Comedy,Drama
United States of America
The Last Detail is a 1973 American comedy-drama film directed by Hal Ashby and starring Jack Nicholson, Otis Young, and Randy Quaid. The story is about two navy men, "Badass" Buddusky (Jack Nicholson) and "Mule" Mulhall (Otis Young), who are ordered to escort a young sailor named Larry Meadows (Randy Quaid) from a naval base in Virginia to a naval prison in Maine.
Meadows has been sentenced to eight years in prison for attempting to steal $40 from a charity box of his commanding officer's wife. Buddusky and Mulhall, who have been assigned to take Meadows to the prison, decide to show him a good time on the way there as they believe his sentence is unjustly harsh.
They take Meadows on a wild trip through Washington D.C. and New York City, getting him drunk, introducing him to women, and teaching him various ways to enjoy life. During their journey, they also encounter various characters, including a prostitute, a bar owner, and a Marine sergeant who is abusive to Meadows.
As they get closer to the prison, the trio's relationship changes, as do their motivations. The film ends with a surprising turn of events that will test the men's loyalty and friendship.
The Last Detail was well-received by critics, who praised its performances, direction, and screenplay, which was based on the novel of the same name by Darryl Ponicsan. Jack Nicholson's portrayal of Buddusky earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
