The Last Man on Earth (1964)

i must have seen a different film!!

Best movie ever!

There are women in the film, but none has anything you could call a personality.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

In my opinion, Vincent Price gives one of his finest performances as Dr. Robert Morgan in this adaption of Richard Matheson's classic I Am Legend. Out of the three film adaptions, this one is my favorite. Price's ability to convey Morgan's sense of loneliness, fear, and frustration is what makes this film work so well. It comes across as genuine. What also helps this one is the film is shot very well. Small moments of desolation are captured by the camera in a beautiful way. It creates a stark contrast to the very real bleakness of Morgan's situation. Everything is peaceful and quiet, except that it's not. In the shadows and darkness lurk the infected that only come out at night to feed on the blood of their victims, turning on each other when they cannot find sustenance. In many ways, they're Vampires, though to me they aren't stereotypical in the traditional sense. They're almost a cross between vampires and zombies. The score for this film fits perfectly. It adds another layer to an already incredible story and Price's performance. When there are moments of frustration and loneliness is amplifies the moment. When he's out and about it makes you feel as though you're doing something important. It does all the things a score should do. It fits so flawlessly that it often is almost unnoticeable. It becomes another character in the story. To me, that's what a great score does. It becomes a secondary character that compliments the performance of the main character and enhances it. When you mix all those things together you have the fundamental ingredients to why this film works so well. While I do adore just about everything about this film, I do realize there are some weak points. Some of the dialogue's a bit cheesy, not bad enough that it harms anything, but it's noticeable. Another thing that has always irked me a little is the 3rd act feels rushed. They did such a tremendous job setting up the first 2/3rds that when the 3rd act rolls around it feels like it's done and over way too quickly. I wish they could have explored things a bit more before coming to the end. It wouldn't even have had to be anything too crazy, just a few more scenes exploring the drastic change in the situation and Morgan coming to realize what was about to happen. Despite the minor flaws that are present, this one is a tremendous film. Even after 52 years later The Last Man On Earth still manages to be enjoyable. That's the true testament to what a great and well-made film this is. If you've never watched this one, please track it down and give it a watch. It's easy to find, cheap and well worth it.

Based on the same novel as 'The Omega Man' and 'I Am Legend' but less of an action thriller, this Vincent Price version offers an acute portrayal of loneliness while spinning the same story of a contagion sole survivor who has to ward off his infected neighbours who only ever emerge at night. While the infected individuals are not particularly menacing, they are a curious mix of traditional zombie and vampire tropes, moving in a somnambulist fashion a la 'Night of the Living Dead', but prone to all vampire weaknesses such as sunlight and garlic. This is also an intriguing film from the get-go, opening with eerily deserted metropolis and suburbia shots before the title in jolting fashion appears on screen. The most interesting part of the film though is its flashback section, which not only fills in all the details about how the infection spread, but also features some harrowing scenes that really humanise Price as his daughter becomes infected and he tries to avoid the military burning her body as per protocol. There is also a great bit in which Price briefly befriends a dog. The film loses some of its edginess as Franca Bettoia enters the film late in the piece, resulting in several talky and static scenes. Her presence does, however, lead to a couple of unexpected, thought-provoking twists and the film ends on a haunting if a tad melodramatic note.

Seasoned and well polished actor Vincent Price shows his range of emotions through this living nightmare of a movie. A strain of disease has spread throughout the world turning the masses into vampire like creatures who only come out when the sun sets. For some strange reason Dr Robert Morgan (Vincent Price) is the only survivor at the moment as he hunkers down nightly in his home filled with exposed wires playing jazz records and even watching home movie on his projector. Meanwhile outside his front door are the downtrodden Vampires with clubs banging and yelling his name to come out. During his days he gets on his HAM radio calling out "KOKW calling. Is anybody out there?" as the sound of static fills the air.The look of dismay on our Doctor's face as he faces another day alone among the living dead. Then off to his garage as he pours petrol into his generator to power up his workshop and makes wooden stakes from his lathe. Then off to the supermarket for fresh pungent garlic to keep away the nocturnal intruders.Then he checks his map for the hiding areas where our vampires for the most part are sleeping. Then our good Doctor pulls out one of the wooden stakes and with mallet in hand drives it hard through their hearts.With each hit Dr. Morgan keeps score of each strike.Unfortunately its like removing grains of sand from a an endless beach. There are so many yet to destroy. Then he carries a few bodies to his station wagon and drives to a flaming pit. Dumps the bodies into the hole for cremation. Then it's back home to prepare for the evening's festivities as the vampire neighbors commence their onslaught. This has been going on for three years as Dr. Morgan labels his makeshift calendar as he slashes the days gone by. Price narrates the beginning scenes as the Lone Doctor tries to make sense of the demise of the Human race. Morgan gets philosophical with deep thoughts, " I can't afford the luxury of anger. Anger can make me vulnerable. It can destroy my reason and reason's the only advantage I have over them." Wednesday night is movie night in the Morgan dwelling as our Doctor sits alone and watches on his projector. As the movie unfolds Morgan flashes back to a normal time before the strain hits of Birthday parties and family. The films bring instant joy and satisfaction as he starts to laugh and then as the reel ends the laughing turns to sobbing as we hear the bangs and yelling from the outside. The movie goes through the sequences of the disease as Morgan's who is employed as a chemist works diligently and feverishly for a cure with no results.His town or city which is not mentioned has the virous including his daughter Kathy who is stricken as we see the poor child dis oriented, sickly and blind calling out for her Mommy and Daddy. Speaking about Mommy,Virg, (Emma Danieli) she is also afflicted and it's a matter of time before she screams and shouts,"I CAN'T SEE!" the final stage before the transformation. This horrible situation is bestowed upon our Doctor who tries to bury his spouse naturally only to have her come back to the front door covered in dirt looking at Morgan if he was a juicy piece of meat. That explains the flaming pit. It's Dr. Morgan against this Topsy turvy world of nocturnal carnivores. Is there anyone out there besides these creatures? This story was written by William Leicester and the screenplay was written by Richard Matheson who's name is associated with horror shows on Television. Twilight Zone, Outer limits and Thriller. Matheson has also written the novel for the color follow-up movie The Omega Man. The Last Man On Earth started the ball rolling for Zombie apocalypse genre which a few years later with the sleeper, low-budget classic by George Romero Night Of the Living Dead. Nothing like the original and remember to lock your doors when viewing this epic picture.

Undeniably Influential, This Apocalyptic/Vampire/Zombie Original was the First, and Best, Adaptation of Richard Matheson's "I am Legend". It Stars Horror Icon Vincent Price with a Non-American Cast and is Highlighted by Some Stunning Cinematography and Atmospheric Dread.The Reason for its "Cult Movie" Status is Clear. There Just wasn't Anything Like it In its Time, and for 1964 was Unusually Bleak, Relentlessly Downbeat, and Scary for the Youth Audience it Targeted. Anyone Seeing it in '64 or on Late Night TV in the Sixties Could Not Forget It. But it was Forgotten by Some and has been Resurrected by Film Buffs as a Bonafide B-Movie Classic. It's Not the Smoothest Movie Ever Made and has some Pacing Problems but No Problem Delivering a Sombre Message Movie that is Impressive.The Story has been Remade Twice and Neither the Silly, Stupid "The Omega Man" (1971) or the Will Smith (2007) Version are as Good, Objectively. Beware Public Domain Prints that are Murky and Plain Awful and Do Not Present the Original Widescreen Ratio that is a Must See for Complete Appreciation.