When Rian Johnson was doing the press rounds for Knives Out and discussing “Whodunnit” influences, one title he would offer, which I’d never even heard of before, was The Last Of Sheila (1973). It has the distinction of being written by actor Anthony Perkins and musical composer Stephen Sondheim, and apparently based on Sondheim’s love of parlour games and staging mysteries for celebrity friends. The plot concerns a successful Hollywood producer (James Coburn with his toothy grin at full devilish beam) inviting his less than successful Hollywood friends to his yacht for a week of games. It’s one year since his wife Sheila was killed in a hit and run accident, and the tragedy becomes part of the game playing. His guests – a stacked cast including Richard Benjamin, Joan Hackett, Dyan Cannon, James Mason, Raquel Welch and a young sexy Ian McShane – start to suspect there might be an element of revenge to the twisted festivities. There are lots of witty one liners, lovely seaside locations, stylish 1970s fashions, and complicated twists as things get murderous. There’s also a few strange attitudes that are either cultural artefacts of the era or represent a very cynical take on Hollywood by the writers (without spoilers, one character’s disturbing criminal past is met without comment or reaction). Directed by Herbert Ross, I had a great time watching this alongside its peculiar turns and its jaded denouement. Available to rent on iTunes (though the sound mix is a bit tinny). Recommended.
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