The Last Tycoon *** (1976, Robert De Niro, Tony Curtis, Robert Mitchum, Jeanne Moreau, Jack Nicholson, Ingrid Boulting, Donald Pleasence, Ray Milland) – Classic Movie Review 6451

Robert De Niro gives a subtle, stylish, purring performance as thrusting boy-wonder film producer Monroe Stahr in director Elia Kazan’s reverential, slightly bloated but painstaking and rewarding 1976 film version of the cynical F Scott Fitzgerald insider’s view novel. Fitzgerald’s days in Hollywood didn’t go so well, so he has a lot of chickens to bring home to roost. It is based on the life of MGM producer and executive Irving Thalberg.

Harold Pinter provides the skillful adaptation, Kazan directs effectively and the famous cast of veterans is good value. Theresa Russell (in her debut) shows her mettle as the studio boss Pat Brady (Robert Mitchum)’s worshipful daughter, Cecilia Brady, and Jack Nicholson bruisingly impresses as the tough East Coast union man, Brimmer. Alas, ballerina and model Ingrid Boulting rather lets the side down in a wan performance as Kathleen Moore.

It is a very good-looking movie. Gene Callahan, Jack T Collis and Jerry Wunderlich  were Oscar nominated for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration.  Overall, though it is a little bit musty and creaky, it is still valuable and a rich experience.

Also in the extraordinary cast are Jeanne Moreau, Donald Pleasence, Ray Milland, Dana Andrews, John Carradine, Peter Strauss, Tige Andrews, Morgan Farley, Jeff Corey, Diane Shalet, Seymour Cassel, Anjelica Huston, Bonnie Bartlett, Sharon Masters, Eric Christmas, Leslie Curtis, Lloyd Kino and Brendan Burns.

It is shot in Technicolor by Victor J Kemper, produced by Sam Spiegel, scored by Maurice Jarre, and designed by Eugene F [Gene] Callahan and Jack T Collis.

Curtis (who plays Rodriguez) recalled: ‘One of the first things Kazan ever said to me was, “You know, Tony, working with you is really a big surprise. I was told you’d be very difficult.” I liked working with De Niro, an interesting man. It all depends on the part: get a good scene and what else do you need?’

After its box-office failure, costing $5,500,000 and taking only $1,820,000 in the US, it proved Kazan’s final film.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6451

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