THE LAST MAN ON EARTH

US/Italy, 1964, 86 minutes, Black and white.
Vincent Price, Franca Bettoia, Emma Danieli, Giacomo Rossi- Stuart.
Directed by Sidney Salkow/Ubaldo Ragona.

The Last Man on Earth is the first screen version of Richard Matheson’s novel, I Am Legend. Matheson has been a prolific writer of science fiction and variations on horror themes both in novel form and in screenplay. This story was then filmed in 1971 with Charlton Heston as The Omega Man, keeping to a number of aspects of the original but developing the life of the last man on Earth as well as the group pursuing him and the need for a vaccine to preserve life for young people surviving. It was also a star vehicle for Will Smith in 2007, the film also developing the work of the scientist as well as the group needing the vaccine to stay alive. However, in this film, the survivors were rather wraithlike special effects creatures rather than the actors and mutant human beings of the first two films.

Many commentators note that the survivors in this film are very much similar to those in George A. Romero’s The Night of the Living Dead – which was not made until four years later. It would seem that Romero was heavily influenced by this film, thematically and visually.

Vincent Price has to hold the film, much of his dialogue being voice-over as he lives alone after a plague has destroyed most people on the Earth and turned them into mutants. After twenty-eight minutes there is a twenty-minute flashback explaining his former life, his work as a scientist, his scepticism, the clash with his co-worker, the death of his wife and child. In the last part of the film, Price is confronted by a young woman who, if she receives antibodies, can survive. However, her group is afraid of the surviving scientist and plans to kill him.

The film was made on a very small budget, on locations in Italy (especially the EUR section of Rome). In the Italian version Ubaldo Ragona is credited as the director. However, in English versions the director is Sidney Salkow.

1.The work of Richard Matheson? Science fiction? Fantasy? Imagination? This film as the original, the impact of the two remakes?

2.The black and white photography, the Italian settings, Rome? The countryside? Homes, laboratories, the streets? The actors portraying the mutants – rather than special effects? The directness of this mode of filming? Editing, pace? Horror aspects? Musical score?

3.Vincent Price, his status as an actor in this kind of film? Strength of screen presence? His voice and articulation?

4.The situation, introducing Robert Morgan, his being alone, voice-over, starting each day, going out to destroy the mutants? Returning by dark? His discovery of the dog, some companionship? His visit to his wife’s tomb, going to sleep, having to battle through the mutants to get home? His memories, his work as a scientist, his scepticism about the virus being carried on the wind, working with Ben, the clashes? Love for his wife, his daughter? Their discussions about science, about plague? The headlines? The effect on the United States, the daughter dying? The wife, her illness, not being able to see, sudden death? His surviving, the reasons given? The years passing? The film made in 1964 – with the action going on to 1968? His encounter with the young woman, pursuit her, the transfer of blood, her being transformed into normal? Her warnings? The group coming to get him, hunting him down, the pursuit, his being pierced with a spear? His death? The future?

5.Ben, work with Robert, his experiments, antagonism towards Robert? His death, leading the mutants against him?

6.The glimpse of the wife and daughter, Robert’s devotion to them, his grief at their illness and death?

7.Ruth, her appearing, Robert pursuing her, taking her to the house, the discussions, the virus, the antibodies? Her transformation? Being able to look in the mirror, comfortable with garlic? Her trying to warn Robert?

8.The group pursuing Robert, the chase, his going into the church, standing in front of the tabernacle, his being pierced and dying?

9.The aspects of the Living Dead films? The vampire overtones with stakes, garlic, mirrors? An imaginative small-budget variation on horror themes?