Blog #36 Last Man on Earth Movie Review

The Last Man on Earth is a 1964 post-apocalyptic science fiction horror film based on the 1954 novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson.

Produced by Robert L. Lippert

Directed by Ubaldo Ragona and Sidney Salkow

The screenplay was written in part by Matheson, but he was dissatisfied with the result and chose to be credited as “Logan Swanson.”” William Leicester, Furio M. Monetti, and Ubaldo Ragona finished the script.

Starring

Vincent Price played Dr. Robert Morgan. In his career, Mr. Price has appeared in many films, many horror, which is not my forte. However, he played François Delambre in The Fly in 1958, Frederick Loren in The House on Haunted Hill in 1959, and Dr. Anton Phibes in The Abominable Dr. Phibes in 1971, which were arguably his most famous roles. Also, we cannot forget his very famous narration of the song Thriller by Michael Jackson in 1982.

Franca Bettoia played Ruth Collins. From what I could tell, she was a famous actress in Italy, but I don’t think any more science fiction movies.

The Last Man on Earth was filmed in Rome, with scenes being completed at Esposizione Universale Roma.

Released in the United States by American International Pictures.

The film entered the public domain in the 1980s. In September 2005, MGM Home Video, the current owners of the AIP film catalog, released a digitally remastered widescreen version of the film on DVD.

Running time 86 minutes

Countries United States and Italy

Languages: English and Italian

Release date May 6, 1964¹

Plot One person is left alive after a plague, Morgan. The rest of humanity is “undead, vampiric creatures that cannot stand sunlight, fear mirrors, and are repelled by garlic.” Morgan was a scientist who had worked in a lab before the infection, which had overcome everyone but him. He is immune. Morgan finds even dogs can be infected and despairs. We see flashbacks of his life. His young daughter and his wife succumb and his best friend ends up pounding on his door each night. Then he finds out he is not alone; some unaffected humans live; however, if they run out of medication, they succumb. A woman shows up in his neighborhood. It gets tumultuous; the other unaffected humans think he is a menace because he spends all his time killing the infected. Morgan is able to cure the woman with his own blood, but the crowd doesn’t listen, even to the woman who is part of their group. Oh well, life is saved, but Morgan gets a great, dramatic death.

Positives: This movie is definitely of its time. Since it was filmed in Italy, I think that is no surprise; very artsy-fartsy, as my brother-in-law likes to call those kinds of films. The plot was well-formed, and the scenery was good. It was all black and white. “By the late 1950s, most Hollywood productions were being shot in color—so much so that by the mid-1960s new black and white releases were less a budgetary choice than they were an artistic choice.” ² I think that is doubly true (for Italy) that it was an artistic choice.

Negatives: It’s a bit corny—all right, quite corny—but that is to be expected for the time and place of filming. Age will not fare well for this film unless you get a restored version. It is out on DVD and Blu-ray, so perhaps that is accomplished.

Conclusions: The plot is more palatable than the adaption called I Am Legend 2007 starring Will Smith. The zombies killed the DOG! I liked the flashbacks of Morgan’s earlier life; it was full of joy, which contrasted greatly with how Morgan became. In the end, both heroes in each film die, but the woman involved has the cure, and it will all go well. Again, simplistic but somewhat satisfying. I actually got this copy from a bin in the Dollar Store. AMAZING.

Where to Watch

Amazon Prime free with ads

Apple TV $3.99

Microsoft Store $3.99

Crackle free with ads

Fubo TV subscription

Roku channel free with ads

Sources

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Man_on_Earth_(1964_film)

2. https://www.liveabout.com/how-movies-went-from-black-white-to-color-4153390

Illustrations

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Man_on_Earth_(1964_film)