Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

The Last of Sheila Blu-ray Movie Review

Hit-and-run killers of the world unite.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III November 15, 2021

So, what happens when one of musical theater's darkest composers and Norman Bates write a movie together? The Last of Sheila, that's what. This subversive murder mystery, from the minds of Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins, concerns six associates of movie producer Clinton Greene (James Coburn, The Magnificent Seven), whose wife Sheila (Yvonne Romain, Action of the Tiger) was killed in a hit-and-run accident after a lavish party. Reuniting aboard Clinton's yacht for the first time since Sheila's death the previous year, we get to know all six: Tom Parkman (Richard Benjamin, Westworld), his wife Lee (Joan Hackett, Support Your Local Sheriff), talent agent Christine (Dyan Cannon, Heaven Can Wait), actress Alice Wood (Raquel Welch, One Million Years B.C.), her husband Anthony (Ian McShane, Deadwood), and Philip Dexter (James Mason, A Star is Born), once a high-profile director who now shoots TV commercials.

Clinton's got big plans for his guests during their one-week Mediterranean pleasure cruise, which begins with a group photo and the incredibly specific rules for an elaborate game created in honor of his late wife. Clinton begins by passing out private index cards that project an embarrassing secret onto each player -- "shoplifter", "little child molester", "hit-and-run killer" and perhaps the worst one, "homosexual" (ah, the good old days) -- that he describes as nothing more than "pretend gossip" but may or may not be true accusations intentionally assigned to the wrong players. Each night, they disembark at a port city and one of the secrets is revealed to the group, where clues await to help them figure out the culprit du jour and the resulting points are tabulated on Clinton's neatly-drawn scoreboard. Unfortunately on the dark and stormy second night, someone winds up stabbed to death and then the real game begins.

As its twisted story unfolds, The Last of Sheila deftly combines its layered murder mystery with a meta critique of the Hollywood studio system and an almost documentary-like atmosphere... partly because real people and studios are name-checked on occasion (Hammer Films) and some of the key cast members portray not-so-subtle versions of well-known Hollywood figures. (Dyan Cannon's character Christine, for example, is based on high-profile talent manager Sue Mengers, who not only represented some of The Last of Sheila's cast and crew but was asked to play the role first.) It gives the film an immediately intriguing layer of interest that those "in the know" will immediately pick up on... but at the same time, those in unfamiliar territory won't feel totally lost. Just one more feather in its cap, really.

Surprisingly, The Last of Sheila was Sondheim and Perkins' first and only movie script, both together and separately. During an accompanying audio commentary, we learn that the pair were long-time friends and huge puzzle fans who would host elaborate scavenger hunts and other games for celebrity friends in their free time. Given this knowledge, it's not surprising that The Last of Sheila oozes confidence and is well-crafted, with lots of subtle clues sprinkled throughout that extend from the six characters' introductions all the way to the closing moments -- hell, there's even a pretty big hint in the opening credits. It's impressive work but maybe a bit too smart for its own good at times: the complex story and Hollywood in-jokes probably kept cautious outsiders at bay, contributing to the film's lackluster ticket sales while all but ensuring a future cult classic status. As such, The Last of Sheila may not be the best choice for a relaxing first-time weekend matinee but is certainly an interesting slice of early 1970s filmmaking worth digging through.

Warner Archive's new Blu-ray follows their own 2012 DVD edition and an earlier disc by Warner Bros.; all three carry the same bonus features, but the Blu-ray features a top-tier restoration that makes the film sparkle like new.

The Last of Sheila Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Warner Archive's new 1080p transfer of The Last of Sheila is a mighty fine presentation indeed, beautifully framed at 1.85:1 (not 2.40:1, as stated on the back cover) and the result of a recent high-res scan of original film elements. The location footage looks simply fantastic, from the beautiful backdrop of southern France (above) to the cavernous interiors of an abandoned monastery (screenshot #4) all adding to the film's strangely alluring atmosphere. Even the scenes filmed "at sea" -- a mixture of real location footage and snug interiors shot on a convincingly designed set -- holds up nicely, whether expansive depth or tight claustrophobia was the intended (and achieved) result. Fine detail and textures are great as well, from close-up facial features to wide shots and, of course, the era-specific costumes designed by future film director Joel Shumacher. Likewise, color is beautifully replicated with the film's mostly natural palette balancing warm interiors with colder nighttime scenes and accurate skin tones within these environments. It's yet another fine effort from the reliable boutique label and the disc is perfectly encoded with no obvious compression artifacts, banding, or visible damage.

The Last of Sheila Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix does what it can with the source material, which is admittedly limited: some of the dialogue was recorded with few mics and no "sweetening", which adds to the film's cinéma vérité aesthetic but might ring a little hollow to anyone expecting a sleek and polished sound stage. Regardless, this mix sounds clean under the circumstances and dialogue is balanced evenly with background effects and Billy Goldenberg's sporadic original score, creating a solid no-frills atmosphere that has likely never sounded better. Depth is even achieved at times; not so much within the cramped yacht interiors -- actually a custom-built set, for the most part -- but in the expansive outdoor locations and cavernous monastery (seen below) where the second death takes place. No obvious hiss, distortion, drop-outs, or sync issues were detected along the way, rounding out this split mono presentation nicely.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are offered during the film; they're formatted nicely with no sync issues.

The Last of Sheila Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a standard keepcase with eye-catching cover artwork based on the original poster and no inserts. The limited bonus features are carried over from both previous DVD editions.

• Audio Commentary - This feature-length track brings together actors Richard Benjamin, Dyan Cannon, and Raquel Welch, who offer an amiable but kind of lightweight take on the main feature. It's a mixture of personal on-set memories, trivial stuff about the cast and crew, and of course a discussion about the murder mystery at hand. However, there are quite a few lapses into silence and certain participants spend more time talking about fluff (hairstyles, clothes) than anything else. It's also not clear if Raquel Welch was recorded separately, but I certainly hope so: she repeats a few pieces of information on several occasions that will give listeners a strong sense of déjà vu. It's still worth a listen, but don't expect a track as smartly organized as the film itself.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:54) - This chaotic promotional piece can also be seen here.

The Last of Sheila Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Herbert Ross' The Last of Sheila is a slick little murder mystery, penned by one-time screenwriting partners Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins, that features a great cast and razor-sharp dialogue. It oozes confidence but might feel frustratingly inaccessible to first-time viewers, though anyone with their ears perked should immediately know there's a layered and complex story hiding just below the surface. Warner Archive's brand-new Blu-ray package is up to their typically high standards, offering another top-tier A/V presentation and two bonus features carried over from earlier DVDs. It's absolutely recommended to established fans, but newcomers may want to try before they buy.