The Last Tycoon (1976)

F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel is brought to life in this story of a movie producer slowly working himself to death.

Director:

Elia Kazan

Writers:

F. Scott Fitzgerald (novel), Harold Pinter (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Tony Curtis, Robert Mitchum

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro	...	Monroe Stahr
Tony Curtis	...	Rodriguez
Robert Mitchum	...	Pat Brady
Jeanne Moreau	...	Didi
Jack Nicholson	...	Brimmer
Donald Pleasence	...	Boxley
Ray Milland	...	Fleishacker
Dana Andrews	...	Red Ridingwood
Ingrid Boulting	...	Kathleen Moore
Peter Strauss	...	Wylie
Theresa Russell	...	Cecilia Brady
Tige Andrews	...	Popolos
Morgan Farley	...	Marcus
John Carradine	...	Tour Guide
Jeff Corey	...	Doctor

Storyline

Young film producer, Monroe Stahr, is a rising star in 1930's Hollywood due to his ability to get anything he envisions done even if it means breaking a few rules. The latest film he's working on stars two popular actors, Rodriguez and Didi, and everyone is sure it'll be a smashing hit when it's done. The times are changing however, since the first guilds and unions are being formed in Hollywood, but Stahr is still sticking to his old ways of doing things in spite of that. His main opponent becomes a union organizer, Brimmer, but Stahr finds ways to deal with him as well. However, in his hubris, Stahr crosses one red line too many when he falls for a young troubled engaged woman called Kathleen Moore and neglects Cecilia Brady, the young daughter of studio executive and Stahr's boss, Pat Brady. Pat becomes furious over this as well as Stahr's other misbehavings and makes it his mission to take Stahr down. Due to all the pressure, Stahr's health starts failing as well. The film is ...

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Plot Keywords:

illness | actor | actress | based on real person | revenge | 

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Taglines:

He has the power to make anyone's dream come true... except his own.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on the life of MGM producer and executive Irving Thalberg.

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Goofs

Ingrid Boulting's hairstyle changes between the scene with the performing seal and the scene at Monroe's uncompleted beach house.

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Quotes

Pat Brady: You know who first told him you were a genius? Guess.
Monroe Stahr: You.
Pat Brady: Right.
Monroe Stahr: Damn good of you, Pat.
Pat Brady: Oh, no. If I admire a man, I say so. I want the whole world to know. Perhaps that's because I'm Irish. The Irish are a very warm-hearted people.
Popolos: The Greeks are warm, too. I mean, try to find me a Greek communist. You couldn't find one.

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Connections

Remade as The Last Tycoon (2016)

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Soundtracks

Mi par d'udire ancora
(uncredited)
from "I pescatori di perle"
Music by Georges Bizet
Performed by Beniamino Gigli
[heard during pre-credits sequence]

User Reviews

Misunderstood masterpiece

De Niro was an unexpected surprise as Monroe Starr in this brilliant adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's unfinished last novel. He gives a thoughtful, sensitive, and intelligent performance as this character, who was modeled on MGM producer, Irving Thalberg. Fitzgerald wrote about Hollywood from the inside, and from the perspective of someone who was destroying himself by being inside. He could ask for nothing better than to have English playwright Harold Pinter create this stark, human screenplay and then have Elia Kazan realize it.

In addition to De Niro's definitive performance, we get a series of perfect cameos (usually an impossibility) from Tony Curtis, Jeanne Moreau, Robert Mitchum, and others. We also get two screen debuts of merit -- Angelica Huston (in a small, but memorable scene) and an excellent Teresa Russell as Starr's would-be sweetheart. The critics hated the movie, and it did poorly in box offices, but it was truly, like Fitzgerald himself, an American masterpiece.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 November 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Last Tycoon

Filming Locations:

Paradise Cove - 28128 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,819,912

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,819,912

Company Credits

Production Co:

Academy Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1