The Last Hurrah (1958)

Powerful

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

I have been to the Etrange Festival in Paris and the director Jean-Pierre Mocky talked about this movie, he told as it's the rarest film of John Ford in France but it's his best for him. I didn't know John Ford and i never heard of this film before this festival. He gave me the envy to watch it so i did.I read a bit about John Ford and i understood as i mostly made western movies than political ones. I really wanted to watch it. The movie itself is interesting, we follow the life of a old man who wants to be a mayor another time in a town of United States of America. Many peoples don't know about how someone is elected as Mayor and we can see exactly all the stages.I highly recommend you this film if you like John Ford.

I'd been looking forward to this for a long time. I'm a fan of John Ford and he's given me some of my favorite films.I'll have to confess that "The Last Hurrah" disappointed me in many ways. The acting, particularly Spenser Tracy's was wonderful throughout. Ford's stable of stalwarts made the film glisten with their bit roles and backup. It was Tracy's film, though, and he's a virtuoso whichever way you view it.It's very much a black and white film - and I'm not referring to the color. There are the could guys and then the bad guys, with absolutely no subtlety at all. The good guys were the Irish who made it up the ladder through honest (?) hard work while the bad guys had English accents and inherited their wealth. Just think Basil Rathbone or John Carradine and you get the picture. The rival candidate to Tracy is an undisguised idiot with a hilarious but ridiculous "interview" on television including a barking dog and a wife who can't read. These are very, very broad lines.I can't help thinking about Frank Capra's descriptions of the other side, the "baddies" in such films as "Mr. Deeds" or "It's a Wonderful Life" There is absolutely no subtlety whatsoever. These people were educated and reared in wealthy families and should be punished. This is a very rural and dangerous flaw in the American personality that found its way in this film. But this time, they have English ACCENTS. John Ford has never been at ease with the English people in general. Sometimes, it borders on intense dislike or even hatred, and it's everywhere to be seen in this film. The protracted death-bed scene was so over-done and over-long it was embarrassing to watch. Just a-tuggin' at the old heartstrings. Cardiac arrest might be a more appropriate term. Ford didn't know when to stop. It's as plain and simple as that.Curtis Stotlar

"The Last Hurrah" tells the story of old-time, machine driven, local politics. Both the good and the bad sides.On the good, you had a cluster of politicos who worked hard for their citizenry. Efficient, powerful and determined, they could get the job done, with a pat on the back or the wink of an eye.On the bad you had a cluster of politicos who expected a quid pro quo for favors they delivered. They expected those they helped to help them at the polls. They also usually helped members of their own group more than other people, as well.In "The Last Hurrah", this type of old-time politics is coming to an end. Television campaigns are being introduced, and at least one of the candidates is learning that you can reach more people in a two minute ad, than you can by standing on local street corners giving speeches. It is the dawn of a new political era.Spencer Tracy plays Mayor Skeffington, an old political pro, who is about to run his last campaign. He believes in the old ways. Pressing the flesh, meeting his constituency face to face. He is more apt to apply the pressure of his office in order to get what he wants, than he is to seek a consensus on matters. Tracy is perfect in this role. In many ways it is Tracy's last hurrah. He would appear in only a handful of films after this one. Since the film was made in 1958, you could also say that his style of acting is giving way to a new breed as well.Jeffrey Hunter is effective as Tracy's nephew. A political neophyte, who learns to admire Skeffington the man, and mayor.Tracy is surrounded by one of the best supporting casts to be seen on film. His "backroom" boys are Pat O'Brien, James Gleason, and Edward Brophy. Watching them, you get the sense of the type of "cigar filled rooms" they worked in to get deals done.Basil Rathbone, Donald Crisp, John Carradine are all perfect in their roles as well. Wallace Ford and Frank McHugh add "local flavor" to their roles as traditional opponents to Skeffington.But it is Tracy who carries this film, and he does so handsomely. I am one who believes that many of his best performances were his last ones. I think because he seemed more natural and there seems to be less effort and fewer mannerisms in these performances. "The Last Hurrah" demonstrates this.Tracy at the top of his game with many of his, and Ford's, old cronies, making another classic.

"The Last Hurrah" is a must see for Political Professionals If you are engaged in practical politics then the "The Last Hurrah" is a must for you. If you enjoy watching people or enjoy the company of people then you will enjoy the new characters that you will meet in the "Last Hurrah" The film introduces us to the character of "Ditto". If you have been in politics for long, you have met several Dittos and several of the other lively characters that are still fresh today. The competion between Police and Fire, the Funeral water, the Comodore /Fire Comisioneer, the GadFly Cadidate, and so many characters will look familiar for students of our system of government.The only reason I do not want to recommend this film is that there are too many wicked techniques (sic: old tricks of the trade) shown to the young for just the price of watching a movie in the comfort of their home.All the Best John W. Stump City Heights Ward of San Diego, California