Priestley and released in 1950, is a gem with alec guinness and a host of british stars. This divine british entry from the famed ealing studios still registers as a moving drama about mortality and life choices, all the while poking sly fun at the. Last holiday on dvd may 2, 2006 starring queen latifah, ll cool j, timothy hutton, gerard depardieu. The original movie of this title, based on a story by j.
So georgia jets off on a dream vacation to live life like theres no tomorrow. Its a goodhearted movie with lots to say about seizing the day and using the gifts god has given you to help others. Last holiday 1950 alec guinness was, by 1950, a revered and successful stage veteran who had only recently acted in the movies. Dec 20, 2008 a look at the last holiday behindthescenes crew and production team. Overview of last holiday, 1950, directed by henry cass, with alec guinness, at turner classic movies. He won the oscar for best actor for the film stalag 17 1953, and a primetime emmy award for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie for the television film the blue knight 1973. Although queen latifahs bountiful lifeaffirming spirit permeates the film, director wayne wang is unable to revive this remake with any real flair. In an early scene in last holiday, star queen latifah prepares a deliciouslooking meal, taking care to make it to the exact specifications laid out by her cooking hero, emeril lagasse. To be sure, its selfish for georgia to determine to blow every last penny on herself, but in actuality she is quite generous in sharing her bounty with those. Last holiday, a revision of the 1950 film by the same name, doesnt do much to renew the spirit. To describe the plot is to miss the point, because this plot could have been made into countless movies not as funny and charming as this one. Last holiday is a gentle, sweetnatured comedy about george bird alec guinness a mildmannered, unassuming man who is mistakenly diagnosed as suffering from the fatal lampingtons disease.
He goes to a tailor who explains the clothing and demeanor he needs. Although some scenes were staged, david watkin shot a substantial amount of footage via a camera hidden in a cardboard box, filming unwitting passersby through a strategicallypositioned hole with the rest of the crew. A mild, unambitious and unsuccessful northcountryman is told by his doctor that he has contracted a fatal disease and has only a month to live. With news like that, its time to give your life a serious makeover.
George bird is a salesman of agricultural machinery who finds out that he hasnt long to live. The last holiday concert, a 2004 childrens novel written by andrew clements. Last holiday 1950 flickers in timeflickers in time. With queen latifah, ll cool j, timothy hutton, giancarlo esposito. The discovery that she has a terminal illness prompts introverted saleswoman georgia byrd queen latifah to reflect on what she realizes has been an overly cautious life. Loosely based on the 1950 british film of the same name by j. Last holiday finds his place between the philosophical tale and the social satire. Beginning of a dialog window, including tabbed navigation to register an account or sign in to an existing account.
Last holiday cast and crew credits british comedy guide. Alec guinness played a sad, anonymous clerk who, believing himself to be terminally ill, spends his. When shes done, she feeds it to her young neighbor, packs up the rest for his family, and settles in for a nice lean cuisine dinner. So georgia withdraws her life savings and jets off to europe where she lives like a millionaire. Priestley, the film stars queen latifah as georgia, a humble store assistant who is told that she has a rare brain condition and only has a few weeks to live. If you like last holiday you might like similar movies miss congeniality, mad money, monsterinlaw, my big fat greek wedding, in her shoes. Last holiday 1950 when ordinary middleclass salesman george bird alec guinness is diagnosed with a rare and fatal illness, he decides to spend his few remaining days in luxury. A man with a short time to live has a thoroughly enjoyable and useful final fling. Last holiday 1950 cast and crew when ordinary middleclass salesman george bird alec guinness is diagnosed with a rare and fatal illness, he decides to spend his few remaining days in luxury. Its advice to follow for shy new orleans cookware salesclerk georgia byrd oscar.
In the original 1950 film, the disease seems to have been a tumor in the abdomen the patients xray is used to indicate something between the stomach and the small intestine, although a shot of the pelvis is actually being shown. It suggests that one should conduct oneself as if one is living the last day of ones life. Last holiday is a 2006 american comedy film directed by wayne wang and starring queen latifah. I really liked it and found the final few minutes to be a wild roller coaster that the film earned and handled well. Simply home entertainment po box 7741, ringwood, bh24 9fa. Last holiday is a remake of a 1950 film starring alec guinness. Alec guinness, at times pitiful, at times humourous, is always brilliant as george bird, a common man associating with the british upper class. Last holiday 1950 not rated 1h 28min comedy, drama, romance november 1950 usa when a lonely, unappreciated farm equipment salesman discovers he has only a few weeks to live, he withdraws his savings for a final holiday at a posh resort. Last holiday is a 1950 british film featuring alec guinness in his sixth starring role. Last holiday is a 1950 film starring alec guinness, beatrice campbell, kay walsh.
To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, the times does. A droll social commentary as well as an unpredictable dark comedy about life, death, and luck, last holiday. Last holiday is a hollywood remake of a minor british movie of 1950, scripted by jb priestley. Robert mitchum, janet leigh, wendell corey comedy of errors comedy holiday film. Latifah simply lights up the screen in a somewhat different version of the role played by alec guinness in henry casss 1950 original. Alec guinness in torquays the last holiday we are south. Watch last holiday online stream full movie directv. Jun 26, 2015 last holiday directed by henry cass written by j. The grandhotel pupp was a major location for the 2006 movie last holiday starring queen latifah.
Unfortunately, though last holiday was well received by critics and arthouse audiences in the us, it wasnt successful in britain. Latifah plays a sales clerk named georgia byrd, who works in a. He decides to blow his savings on a visit to an exclusive hotel at a seaside resort. Georgia byrd queen latifah lives a small life tucked inside big dreams. Priestley 1950uk associated british picture corporationwatergate films first viewingnetflix rental i fell for this sleeper in a big way. Georgie on the bridge near hotel where was filmed movie last holiday, cast gerard depardieu, giancarlo esposito, timothy hutton, queen latifah. May 02, 2012 enjoy yourself, its later than you think. This is a digitized version of an article from the timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. The low key, dark comedy was written and co produced by j.
A prolific novelist and playwright, priestley was also an immensely popular leftwing radio broadcaster for the bbc and a cofounder of the united kingdoms socialist common wealth party. Last holiday, a 2006 american remake starring queen latifah. Priestley and directed by henry cass, featuring irony and wit often associated with priestley. It also appears in the 2006 james bond film casino royale as hotel splendide in montenegro.
A guide to last holiday, the 1950 film about a dying man. Though i enjoyed the warmth of the later version, the guinness last holiday, no surprise, is superior. The film is not a masterpiece but has smart dialogues and a few interesting scenes. Alec guinness stars in last holiday, a 1950 british film which was remade years later with queen latifah as the star. At first, he finds it all very stiff and unenjoyable, but by a series of chance contacts he is.
He had a growing reputation as a brilliant character actor for his role as fagin in david leans oliver twist 1948 and his inventive flair playing eight doomed members of a stuffy aristocratic family in the black comedy kind hearts and coronets 1949, but he had yet to play a lead. This version of last holiday has been updated with a playful pop soundtrack, geoffrey simpsons beautiful photography, william arnolds bright and colorful production design, and an enjoyable, lighthearted pace. The film s director wayne wang last directed because of winndixie and maid in manhattan. The prodigious talents of alec guinness are on full display in last holiday, a film which gives the acting giant room for quickwitted verbal comedy as well as deep, wordless pathos. Priestly, author of many other informed that he has only a short time to live, salesman alec guinness decides to enjoy his last months to the. A really good performance from alec guinness, coupled with a sensitive writing touch make last holiday an enjoyable film.
Jan 17, 2014 a mild, unambitious and unsuccessful northcountryman is told by his doctor that he has contracted a fatal disease and has only a month to live. Last holiday is a 2006 american romantic comedydrama film directed by wayne wang and written by jeffrey price and peter s. Jun 10, 2009 that last holiday ends up a sharp class commentary rather than a platitudinous tract on life and death is testament to the wit of screenwriter j. A shy cookware salesperson for a new orleans retail outlet, she ha. The film is a really good watch and delivers a few. Last holiday the 1950 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. The film was shot on 16mm kodachrome, the smaller format justified by the need to keep the camera as discreet as possible. Kind hearts and coronets, that most wicked comedy of ill manners, had established alec guinness as an acting forceand coming so soon after he had disappeared into the role of fagin in david leans oliver twist, his dazzling embodiment of eight c. Upon learning of a terminal illness, a shy woman decides to sell off all her possessions and live it up at a posh european hotel. The film offers a rudimentary class critique in workingclass georgias boisterous reeducation of the hoitytoity types.
Faca parte do filmow e avalie este filme voce tambem. Given only weeks to live, he decides to cash in his insurance policy and take his savings to an exclusive resort called pinebourne. But even with the groaninducing caricatures two frumpy elderly dowagers seem to have stepped out of a subpar oscar wilde staging and intrusive death symbols a maudlin silhouette of a syrupy violin player bookends the film, last holiday is a tourdeforce of nuanced, humanistminded performance. Everything you need to know about last holiday movie 2006. With alec guinness, beatrice campbell, kay walsh, gregoire aslan. Last holiday, a 1950 british film starring sir alec guinness. Today, however, it is seen as an example of classic 1950s cinema, with one critic describing it as a perfectly constructed, witty and moving little drama as youre likely to encounter anywhere. Priestleys story and screenplay view the tcmdb entry for last holiday 1950. Told by his doctor he has no more than a few months to live, drab british workingman george bird alec guinness decides to spend his savings on lodging at a seaside resort.
This 1950 story line was remade in 2000 with queen. William holden born william franklin beedle jr april 17, 1918 november 12, 1981 was an american actor who was one of the biggest boxoffice draws of the 1950s. Wayne wangs remake of the 1950 alec guinness film is a mostly generic romantic comedy, buoyed by the amazing queen latifah. This 1950 story line was remade in 2000 with queen lateefah.
A shy american saleswoman with three weeks to live embarks on an outlandish holiday in. Here, it is an untreatable, terminal condition which is nearly painfree, but which leads to coma. The film s writer peter seaman last wrote shrek the third and untitled roger rabbit sequel project. When a lonely, unappreciated farm equipment salesman discovers he has only a few weeks to live, he withdraws his savings for a final holiday at a posh resort.
Stars alec guinness, beatrice campbell, kay walsh, bernard lee, wilfred hyde white and others. Bird alec guinness, keeping his fatal diagnosis secret while blowing his savings at a fancy resort, confides in housekeeper mrs. Last holiday is a movie that takes advantage of the great good nature and warmth of queen latifah, and uses it to transform a creaky old formula into a comedy that is just plain lovable. Last holiday 1950 letterboxd social film discovery. Last holiday 1950 plot summary 3 when a lonely, unappreciated farm equipment salesman discovers he has only a few weeks to live, he withdraws his savings for a final holiday at a posh resort. Where was filmed movie last holiday, cast gerard depardieu, giancarlo esposito, timothy hutton, queen latifah.
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