At Long Last Love (1975)

10% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
38% of users liked it
(254 ratings)

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… More 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, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 58 min.
Directed By: Peter Bogdanovich
Written By: Peter Bogdanovich
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1975 Wide

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
This Cole Porter coloring book, mounted with great expense and no taste, is one of those grand catastrophes that make audiences either hoot in derisive surprise or look away in embarrassment.
Variety Staff, Variety
A disappointing and embarrassing waste of talent.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
A daring experiment that failed.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie's no masterpiece, but I can't account for the viciousness of some of the critical attacks against it.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
At Long Last Love never quite sinks, but then it never leaves the pier.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This foolish attempt at re-creating the lush musicals of the 1930s offers fabulous art deco sets, memorable Cole Porter songs, and slick production values, yet it goes down like a stricken elephant.
Adam Lippe, Examiner.com
But as they say, when all you have to recommend in your musical is a hairy chest, you're in trouble.
Stephen Garrett, Time Out
It's an indulgent movie -- Peter and Cybill having a lark with their friends -- but it's also a neat parody of '30s musicals.
, Film4
Cole Porter fans, steer clear. Actually, everybody steer clear.
Phil Hall, Film Threat
Burt Reynolds and Cybill Shepherd sing and dance...badly! But the lively supporting cast and the art deco production design deserve merit.

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Glue footed travesty that makes a mockery of the very films it sets out to honor. Bogdanovich has seemingly no understanding of the genre and even if the cast were better the film would still be deeply flawed. A very few performers acquit themselves without shame, unsurprisingly they… More
Glue footed travesty that makes a mockery of the very films it sets out to honor. Bogdanovich has seemingly no understanding of the genre and even if the cast were better the film would still be deeply flawed. A very few performers acquit themselves without shame, unsurprisingly they are old pros Mildred Natwick, John Hillerman and too a lesser extent Eileen Brennan. Madeleine Kahn tries her best and isn't terrible but the songs aren't suited to her unique brand of talent and the direction does her no favors. Duilio Del Prete is a nonenitity who makes no impression. That leaves the leads who are awful both separately and together. Reynolds at least seems to be giving it the old college try the problem being that he can neither sing nor dance and shares zero chemistry with Cybill Shepherd. Early in her career here she is hopelessly out of her depth, in time she was able to perform a song with at least a little finesse, not here. She also dances with no grace whatsoever and is stiff in her scenes, the movie stops dead whenever she is on screen. A mess!