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The Last Tycoon
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray A - America - Kino Lorber Review written by and copyright: Noor Razzak (30th November 2023). |
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The Film
 Renowned filmmaker Elia Kazan's "The Last Tycoon" offers a visually compelling exploration of the cutthroat world of Hollywood during its golden age. The film, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's unfinished novel, unfolds as a poignant tale of ambition, love, and betrayal within the glamorous yet ruthless confines of the movie industry and marks the second collaboration with legendary producer Sam Spiegel whom he made "On The Waterfront" (1954) with, to much acclaim. One of the film's standout features is its meticulous attention to period detail. The production design, costumes, and cinematography transport the audience seamlessly to 1930's Hollywood, capturing the glitz and glamour of the era. The artful blending of historical accuracy and visual spectacle provides a rich backdrop against which the characters' struggles and triumphs unfold. The cast, led by Robert De Niro in the role of Monroe Stahr, delivers strong performances that bring depth to the characters. De Niro embodies Stahr's complexity, portraying the character's internal conflicts and external challenges with nuance. Jack Nicholson, who plays the ruthless studio head Pat Brady, provides a compelling antagonist whose power-hungry motives drive the narrative forward. The film is also rife with a who's who of Hollywood icons among its cast that includes Tony Curtis, Robert Mitchum, Jeanne Moreau, Donald Pleasence, Ray Milland, Seymour Cassel, and Anjelica Huston, all lending their star power to this somewhat flawed production that even the film's producer at one time called "a bad f**king movie". The film's narrative, while engaging, suffers from some pacing issues and occasional lapses in focus. The complexity of Fitzgerald's source material may contribute to moments where the plot feels fragmented or rushed. However, the film compensates with its striking visuals and strong performances, allowing the audience to remain invested in the characters and their fates to a certain degree. Thematically the film delves into the cost of ambition and the sacrifices individuals make in pursuit of success. The exploration of morality within the cutthroat world of Hollywood adds layers to the characters, making them more than mere archetypes. The film invites viewers to reflect on the ethical dilemmas faced by those navigating an industry that demands compromise and often exacts a heavy toll on personal relationships. Kazan's direction, coupled with Harold Pinter's screenplay, offers a thought-provoking commentary on the illusions of power and the ephemeral nature of success. The film invites viewers to question the true price of ambition and the personal compromises made in the pursuit of creative and financial triumph. "The Last Tycoon" stands as a visually captivating and thematically rich exploration of Hollywood's golden age. While it may falter in pacing and narrative cohesion at times, the film's strong performances and compelling themes make it a noteworthy entry in the cinematic portrayal of the entertainment industry. As we celebrate its 47th anniversary, "The Last Tycoon" continues to serve as a testament to the timeless allure and perils of chasing the American Dream in the world of filmmaking. The film faced significant challenges that contributed to its underwhelming performance at the box office. One key factor was the film's complex narrative, stemming from its adaptation of Fitzgerald's unfinished novel. The intricate plot and nuanced characters may have proven challenging for mainstream audiences, potentially alienating viewers seeking more straightforward storytelling. Additionally, the film's pacing issues and occasional lapses in focus may have hindered its accessibility, making it less appealing to a broader audience. Furthermore, the competitive landscape at the time of its release in 1976 may have played a role, as the film contended with other high-profile releases that captured public attention, we're talking about a year that also saw the release of "All the President's Men", "Rocky", "Taxi Driver", "The Omen", "Network", "The Outlaw Josey Wales", "Assault on Precinct 13", "A Star is Born", "Logan's Run", and "Carrie" among other notable films, so it's no wonder this film got lost in the fray and only managed a pathetic $1.8 million at the box office. Despite the strong performances and visually arresting elements, "The Last Tycoon" struggled to find a widespread audience, underscoring the delicate balance filmmakers must strike between artistic complexity and commercial appeal in the fiercely competitive world of cinema.
Video
Kino Lorber has finally released this film in a high definition format that will allow fans to ditch their long obsolete barebones DVD release. The image here is from a brand new 4K scan from the film's original 35mm camera negative. Presented in the film's original theatrical ratio of 1.85:1 HD 1080p 24/fps using AVC-MPEG4 compression, the result is quite pleasing. Colors look good highlighting the incredible production design, there's a fair amount of film grain, some shots look a little soft but they are few and far between, so there is some minor consistency issues. Blacks look good, solid and deep, skin tones appear natural, and detail looks good considering the age of the film.
Audio
Two audio tracks are included in English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono. For the purposes of this review I chose to view the film with its 5.1 surround track, dialogue aside there isn't too much to write home about in terms of surround activity. It does its job and that's about it. Optional subtitles are included in English for the hearing impaired.
Extras
Kino Lorber has included only a single extra on this disc, a feature-length audio commentary by Film Historian/Author of Editor of "Filmmakers on Filmmaking" Joseph McBride. McBride offers some interesting trivia here detailing the film's production, on the screenplay and basing it on an incomplete work. I enjoyed hearing about the cast and on some interesting gossip in regards to the old Hollywood system, casting couches, etc. He touches on the production design and the importance of remaining accurate to the era, he also comments on Kazan's communist ideals, a period of Hollywood turmoil that led to the formation of the unions and guilds, among other things. This is an excellent track that transcends this film and offers a very interesting history of Hollywood at the time.
Packaging
Packaged in a keep case housed in a cardboard slip-case.
Overall
"The Last Tycoon" may not be the classic it wanted to be having it on HD is a nice surprise. I personally did not connect with the film and it doesn't make a compelling argument for an immediate purchase, however the audio commentary is so insightful that an argument could be made to purchase based on it alone.
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