Main Cast: Burt Reynolds, Cybill Shepherd, Madeline Kahn, Duilio del Prete, Eileen Brennan
Release Year: 1975
Country: US
Run Time: 118 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
Plot
Peter Bogdanovich's attempt to direct a homage to the great musicals of the 1930s is now remembered as one of the embarrassments of the 1970s. The film's thin plot, standard for the genre, centers on the romantic entanglements and misunderstandings among six stock characters: the bored playboy (Burt Reynolds), his never-ruffled valet (John Hillerman), the debutante (Cybill Shepherd), the Broadway diva (Madeline Kahn), her gambler boyfriend (Duilio Del Prete), and her maid (Eileen Brennan). All six are likely to burst into song and dance at any time, and they often do (the performances were recorded live on the set, not pre-recorded), but sixteen Cole Porter tunes, lavish sets and costumes, and an expensive production cannot hide the fact that Reynolds and Shepherd, the two leads, are way out of their depth. A notorious failure, At Long Last Love left a permanent stain on Bogdanovich's career. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
Review
One of the most trashed movies of its time, At Long Last Love has grown somewhat in reputation over the years. While it still cannot be considered a good musical, it's fair to say that it does have some bonuses. Chief among these is the look of the film, a color recreation of the Astaire-Rogers deco designs of the 1930s. Almost all of the sets and costumes are black and white, and the effect is stunning. Cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs has framed the design exquisitely, although the shooting of some of the numbers is somewhat static (most likely due to limitations imposed by the fact that all of the numbers were shot "live" rather than lip-synched). Burt Reynolds and Cybill Shepherd deservedly came in for a drubbing for their dreadful singing and charmless performances, but Madeline Kahn is a delight, especially during "Find Me a Primitive Man," and Eileen Brennan and John Hillerman have some very good moments. Also a plus is the Cole Porter score, especially the lesser-known songs (and well-known songs with less-well-known alternate lyrics). Unfortunately, all these assets are largely mitigated by the miscast leads, a poor script with often leaden dialogue, surprisingly drab direction, an off-putting coldness of tone and an unattractive endorsement of upper class privilege. Love could have been a charming romp, but it carries too much baggage to ever sparkle and bubble the way it should. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
The film, with a screenplay by Bogdanovich, tries to pay homage to the great Hollywood musicals of the 1930s such as Swing Time and Top Hat. It features 16 songs with music and lyrics by Cole Porter.
At Long Last Love is set in the 1930s and is evocative of Noel Coward's playPrivate Lives, featuring mate-swapping among the very rich.
Production notes
The film is unique as it is the first movie since the early 1930s in which the musical numbers were recorded live, without the actors lip-synching to a previously recorded soundtrack. The live recording was cited as a mistake in numerous reviews of the movie, as the actors in the movie were not known for their musical abilities, and had trouble singing live while performing.
Reception
The film opened in March 1975 to scathing reviews and poor box office returns, prompting Bogdanovich to have an open letter of apology printed in newspapers throughout the U.S.
At Long Last Love was acclaimed as one of the worst films ever made in Harry and Michael Medved's The Golden Turkey Awards: Nominees and Winners, the Worst Achievements in Hollywood History (1980). They also listed the film in The Hollywood Wall of Shame, writing "The choreography set new standards for flat-footed incompetence, while Bogdanovich's perfectionist refusal to lip-synch the musical numbers drove the budget through the roof. To date, the movie has earned back less than one-fourth its cost of $6 million."[1]
To date, there has never been a home video release of the film in any format.
