The Last Dinosaur (1977)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Directors:

Alexander Grasshoff
Shusei Kotani

Writer:

William Overgard (writer)

Release Date:

11 February 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Wealthy big game hunter (Boone), along with his group, gets trapped in pre-historic times where they are stalked by a ferocious dinosaur.

Plot Keywords:

Dinosaur | Prehistoric | Millionaire | Hunting

Cast

Richard Boone	...	Masten Thrust
Joan Van Ark	...	Frankie Banks
Steven Keats	...	Chuck Wade
Luther Rackley	...	Bunta
Masumi Sekiya	...	Hazel
William Ross	...	Expedition Captain
Carl Hansen	...	Barney
Tetsu Nakamura	...	Dr. Kawamoto
Nancy Magsig
Don Maloney
Vanessa Cristina
James Dale
Hyoei Enoki		(as Hyoe Enoki)
Shunsuke Kariya
Gary Gundersen

Also Known As:

Kyokutei tankensen Pora-Bora (Japan)

Runtime:

USA:95 min (TV version) | Japan:106 min (uncut version)

Country:

Japan | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Not Rated | Finland:K-12

Company:

Rankin/Bass Productions

Trivia:

This was originally scheduled for theatrical release in the United States. The release was cancelled and the film premiered, in edited form, as a TV-movie on U.S. network television. This edited version became the U.S. version used for television showings and video releases.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Watch closely during the pre-opening airplane sequence between Maston Thrust and his current girlfriend. During the exchange, Richard Boone clearly reaches both hands forward to grope the breasts of the actress and scores "Two Doubles" (reaching "second base" twice) right before the editor is forced to cut to another shot in hopes that he can get this scene past Standards and Practices. The audacity by Richard Boone is amazing given that this was intended to be a kids popcorn movie.

Quotes:

Thrust's girlfriend: What's this?
Thrust: It's a solid gold bullet.
Thrust's girlfriend: What am I supposed to do with this? I can't... I can't wear this!
Thrust: Well, if times get really tough, you can bite on it!

Soundtrack:

The Last Dinosaur

Worst dinosaur movie I've ever seen. Recommended

Stupidly beautiful. This movie epitomizes the 'so bad it's good' genre of films.

The only two talents in it are Richard Boone and Joan van Ark, and only Boone is any good. It's kind of sad that the man who rose to fame as Paladin should wind up in this ugly pile of celluloid. While he turns in a fantastic performance, I couldn't help but feel that he so outclassed all his fellow actors in this piece that he shouldn't even have been there.

The effects in this film are laughable, but fun. The idea of a dinosaur being buried in the wall of a cave and suddenly coming to life is B-movie gold. When the 'triceratops' gets killed, watch how it falls. It's clear that the stunt performer in the FRONT of the costume knows the timing best. He falls to the ground, well before the back half of the dinosaur follows suit.

Speaking of 'suits', there is nothing good to say about the purple tyrannosaur, in this flick. It seems to have some kind of stealth technology, since Bunta (reputed to be the best tracker in the world) twice fails to notice it until it's within biting range of him. I don't know how all the prints are, but in the version I own, the Tyranno's roar contains Godzilla's trademark bellow.

This is loads of fun, to watch, if you like bad movies. I love them, and especially bad monster movies, so I consider this the gem of my collection. If bad movies are your thing, definitely get this one.