This is a terrific film I wasn’t very aware of until delving into Filmstruck’s back catalog and seeing Delbert Mann’s name got me to watch it. It was a nominated for a bunch of Oscars (and won a few), but seems to have largely faded from memory. Too bad, because it’s definitely become a favorite of mine.
Well, I know it’s not Last Man on Earth because it’s not black and white. That’s the only one of his movies I’ve seen. So I’ll go with, uh, The Abominable Dr. Phibes?
Well, it is The Last Man on Earth, which I’ve never seen a black and white version of, so should we call it a Tom Chick win, of should I put up another set of frames?
Not only did the Will Smith version lose the whole point of Matheson’s story – a different kind of human society taking over – but that tacked on “happy” ending? Really?