If you only watch or rewatch one old classic movie this year, then pick up The Last Picture Show. It is one of the most haunting flicks to come out of Hollywood, and it launched the careers of many of the greats of today.

Picture Show was released in 1971 under the direction of Peter Bogdanovich who went on to make “What’s Up Doc?” and “Paper Moon” before belly flopping with several not-so-memorable flicks. Bogdanovich co-wrote the screenplay for “Picture Show” with the author of the novel (Larry McMurtry) who later wrote much-loved books like “Terms of Endearment” and “Lonesome Dove.”

Bogdanovich had a fascination with early Hollywood greats and liked to compare himself to Orson Welles who made Citizen Kane which is often considered the best movie of all times. See my review on “Kane” at: http://www.epinions.com/content_46221069956 The influences of early Hollywood are clear in “Picture Show” though Bogdanovich obviously has his own sense of style and does nail this story in his own right. If he had stayed focused on his film rather than on his own ego, then he might have produced other classics.

“Picture Show” is set in Anarene, Texas in 1951. The story revolves around three high school seniors who are at crossroads in a small town with no stoplights to mark the intersection in time and place. Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) and Duane (Jeff Bridges) are football stars on a lackluster team. They obviously won’t be going off to college on scholarships. Jacy (Cybill Shepherd) will move up and out of town if her Momma (Ellen Burstyn) has anything to say about it. In fact, Momma suggests that Jacy sleep with Duane to get him out of her system.

Don’t expect the 50s utopia myths to be central to this film. When Momma says go for it, then you know it’s not “Happy Days.” The world was never like “Father Knows Best,” and while 50s life may not have been as gritty as the Texas sand blowing through this cinemascape, the flashes of reality are refreshing when contrasted with the goody two-shoes fare reflecting that era.

The teens in this movie are focused on sex. Boys may have opened doors in the 50s, and girls may have worn Granny panties and bulletproof bras, but hormones are hormones then and now. Sonny breaks it off with his girlfriend on their one-year dating anniversary, because she won’t put out. He turns to his coach’s wife Ruth Popper (Cloris Leachman) who isn’t getting her fair share from her bumbling husband. Duane fizzles when Jacy gets naked and gives him the green light. She strings him along while she looks for a “real man” at a naked swimming party and on the top of the pool table with her mother’s lover—the foreman who works for her dad. If you keep it all in the family, then it’s all good.

The boys (and especially Sonny) look up to Sam the Lion (Ben Johnson)—the owner of the local movie house, diner, and pool hall. He stays out of the love triangles, but he does watch out for the local boys and for his longtime secret love Genevieve (Eileen Brennan) who is the big-hearted waitress in the diner. She’s a little hot for Sonny, but she passes on sleeping with a kid who is already sleeping with one older woman. She’s OK with her memories though could have been much more if she’d born in another time and place.

When Sam the Lion dies, the picture show house goes under, and the boys are left to figure things out on their own. “Picture Show” is about what they decided or didn’t decide and how life works out or doesn’t. If that sounds a little strange, it’s how life usually goes especially in small towns.

This movie could have been a flop, but the performances are so strong that the black and white execution and straight-on camera shots with music under on radios and juke boxes provide the backdrop for pure personality. If you love old country music, then you’ll love the Hank Williams running through this movie.

Sonny and Duane are both solid as good-looking teens looking for answers and not always seeing things too clearly. If they both go sappy over the town beauty, then that does happen and often.

This was a debut performance for Cybill Shepherd. I’m not a big Shepherd fan, but she was typecast well in this film. She is the beautiful girl who knows that she can get by on her body and face and will do just that. In 1971, she did not have the hard look that she has now, so she played fine as Jacy. I’m not surprised that she did not do as well in other roles, because she does not have much range. Some of the other young women considered for the role were and are stronger actresses, but Shepherd points out in an book that I read some time back that girls like Sissy Spacek just weren’t pretty enough to be Jacy. Call that honest or catty depending on what you think of Shepherd. I suppose she’s right, but pretty can only take a body so far, and that’s part of what this film is all about.

If you are a Shepherd fan, then you’ll probably want to see this one for the partial nude scenes. The contract gave an option to cut those, but Shepherd decided to go mostly bare in a bedroom and swimming pool clip. She does look better than she acts.

The star of the show was Cloris Leachman as the plain looking wife of the coach who had an affair with Sonny. She goes from lackluster to hopeful to depressed to angry and pulls off the transformation with a beautiful final scene that echoes with heart and passion. Leachman won the academy best supporting actress award for this role, and though I don’t always agree with the selections, this one was spot on.

In all, “Picture Show” was nominated for 8 academy awards and took 2 top awards. Those were Leachman and Ben Johnson (Sam the Lion). The film that took the top spot for 1971 was “The French Connection.” Though “Picture Show” didn’t get the award and was considered controversial for the sexual content, it has staying power and is loved by old and new viewers. In 1998, the movie was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry.

This is one of my favorite movies. I’ve always been more interested in story than flash. The only train wrecks you’ll see in “Picture Show” are those of the characters who often make bad choices and have to live with the consequences.



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older