The Last House on the Left (1972)

Director:

Wes Craven

Writer:

Wes Craven (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

30 August 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

To avoid fainting, keep repeating "It's only a movie...It's only a movie..."

Plot:

A pair of teenage girls are headed to a rock concert for one's birthday. While trying to score marijuana in the city, the girls are kidnapped by a gang of psychotic convicts.

Plot Keywords:

Gang | Marijuana | Concert | Parent | Birthday

Cast

Sandra Peabody	...	Mari Collingwood (as Sandra Cassell)
Lucy Grantham	...	Phyllis Stone
David Hess	...	Krug Stillo (as David A. Hess)
Fred J. Lincoln	...	Fred 'Weasel' Podowski (as Fred Lincoln)
Jeramie Rain	...	Sadie
Marc Sheffler	...	Junior Stillo
Richard Towers	...	Dr. John Collingwood (as Gaylord St. James)
Cynthia Carr	...	Estelle Collingwood
Ada Washington	...	Ada, chicken coop truck driver
Marshall Anker	...	Sheriff
Martin Kove	...	Deputy
Ray Edwards	...	Postman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jonathan Craven	...	Boy With Balloon (uncredited)
Anthony J. Forcelli	...	Ice Cream Store Clerk (uncredited)
Steve Miner	...	Hippie taunting deputy (uncredited)

Directed by
Wes Craven

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Wes Craven		writer
Ulla Isaksson		earlier screenplay (uncredited)

Produced by
Sean S. Cunningham	....	producer
Katherine D'Amato	....	associate producer
Steve Dwork	....	assistant producer
Steve Miner	....	assistant producer

Original Music by
David Hess		(as David Alexander Hess)

Cinematography by
Victor Hurwitz

Film Editing by
Wes Craven

Costume Design by
Susan E. Cunningham

Makeup Department
Anne Paul	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Larry Beinhard	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Yvonne Hannemann	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jim Hubbard	....	sound
Gary Leibman	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Troy Roberts	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Dick Donovan	....	gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anne Paul	....	wardrober

Editorial Department
Steve Miner	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Steve Miner	....	production assistant
Steve Miner	....	title designer

Production Companies

• Lobster Enterprises
• Sean S. Cunningham Films
• The Night Co.

Distributors

• Hallmark Releasing Corp. (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1973) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Vestron Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Astro Distribution (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Future Film (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)

Also Known As:

Grim Company (USA) (16mm release title)
Krug & Company (USA) (working title)
Krug and Company (Australia) (video title)
Last House on the Left (USA) (alternative title)
Night of Vengeance (USA) (working title)
Sex Crime of the Century (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

84 min | Germany:64 min (heavily cut) | USA:91 min (original cut) | USA:82 min (R-rated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 (DVD rating) (2005) (self applied) | UK:18 (re-rating: 2002) (cut) | UK:(Banned) (1984-2002) | UK:R (original rating: 1974) | Australia:R (re-rating: 2004) | New Zealand:R18 (re-rating: 2004) | Australia:Refused Classification (original rating: 1987) | USA:Unrated (uncut) | Germany:18 | Sweden:15 (uncut) | West Germany:18 (cut) | UK:18 (re-rating: 2008) (uncut) | Argentina:18 (re-rating) | Argentina:X (original rating) | Singapore:(Banned) | Canada:R | France:-16 | Iceland:(Banned) | Ireland:18 (cut UK version) | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:(Banned) (original rating) | Norway:(Banned) | USA:R (heavily cut) | West Germany:(Banned) | Italy:VM18 | Finland:K-18 | Germany:16 (heavily cut)

Filming Locations:

21 Street and 2nd Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Lobster Enterprises

Trivia:

Based on the film Jungfrukällan (1960)

Goofs:

Continuity: Before being raped, there is blood on Mari where Krug carved his name. After the rape scene when Mari gets up, you can see her chest with no blood, but after she gets up after praying, her chest is covered in blood again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Postman: [to dog] Hello, Cassie! Hiya, girl! Hello there! Now, let's see.
[looks through mail]
Postman: Ah, it looks like Mari's getting cards from half the civilized world. Mari Collingwood. Mari Collingwood. Mari Collingwood. You'd think she's the only kid to reach the age of 17. Of course she is probably the prettiest piece I've ever seen.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Aloha Bobby and Rose (1975)

Soundtrack:

Now You're All Alone

A VERY dark journey....

I remember, quite vividly, the ad campaign for "Last House on the Left". I clearly remember the eerie feeling I got when I saw the ads, either televised or printed. Yet, as eerie as they were, nothing in the ads ever prepared me for this movie. I felt helpless during the film because nothing I could do would help the characters on-screen. I was terrified by man's cruelty to man. I still continue to be haunted by this film. The feeling one experiences viewing this film can only be compared to what a jury feels when video evidence is presented. With that said, I have to admit this is a great film. To evoke such feelings in an audience using actors and actresses is a work of great talent. I can't say I've enjoyed most of Mr. Craven's works; but, this is undeniable a staple in cinema's history.