is positively beautiful), and marvelously acted by a fine cast, "Last Summer" rates as a quietly potent, poignant and disturbing sleeper.
AD
