A film that came out in the early 1970's, Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show is a far different movie than the other films we have studied in this course. It is a film set in a different time period, but instead of being a time of excitement, it is a time of confusion between the Second World War and the Korean War. Bogdanovich shows us the small town of Anarene in Texas, and in particular the fragile lives of some of the younger people who live there. It is true that this movie contains no big car chases, no murders, and no truly exciting scenes. However, through the realistic portrayal of these mundane lives by the director and cast, the viewer can see how awkward things can be in a small American town during a time in history that has been disregarded.
The film mainly focuses on the character of Sonny, and his interactions with the characters of Duane, Jacy, Sam the Lion and Ruth. All of these characters help us to realize what life is like in a small town, and what it is like to be unsure of one's future. Right away we can get a glimpse of a typical night for these teenagers, as Sonny meets his girlfriend at the picture show, where most people his age go on weekend nights. Sonny, who has been "going steady" with this girl for a year, forgets their anniversary, and then, after getting rejected in the front seat of his car, breaks up with her. This is our first sign that Sonny is tired of the typical life he leads and is interested in a change.
Then, Sonny is given a new opportunity for change, as the wife of his football coach, Ruth, throws herself at him. They begin to have an affair that lasts for some time, and it appears as if Sonny has realized that the future he wants is with Ruth in Anarene. As their affair continues, Sonny's best friend Duane gets dumped by his long time girlfriend Jacy. His world is turned upside down by this, as he believed that Jacy was his future. Jacy is changed as she begins to look for a new future husband, and considering the possibility of going to college to get away from her small town life.
As all this is going on, Sonny's mentor and friend Sam the Lion passes away while he and Duane are in Mexico for the weekend. Sam leaves Sonny his old pool hall in his will, and suddenly, Sonny's future seems totally mapped out. He'll stay in town, work at the pool hall, continue his affair with Ruth, and look after Sam's son Billy. However, Jacy, still looking for her future husband, moves Sonny's interests away from Ruth toward her.
In the end, Sonny and Duane have a fight over Jacy, and ultimately make up before Duane is shipped out to Korea. Jacy goes off to college in Dallas, and Sonny goes back to Ruth, realizing that he is going to be living in Anarene the rest of his life, and he has to get to used to his mundane life. The film ends in confusion.
In general, the Last Picture Show is a film that is difficult to look at in sections. The best way to understand and realize the greatness of this film is to take it as a whole, and look at the film for what it shows. Despite being set in a small town, during a forgotten time, the people who live there are real people, with real emotions and real hearts, and their lives, although not as exciting as others, can still be moving and empowering.
The film mainly focuses on the character of Sonny, and his interactions with the characters of Duane, Jacy, Sam the Lion and Ruth. All of these characters help us to realize what life is like in a small town, and what it is like to be unsure of one's future. Right away we can get a glimpse of a typical night for these teenagers, as Sonny meets his girlfriend at the picture show, where most people his age go on weekend nights. Sonny, who has been "going steady" with this girl for a year, forgets their anniversary, and then, after getting rejected in the front seat of his car, breaks up with her. This is our first sign that Sonny is tired of the typical life he leads and is interested in a change.
Then, Sonny is given a new opportunity for change, as the wife of his football coach, Ruth, throws herself at him. They begin to have an affair that lasts for some time, and it appears as if Sonny has realized that the future he wants is with Ruth in Anarene. As their affair continues, Sonny's best friend Duane gets dumped by his long time girlfriend Jacy. His world is turned upside down by this, as he believed that Jacy was his future. Jacy is changed as she begins to look for a new future husband, and considering the possibility of going to college to get away from her small town life.
As all this is going on, Sonny's mentor and friend Sam the Lion passes away while he and Duane are in Mexico for the weekend. Sam leaves Sonny his old pool hall in his will, and suddenly, Sonny's future seems totally mapped out. He'll stay in town, work at the pool hall, continue his affair with Ruth, and look after Sam's son Billy. However, Jacy, still looking for her future husband, moves Sonny's interests away from Ruth toward her.
In the end, Sonny and Duane have a fight over Jacy, and ultimately make up before Duane is shipped out to Korea. Jacy goes off to college in Dallas, and Sonny goes back to Ruth, realizing that he is going to be living in Anarene the rest of his life, and he has to get to used to his mundane life. The film ends in confusion.
In general, the Last Picture Show is a film that is difficult to look at in sections. The best way to understand and realize the greatness of this film is to take it as a whole, and look at the film for what it shows. Despite being set in a small town, during a forgotten time, the people who live there are real people, with real emotions and real hearts, and their lives, although not as exciting as others, can still be moving and empowering.