Last Embrace (1979)

Director:

Jonathan Demme

Writers:

Murray Teigh Bloom (novel)
David Shaber (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 May 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

It begins with an ancient warning. It ends at the edge of Niagara Falls. In between there are 5 murders. Solve the mystery. Or die trying.

Plot:

Harry breaks down and loses his job after his wife is assassinated - could it be his turn next ?

Plot Keywords:

Betrayal | Bathtub | Drowning | Spy | Agent

Cast

Roy Scheider	...	Harry Hannan
Janet Margolin	...	Ellie Fabian
John Glover	...	Richard Peabody
Sam Levene	...	Sam Urdell
Charles Napier	...	Dave Quittle
Christopher Walken	...	Eckart
Jacqueline Brookes	...	Dr. Coopersmith
David Margulies	...	Rabbi Josh Drexel
Andrew Duncan	...	Bernie Meckler
Marcia Rodd	...	Adrian
Gary Goetzman	...	Tour Guide (as Gary Getzman)
Lou Gilbert	...	Rabbi Jacobs
Mandy Patinkin	...	First Commuter
Max Wright	...	Second Commuter
Sandy McLeod	...	Dorothy Hannan

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Canada:AA

Filming Locations:

Niagara Falls, New York, USA

Company:

Taylor-Wigutow Productions

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the scene in the synagogue, Harry appears to be going through a register book when he finds his grandfather's name. Actually, he's reading a tractate of the Talmud, which is entirely in Aramaica and Hebrew - and he's holding it upside down.

Movie Connections:

References The Birds (1963)

Soundtrack:

THE FORTIES

The Good & Bad Of 'The Last Embrace'

This film certainly had a memorable scene with a man clinging for his life with Niagara Falls below! It's always stuck with me, even though it has been a long time since I've seen the movie. I've been waiting for this to be released on DVD so I can see it again, but as of now it's only available in Region 2.

It might be fun again just to see veteran actors Christopher Walken, Mandy Patinkin and John Glover in a film made 30 years ago. Director Jonathan Demme has done some interesting films since then, too.

Most of the story involves "mysterious" people chasing others and if I went into it in any detail it would ruin things for anyone who hasn't seen it. That's especially true because there are so many twists and turns in this story. However, to be frank, I think Hollywood has overdone "conspiracy theory" movies, of which this is one. I also think the profanity could have been lowered in here, especially by Roy Scheider's character "Harry," and the film would still have been just as intense.

What I really appreciated, more than the actors or story, frankly, was the photography and Demme's direction. There were a lot of really interesting camera angles, shots that zoomed in an out and other gimmicks that I usually fall for. There were enough of them to carry the first hour, at least. Living not too far from Niagara Falls, I was glad to see that in the climactic finale.