Blog Monster Movie Review: The Last Man on Earth
The Last Man on Earth (1964) 
Starring: Vincent Price, Franca Bettoia, and Emma Danieli
Directed by: Ubaldo Ragona
Written by: Richard Matheson, William F. Leicester, Furio M. Monetti, and Ubaldo Ragona
Production Company: Associated Producers, Inc. and Produzioni La Regina
Before George Romero gave us Night of the Living Dead in 1968, Richard Matheson and Ubaldo Ragona gave us The Last Man on Earth. While Living Dead is better known as popularizing zombies as a horror genre, and the term “zombie” is never used in Last Man, don’t be mistaken, Ragona’s film, based on Matheson’s novel I am Legend is an eerie zombie film that any zombophile should see.
Part of the wonder of this film is, of course, the masterful Vincent Price. Price plays Dr. Robert Morgan, the last man on Earth. He’s the sole survivor of a world-wide plague which killed off every human except Morgan who survives, in theory, due to an immunity he acquired in Central America. That theory doesn’t really resonate, and Morgan’s other idea that he’s being punished sounds more accurate as we learn that he helped develop the plague.
Morgan survives in a world alone, and Price does a wonderful job playing a character who is all alone. For much of the film, Price is the only person on screen, save for the zombies. These zombies are a little different from the zombies we are used to in that they share some characteristics with vampires; they only come out at night and they crave blood.
But eventually, Morgan finds hope in Ruth Collins played by Franca Bettoia. Robert thinks he’s discovered another human, but he soon realizes that Ruth is really another zombie. Only she seems to be able to suppress her zombie urges. It seems that some of the zombies were able to develop a cure that was, unfortunately, temporary. Can Dr. Morgan help develop a permanent cure?
The Last Man on Earth is a subtle, overlooked masterpiece. Vincent Price is, as always, wonderful to watch, and Franca Beltoia holds her own next to the master of horror. Every zombie fan should see this early, unrecognized master work.
Starring: Vincent Price, Franca Bettoia, and Emma Danieli
Directed by: Ubaldo Ragona
Written by: Richard Matheson, William F. Leicester, Furio M. Monetti, and Ubaldo Ragona
Production Company: Associated Producers, Inc. and Produzioni La Regina
Before George Romero gave us Night of the Living Dead in 1968, Richard Matheson and Ubaldo Ragona gave us The Last Man on Earth. While Living Dead is better known as popularizing zombies as a horror genre, and the term “zombie” is never used in Last Man, don’t be mistaken, Ragona’s film, based on Matheson’s novel I am Legend is an eerie zombie film that any zombophile should see.
Part of the wonder of this film is, of course, the masterful Vincent Price. Price plays Dr. Robert Morgan, the last man on Earth. He’s the sole survivor of a world-wide plague which killed off every human except Morgan who survives, in theory, due to an immunity he acquired in Central America. That theory doesn’t really resonate, and Morgan’s other idea that he’s being punished sounds more accurate as we learn that he helped develop the plague.
Morgan survives in a world alone, and Price does a wonderful job playing a character who is all alone. For much of the film, Price is the only person on screen, save for the zombies. These zombies are a little different from the zombies we are used to in that they share some characteristics with vampires; they only come out at night and they crave blood.
But eventually, Morgan finds hope in Ruth Collins played by Franca Bettoia. Robert thinks he’s discovered another human, but he soon realizes that Ruth is really another zombie. Only she seems to be able to suppress her zombie urges. It seems that some of the zombies were able to develop a cure that was, unfortunately, temporary. Can Dr. Morgan help develop a permanent cure?
The Last Man on Earth is a subtle, overlooked masterpiece. Vincent Price is, as always, wonderful to watch, and Franca Beltoia holds her own next to the master of horror. Every zombie fan should see this early, unrecognized master work.
posted by Bodog at 5:02 PM
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