Last Summer (1969)

86% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(437 ratings)

Last Summer is a frank coming-of-age tale that refuses to prettify its young characters or their activities. A group of aimless teens get together for sex, drugs and rock-and-roll on Fire Island. Timid, overweight Rhonda (Catherine Burns) is goaded into aberrant behavior by her peers, especially the… More Last Summer is a frank coming-of-age tale that refuses to prettify its young characters or their activities. A group of aimless teens get together for sex, drugs and rock-and-roll on Fire Island. Timid, overweight Rhonda (Catherine Burns) is goaded into aberrant behavior by her peers, especially the promiscuous Sandy (Barbara Hershey). Enjoying Rhonda's discomfiture, Sandy encourages the boys in the group to gang-rape the poor girl. It was this scene, the first of its kind in a general-release American picture, that earned Last Summer its initial X rating. The film was later judiciously trimmed to qualify for an R rating without blunting its dramatic impact. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: Frank Perry
Written By: Eleanor Perry
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Jun 10, 1969 Wide

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
Like their subjects, they too frequently mistake postures for performances and smartness for wisdom.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
The best thing about the movie, however, are the performances that Perry has gotten from his new players, who manage to seem variously awkward and strident, dense and dumb, and sometimes very innocent, without ever being self-conscious about it.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
There are good movies about other people's lives, but rarely a movie that recalls, if only for a scene or two, the sense and flavor of life the way you remember it.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A brutal film, as well as an insightful one.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
One of those winsome, nostalgic beach movies.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
as disturbing as it is intriguing

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Another fascinating "End of the 60s" film that puts a capstone on a remarkable decade. I don't ever think I've seen an "end of innocence" theme portrayed quite so literally or more startlingly. A decade where everyone "grew up" quickly, became… More
Another fascinating "End of the 60s" film that puts a capstone on a remarkable decade. I don't ever think I've seen an "end of innocence" theme portrayed quite so literally or more startlingly. A decade where everyone "grew up" quickly, became disabused of their naïveté, were politicized, found their voices -- how interesting that Rhoda is, in the end, silenced and rendered passive. She's the most articulate character in the movie up until she is raped. The rest is silence. In fact the rape marginalizes her right out of the end of the film. This is very well written, and Cathy Burns as Rhoda was not only nominated for a supporting actress Oscar, but I'm thinking maybe she actually should have won it. <p>And speaking of suddenly growing up, coming of age, it's great to see Barbara Hershey, Richard "John Boy" Thomas, and Bruce Davison growing up into acting adulthood. I wonder, perhaps if it weren't for <i>The Waltons</i>, if Thomas would have had a bigger acting career. He really is very good in this one, topped only by Cathy Burns.

Cast

Barbara Hershey
as Sandy
Richard Thomas
as Peter
Bruce Davison
as Dan

Cathy Burns
as Rhoda
Ralph Waite
as Peter's Father
Conrad Bain
as Dan's Father

See full cast

Last Summer (1969)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

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Cast