Classic Movie Review: "The Last Man on Earth"

I am continuing my search for classic movies that I haven't yet seen. Recently, I came across one recommended by a friend of mine. It is based on a novel written by Richard Matheson entitled "I Am Legend." The film, however, was named "The Last Man on Earth."

Although I didn't know it at the time, another movie that I had viewed many years ago - - "The Omega Man" - - was a remake of this classic film. So was Will Smith's film from a couple of years back, entitled "I Am Legend."

"The Last Man on Earth," which was released in 1964 dealt with an issue that we continue to contemplate today: What would happen if the world experienced a global viral pandemic? It is telling that some 45 years later we still don't have answers as to how or even if mankind would or could deal with such an issue.

The movie stars Vincent Price as Dr. Robert Morgan. He was one of a team of doctors who were working tirelessly on a vaccine to cure the worldwide plague. Like many others, he lost his daughter and finally his wife to the cruelty of the disease.

As the plague seemed certain to overcome everyone, Morgan tried one final vaccine. Although he didn't know it at the time, it was the answer he and everyone else had been looking for. Unfortunately, it came too late.

Left alone in a world where most people had died and those that were left were intent on Earth's destruction, he tried to survive. By night, he holed up in his home trying to keep the mutants at bay. During the day, he tried to find where they hid out in order to destroy them before they destroyed everything else.

Haunted by the past, Morgan considers himself in a living hell. That is, until he discovers a ray of hope. He turns up another human being who has also apparently escaped the deadly virus. Or has she?

At its root, "The Last Man on Earth" is a story about lost faith, undying love, and the intrinsic value of hope. It's not really a horror story, although that is one aspect of it. It's a story about the struggles that all humans encounter; those of love, hate, charity, indifference, tolerance, intolerance, selfishness, selflessness and so much more.

Price was the perfect man for the role at the time. As a celebrated actor of the macbre he knew how to pluck every nerve of his audience. He could garner disgust, disbelief, and horror. But he could also reach into the heart to gain pity, charity, and even love.

Carrying the bulk of the film on his back alone, Price was able to achieve something miraculous with this role. It is just a shame that many people never realized how good of an actor he really was.

Few writers could make people think outside of the realm of the norm the way that Matheson could. He did that with his novel and with the screenplay for this film. He also did it with dozens of other outstanding pieces of work like "The Incredible Shrinking Man," "Stir of Echoes," "What Drams May Come," "Somewhere in Time," and so much more.

This is an excellent film. So were the two that came after it. While they were different in many ways, each of them touched the heart and challenged the mind. I would be hard-pressed to choose a favorite. I think all of them should be seen for their individual contributions.

"The Last Man on Earth" gets my endorsement and four out of five stars.

RATING SCALE USED:
0 = A stinker. Don't waste the money!
1 = Bad. Rent it at your own risk.
2 = Below average. See only if you have time to kill.
2.5 = Average. A toss up.
3 = Good. Worth a looksee.
3.5 = Very Good. I recommend it.
4 = Excellent. Don't miss it!
4.5 = Outstanding. What are you waiting for?
5 = Destined to become a classic. You will be sorry if you don't see it.