Drama
United States of America
The Last Picture Show is a 1971 film directed by Peter Bogdanovich and based on the novel by Larry McMurtry. Set in the fictional town of Anarene, Texas, the film focuses on the lives of a group of high school seniors as they navigate the complexities of growing up in a small town.
Sonny Crawford (played by Timothy Bottoms) and Duane Jackson (played by Jeff Bridges) are best friends who are both struggling to find their place in the world. Duane is dating the beautiful and popular Jacy Farrow (played by Cybill Shepherd), but is unsure of what he wants to do with his life after graduation. Sonny is having an affair with the older and married Ruth Popper (played by Cloris Leachman), but is also uncertain about his future.
As the boys approach graduation, they are faced with the reality of their limited opportunities in Anarene. Duane considers joining the army as a way to escape the town, but has second thoughts after spending time with a disabled veteran. Sonny takes over a local pool hall, but soon realizes that running a business is not what he wants to do with his life.
The Last Picture Show is a poignant and nostalgic look at small town life in the 1950s. Bogdanovich captures the nuances and idiosyncrasies of the town and its inhabitants, portraying both the beauty and the ugliness of life in Anarene. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning eight Academy Award nominations and winning two. It has since become a classic of American cinema.
