The Last Run (1971)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writer:

Alan Sharp (writer)

Release Date:

7 January 1972 (Finland)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

In the tradition of Hemingway and Bogart.

Plot:

A former getaway driver from Chicago (George C. Scott) has retired to a peaceful life in a Portugese fishing village...

Plot Keywords:

Driving | Scenery | Police | Escape | Handgun

Cast

George C. Scott	...	Harry Garmes
Tony Musante	...	Paul Rickard
Trish Van Devere	...	Claudie Scherrer
Colleen Dewhurst	...	Monique
Aldo Sambrell	...	Miguel (as Aldo Sanbrell)
Antonio Tarruella	...	Motorcycle Policeman
Robert Coleby	...	Hitch Hiker
Pat Zurica	...	1st Man (as Patrick J. Zurica)
Rocky Taylor	...	2nd Man

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Portuguese | Spanish

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 (video rating) (1987) | UK:AA (original rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:GP | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Nerja, Málaga, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Star George C. Scott fought with legendary director John Huston during the filming over script rewrites as well as the leading lady, Tina Aumont. After engaging in shouting matches with Scott, Huston quit the film. Fatefully, Aumont was replaced with Trish Van Devere, whom Scott fell in love with and married. Huston was replaced by Richard Fleischer, and the movie bombed both with critics and at the box office.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Tony Musante's hair goes from short to long several times during the film. This is because he keeps taking of the curly wig he is supposed to be wearing as a disguise.

Quotes:

Paul Rickard: Nine years? You haven't been on a job in nine years?
Harry Garmes: That's right.
Paul Rickard: Do you know what's happened in nine years, old man? They've gone to the moon.
Harry Garmes: Well, that's not my kind of drive.

Is there life after death?

Last Run tells the story of a retired get-away driver who come to think of retirement as slow death. And so takes one last job.

He retired to Portugal, bought a house and a boat, to live happily ever after. But it doesn't work out that way. His 3 year old son died, his new wife left for another lover, he rented his boat to a real fisherman on realising he's a hopeless fisherman; he leads a lonely life.

He takes a job nine years later to prove to himself that he's still capable, that he's not dead. He wishes more than ever to do the job well; and he does.

This movie touches on the meaning of death and what it takes to be alive. Its a personal journey an sums up middle aged life.

I particularly liked the use of the car. It was filmed beautifully with authentic sound and driving: no special effects, just an honest representation as the last love in his life. It was refreshing to see the driver fighting the live rear axle as he negotiated mountainous bends at speed. Now there's something missing from modern movies.