MovieChat Forums > The Last of Sheila (1973) Discussion > One of the best modern era whodunits I'v...

One of the best modern era whodunits I've ever seen

posted 10 years ago by gdk3129
8 replies | jump to latest

I saw this film when it came out in 1973 at only 8 years of age and always remembered it. I saw it a few days ago on TCM and am even more impressed now that I'm an adult and could really understand it better. Lots of things I missed the first time. It is truly one of the best whodunits of the modern age that I have ever seen. I see that it's being remade and remakes usually put a little twist of their own to it. They would have to. This film is just too good to remake as is. I hope they don't screw up a brilliant script. Who was it that said you should remake the flops not the hits???

[–] MrMime2015 10 years ago

I, too, was impressed by The Last of Sheila at the time of release. It struck me as a hipper Christie whodunit. Watched it again last night on TCM and it has held up well.

[–] jrs-8 10 years ago

I agree as well. I think it's a terrific film that stands up very well to time. Frankly I think it's better than any of the Agatha Christie movies that came along after that. Watching it again last night (for probably the 4th time) I was struck by little things I picked up that I never noticed before. This is truly one of those movies that demands repeated viewings to pick up all the clues and subtleties.

[–] MrMime2015 10 years ago

SPOILERS AHEAD:

I enjoyed that first night of the troupe hustling around an exotic locale solving the first puzzle and expected more of the same for several more nights. But the murder the second night scotched that. Coburn, the energetic center of the film, checked out too early. One reason I haven't seen the film much over the last 40 years was seeing JC in drag brutally murdered not once but several times in flashback. The snippet flashbacks (e.g., the wrinkled game card, the purloined ice pick) did work when Benjamin and later Mason were explaining their take on the murders.
The narrative did violate a cardinal rule of whodunnits, film or book, two murderers, one actual, one attempted. That's one too many for those trying to solve the mystery.

[–] Dan_Garten 9 years ago

Interesting.

[–] vilafire 9 years ago

That's a trope. Murder Takes the Bus, for one of the top.

[–] DreamersxDisease 9 years ago

I agree. It's such a tight script/story really. I find it hard to search out any sort of plot holes because the plot holes were intentional and brought to light by the end of the movie from the characters themselves hah. It's quite cleverly done and man...you cannot lose with a cast like that. Did they know how awesome they had it? I know they were all fairly well known even then, but having hindsight like I do and not being around when it came out, I just look at that cast and kind of go, "wow."

I've seen the movie a couple times now, I end up watching it every time I see it's on tv, and it slowly has become one of my favorites. For anyone who's into mystery stories, like I am, it's a must see! It's always a movie I'm excited to watch, I wish more people would too.

[–] syldeanh-25986 9 years ago

Hated it. Couldn't figure it out, and couldn't care less. Acting and camera work terrible.

[–] rfeni-1 9 years ago

You said it! Some of these "tent pole" movies nowadays, I can't remember anything that happened a week later. I saw "The Last of Sheila" when it first came out (it's been 43 years? Tempus fugit!) and I can still remember it so well, even lots of the dialog is still stuck in my head. The characters--except for Alice--were interesting and memorable, the 'Sheila Green Memorial Gossip Game' was fascinating, and it was the first time I heard Bette Midler. What more can you ask?