Jack Nicholson, Otis Young, Randy Quaid

Two bawdy, tough looking navy lifers - "Bad-Ass" Buddusky (Jack Nicholson), and "Mule" Mulhall (Otis Young) - are commissioned to escort a young pilferer named Meadows (Randy Quaid) to the brig in Bos...( read more  read more... )ton. Meadows is not much of a thief. Indeed, in his late teens, he is not much of a man at all. His great crime was to try to steal forty dollars from the general's wife's pet charity. For this, he's been sentenced to eight years behind bars. At first, Buddusky and Mulhall view the journey as a paid vacation, but their holiday spirits are quickly depressed by the prisoner, who looks prepared to break into tears at any moment. And he has the lowest self-image imaginable. Buddusky gets it into his head to give Meadows a good time and teach him a bit about getting on in the world. Lesson one: Don't take every card life deals you. Next, he teaches Meadows to drink, and, as a coup de grace, finds a nice young whore to instruct him in lovemaking. Mule, who worries aloud about his own position with military authority, seems pleased with Meadows's progress. However, when the trio reach Boston, the game comes abruptly to an end as reality sets in.

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85% liked it

5,458 ratings

Critics

91% liked it

22 critics

R, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Hal Ashby

Release Date: December 12, 1973

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DVD Release Date: December 14, 1999

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Flixster Reviews (341)


  • September 2, 2009
    You could say The Last Detail is a gritty and realistic version of On the Town, it has its similarities apart from the singing, dancing and the fact that its funny. Ashby gets the balance just right in this sad but hilarious drama. The cast is on top form and personally I don't t...( read more)hink Quaid has ever been better. Brilliant.
  • August 5, 2009
    Hilarious but also touching story about the bond created among three sailors, in their series of mishaps, and attempts to properly bid farewell the younger and inexperienced one in the group, who is about to serve time in prison and knows the other two only because they were comm...( read more)issioned to escort him.
    But, as all great things in life, duty soon becomes joy, and these adventurous trio surely won't forget the fantastic initiation journey they embarked on.
  • March 2, 2009
    Caught this on tv and jus couldnt look away, I didnt think it was great but it was interesting 2 watch these three characters stray on 2 this little journey before fulfilling their assigned task. Quaid made his character what it was, he was perfect for the role and Jack is Great ...( read more)2 Watch JAck!
  • December 2, 2008
    Since I don't share the admiration with the rest of the world for "Harold and Maude", finding it as a nice picture with flawed ending, and on the other hand admiring "Being There", it is "The Last Detail" that I come back to in Hal Ashby's catalogue, seeing it as his finest film....( read more) A classic, really. I mean, there are only a few pictures that have as fantastic opening scene as "The Last Detail" has. Won't you agree? Each time I hear first lines from Jack Nicholson's Billy "Bad Ass" Buddusky: "Go tell that MAA to fuck himself...", I'm almost falling off the sofa with a massive attack of laughter. I can't help it, it is so delicious.

    No point talking about the plot since it's the language that plays a key role here, and this one is as strong as in "Pulp Fiction", or "Bugsy", or few other masterpieces of dialogue. Just as with "Who's Afriad of Virginia Woolf?" I can sit back, close my eyes and just listen to the dialogue as if it was Beethoven's 7th, some Mozart's Adagio or Nine Inch Nails' "Warm Place". It is real, true and hilariously funny at the same time and everything that's simply human is a gold these days.
  • October 18, 2008
    Classic Nicholson. Shouldn't be missed.
  • October 14, 2009
    Okay. Nicholson is great.
  • September 18, 2009
    A fresh and cool hilarious comedy with 'lol'-ish performances. And Jesus, Jack Nicholson is so fuc#!ng perfect for each role he's got so far that it is unreal! Specially as navy guy Bad-Ass Buddusky. Very recommendable and heartwarming. The tension built by the characters and eac...( read more)h situation they go through is incredible and will make you wanna laugh along with them.

    80/100
  • May 7, 2009
    This is an awsome film!! I savored every second of The Last Detail. Nicholson's Badass Buddusky is a freakin riot! One can definatly see this character reborn and totaly out of control in Cuckoos Nest, but B.A. is just as nuts. The role give Jack plenty of dramatic scenes but the...( read more)res always that nut waiting to bust out at any given moment. Randy Quaid does an exeptional job too. As does Otis Young...who really didnt do much in film, which is a HUGE shame.
    As much as this film had me laughing hystericaly there are plenty of moments that really had me ready to shed a tear.
    "Bad-Ass" Buddusky is a really sympathetic guy and Nicholson really gives him a big heart.
  • April 29, 2009
    An enjoyable little film with Nicholson in top form. The insane amount of swearing was intentional from screenwriter legend Towne. Point being, these Sailors were metaphorically impotent and the swearing was their substitute for violence. Clever stuff.
  • April 8, 2009
    Swearing like sailors! Oh, that's right, they are sailors. Jack Nicholson & Otis yOung take a young Randy Quaid to prison and have fun on the way. Classic line of Jack's "I am the shore patrol, I am the fuckin shore patrol!"

Comments


  • willerror1
    November 10, 2007
    If I'm drunk and I start yelling, "I am the motherfucking shore patrol, motherfucker!" you should turn around and walk the other way. I will not shut up.

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The Last Detail Trivia


  • The role of a sailor being transported to a military prison almost went to JOhn Travolta, but ended up going to Randy Quaid. Which movie is it?  Answer »
  • Randy Quaid recived a Golden Globe award for his role in The Last Detail ?  Answer »
  • Jack Nickolson says: "I would like to drink a toast to Batman... Superman... and The Human Torch."   Answer »

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