The Late Show (film)

Infobox Film
name = The Late Show


image_size = DVD cover
caption =
director = Robert Benton
producer = Robert Altman
Scott Bushnell
writer = Robert Benton
narrator =
starring = Art Carney
Lily Tomlin
Bill Macy
Eugene Roche
Joanna Cassidy
music = Kenneth Wannberg
cinematography = Charles Rosher Jr.
editing = Peter Appleton
Lou Lombardo
distributor = Warner Brothers Pictures
released = August 12, 1977
runtime = 100 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 1:28451
imdb_id = 0076301

"The Late Show" is a 1977 comedy, neo-noir, romance, mystery film written and directed by Robert Benton. It is produced by Hollywood legend, Robert Altman. The film stars Art Carney, Lily Tomlin, Bill Macy, Eugene Roche, and Joanna Cassidy. The film follows an aging detective trying to solve the case of his partner’s murder while falling in love with a client. [ [http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/28451/The-Late-Show/overview The Late Show - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - New York Times ] ]

The Late Show is widely considered to be the film that put Robert Benton on the map as a filmmaker. Benton and the film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1977. [ [http://www.popculturemadness.com/Trivia/Oscars/Top-1977-O.html 1977 Oscars - 50th Annual Academy Awards Oscar Winners and Nominees ] ]

Plot

The story revolves around a financially strained, aging detective named Ira Wells (Art Carney) whose main ambition is to stay active in the business and garner some self-respect. When Harry Regan (Howard Duff), his partner, is murdered while on the job, Ira takes on Harry’s current case. Meanwhile he is anxious to solve the suspicious events surrounding his partner’s untimely death. Ira, busy with all of the work he’s taken on, lets his client Margo (Lily Tomlin) help him out with all of the work. By film’s end, a new romance may be flowering between these two unlikely partners. [ [http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:28451 allmovie ((( The Late Show > Overview ))) ] ]

Production

In early 1976, Robert Benton brought his script to Robert Altman who, after reading it, decided to produce the film. Production began in spring of 1976 and wrapped in November. [ [http://www.greencine.com/central/robertbenton Robert Benton: Character Determines Action | GreenCine ] ]

Reception

Critical reception

The Late Show got extremely positive reviews when it was initially released in 1977. The Late Show has a 100% rating at rottentomatos.com and has a score of 6.9 on imdb.com. [ [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/late_show/ The Late Show Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes ] ] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times said "And most of all, it's a movie that dares a lot, pulls off most of it, and entertains us without insulting our intelligence” giving the film a four star rating. Now though, the film is somewhat forgotten by audiences as it was in 1977.

Awards

The film received several award nominations many for Benton’s screenplay. Carney’s performance won him the Best Actor Award at the National Society of Film Critics award ceremony. Tomlin’s performance was nominated for Best Actress at the BAFTA awards, and the Golden Globe Awards and she won the Silver Berlin Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival. Robert Benton was nominated for several awards including the Golden Berlin Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, the WGA Award at the WGA’s annual ceremony, and he was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. Benton won the award for Best Motion Picture at the Edgar Awards. [ [http://imdb.com/title/tt0076301/awards The Late Show (1977) - Awards ] ]

Cast and Crew

References

External links

*Imdb title|id=0076301|title=The Late Show
*Amg title|id=1:28451|title=The Late Show
* [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19770101/REVIEWS/701010308/1023 Roger Ebert's review of The Late Show]