Last Woman on Earth (1960)

Ev, along with her husband, Harold, and their lawyer friend Martin, are scuba diving while on vacation in Puerto Rico. When they resurface, they gradually conclude that an unexplained, ... See full summary »

Director:

Roger Corman

Writer:

Robert Towne (screenplay)

Stars:

Betsy Jones-Moreland, Antony Carbone, Robert Towne

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Betsy Jones-Moreland	...	Evelyn Gern (as Betsy Jones Moreland)
Antony Carbone	...	Harold Gern
Robert Towne	...	Martin Joyce (as Edward Wain)

Storyline

Ev, along with her husband, Harold, and their lawyer friend Martin, are scuba diving while on vacation in Puerto Rico. When they resurface, they gradually conclude that an unexplained, temporary interruption of oxygen has killed everyone on the island... maybe even the world!

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Plot Keywords:

fishing | puerto rico | last woman on earth | spear gun | scuba diving | 

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Taglines:

They fought for the Ultimate Prize!

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Screenwriter Robert Towne didn't have the completed script finished on time. Rather than paying to have both an actor and a screenwriter on location, Roger Corman saved money by drafting Towne to act in the movie as lawyer Martin Joyce (under the name Edward Wain).

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Goofs

When they go into the city after the incident, a car is seen coming to a halt in front of them due to the curb stopping it. In a proceeding shot, the car's tires are seen on the sidewalk instead of directly in front of it.

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Quotes

Harold Gern: If you take things as they come, if you do them step by step, we're going to be all right.

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Crazy Credits

This was produced by Roger Corman's Filmgroup company. On the Allied Artists televison prints, it is listed as "A Film Group Picture."

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Alternate Versions

The original Allied Artists 16mm U.S. television syndication prints were in black and white.

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Connections

Referenced in En prácticas: Instituto RTVE (2010)

User Reviews

Nice little Corman treat

On the 5th of April 2005, the legendary horror producer/director Roger Corman turned 79 years old and that was my reason (the obsessive geek I am) to re-watch one of his most overlooked films. Last Woman on Earth is a modest but ingenious SF-thriller that got pushed back and eventually forgotten due to other, bigger cinema projects handling about the same topic. That's quite regretful, as this is a well written and entertaining little film with quite some tension and above average acting performances. The plot is fascinating and follows a rich couple and their lawyer friend on vacation in Puerto Rico. When they make a day-trip out on the open sea to dive a sudden and unexplainable lack of oxygen kills off the isle's entire population…likely the whole world! They initially collaborate to survive and work out an escape plan, but pretty soon the first fights appear. The situation gets really complicated when the lawyer also develops feelings for … the last and only woman on earth. Like nearly every Roger Corman product, the film lacks budget and eye for detail. Yet, the Puerto Rican filming locations are beautiful the man's directing is very straightforward. The constantly increasing hopelessness of the characters is terrifically portrayed and the inevitable climax of paranoia is very impressive. The ending is somewhat disappointing (as other reviewers already pointed out) and hard to accept after the overall convincing first hour. But then again, it's not easy to shoot an appropriate climax to an apocalyptic-minded movie, is it? The three-headed cast delivers good performances. Especially compared to that other film Corman quickly shot in Puerto Rico – Creature from the Haunted Sea – this is a good and recommended picture. Pay close attention to Robert Towne, by the way. Around the time of Last Woman on Earth, he was still an unnoticed Corman pupil but he soon after became one of Hollywood's most praised scriptwriters.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 August 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Last Woman on Earth

Filming Locations:

Puerto Rico

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min 64 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1