The Last of Sheila (1973)

91% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
78% of users liked it
(1,236 ratings)

This suspense drama features an all-star cast, including Richard Benjamin, Dyan Cannon, James Coburn, James Mason, Ian McShane, and Raquel Welch. An interesting production fact about the film: its screenplay was written by actor Anthony Perkins and lyricist/songwriter Stephen Sondheim. Their careers… More This suspense drama features an all-star cast, including Richard Benjamin, Dyan Cannon, James Coburn, James Mason, Ian McShane, and Raquel Welch. An interesting production fact about the film: its screenplay was written by actor Anthony Perkins and lyricist/songwriter Stephen Sondheim. Their careers depend on keeping in the good graces of Clinton (James Coburn), a powerful movie producer. That is why a group of actors, director, agents and other movie professionals (who hate each other) accept an invitation to spend a week on the producer's yacht on the anniversary of his wife's untimely death in a hit-and-run car accident. Once on board, Clinton requires them to play a vicious game which involves each person's revealing a damaging secret about themselves or someone else in the party. When one of the secrets to be revealed involves the hit-and-run murder of his wife, the game turns fatal. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr.
Directed By: Herbert Ross
Written By: Anthony Perkins, Stephen Sondheim
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Jun 14, 1973 Wide
On DVD: Apr 20, 2004

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Campy gamer thriller that wasn't as much fun as it pretended to be.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The Last of Sheila is one, big, two-hour puzzle.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The Last of Sheila is a crackerjack brainteaser, even if you forget it two minutes after you see it.
Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
Richard Benjamin, Dyan Cannon, and Raquel Welch...deliver a breezy running commentary.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
The Last of Sheila is so intricately scripted that Sondheim and Perkins actually drop clues throughout the film that can be picked up by attentive viewers.
Staci Layne Wilson, Fantastica Daily
An oh-so-cool cast is a true treat to watch as you revel in the bitchy back-biting as they all strive to solve the mystery first...
Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
Great who-done-it.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
A witty and urbane jigsaw puzzle of a murder mystery for those who love surprises.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

great puzzle of a film with a great 70's cast!
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "The Last of Sheila", Clinton(James Coburn) is a wealthy film producer. One year after his beloved, Sheila(Yvonne Romaine), a gossip columnist, was killed by a hit and run driver, he has invited six friends - an actress(Raquel Welch), her tempestuous… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "The Last of Sheila", Clinton(James Coburn) is a wealthy film producer. One year after his beloved, Sheila(Yvonne Romaine), a gossip columnist, was killed by a hit and run driver, he has invited six friends - an actress(Raquel Welch), her tempestuous husband(Ian McShane), an agent(Dyan Cannon), a struggling writer(Richard Benjamin), his rich wife(Joan Hackett) and a director(James Mason) to spend a week on his yacht cruising in the Mediterranean under the auspices of possibly filming a biopic about Sheila but also to play a wicked game. The object of the game is to discover a person's secret and everyone aboard has one...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Last of Sheila" is a lightweight mystery written by Anthony Perkins and Steven Sondheim. The film spends too much time in the setup and the ending is questionable but a good cast makes the most of the material.[/font]
alan j

interesting whodunit ala 10 little indians..colorful talented cast including Coburn, Mason, Welch, Benjamin...problem was I thought too much trying to put the clues together to really enjoy what was happening on the screen...I liked it, just confused me at the end and never did… More
interesting whodunit ala 10 little indians..colorful talented cast including Coburn, Mason, Welch, Benjamin...problem was I thought too much trying to put the clues together to really enjoy what was happening on the screen...I liked it, just confused me at the end and never did figure it out despite several viewings..