Richard Matheson’s novel I Am Legend originally published in 1954 has been wildly popular over the countless years, influenced other authors such as Stephen King and numerous directors among them George A. Romero who drew upon this work as inspiration for his film Night of the Living Dead [1968], and two other feature movies used source material The Omega Man (1971) and I Am Legend [2007], as well as a short film from 1967 called Soy leyenda. A side note many attribute King’s novel The Stand for taking inspiration from this original material, that is incorrect that was the sci-fi novel Earth Abides by author Geroge R. Stewart, published in 1949, that had more biblical references, though it could be implied that the movie itself was a positive influence, though never fully confirmed. However, the usage of the novel was for The Last Man on Earth, although the film does differ in numerous manners from the novel, which shall be discussed later in the review, nonetheless it created a uniqueness in the vampire and undead mythos, while breaching the gap between sci-fi and horror genres by using a post-apocalyptic scenario. One needs to know that getting this film into pre-production was not an easy feat, many hurdles and false starts occurred along the way. Matheson first penned the script in 1957, which was initially purchased by producer Anthony Hinds for Hammer Studios, likely the closest to the original novel’s conceptual design and had Fritz Lang on board to direct; but was replaced shortly before filming was to commence, due to the fact he was sadly going blind. Anthony and the studios were informed that the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) would not permit the film to be made siting various reasons among them, the portrayal of post-apocalyptic world where violence was encouraged as well as the willful disregard to life and deemed too bizarrely disturbing for an audience. This also led to the change of disposal of corpses in mass burial too soon after the atrocities in World War II, and the moral downfall of society, leading to isolationism and despair to more negativity among the citizenries. It was enough to have the studio change direction concerning the movie (in 1966 a toned-down version was granted certificate for released to general audiences). Then Hammer discontinued, with the rights acquired by Robert L. Lippert, Associated Producers Incorporated and become part of a nowadays unheard 14-picture deal with Regal Films a division of 20th Century Fox, that handled low-budget productions with budgets averaging $100,000 as the distribution portion finally confirmed in 1963 this movie would be made in Rome with an American and European cast and crew.

Reportedly, Matheson was unhappy with the predicament and asked to be credited as Logan Swanson, however wanted to still receive royalties, which a pen-named was needed to have association to the author’s name. Richard explained that his wife’s maiden name was Login and his mother’s original namesake was Swanson, hence the connection appeased the accounting and legal departments. The script was finalized by William F. Leicester, Furio M. Monetti, and director Ubaldo Ragona who went on to make the film with co-director Sidney Salkow (Twice-Told Tales [1963]); with Ragona handling the Italian version and Sidney the English production with carefully done dubbing (more of this later). . Eventually after completion, American Internation Pictures (AIP) released it in May as a dubbed theatrical feature in early May 1964 in Los Angeles along with the previously released Circus of Horrors [1960] and in Denver with Unearthly Stranger [1963].

Ben and Vampire Undead Ghouls

Even though the movie was a failure at the box office, and Matheson stated star Vincent Price was a miscast for the film it was his notoriety that later deemed the feature a cult classic, but a clerical error led the movie to lose its copyright and enter into the public while the novel still owns its rights.

We enter this broken decimated world three long years later, as it 1968 and Dr. Robert Morgan (Vincent Price (In 1964 he also did Comedy of Terrors and The Masque of the Red Death)) where he believes everyone has succumbed to a plague that turned them into vampire-like undead creatures, who have all the common traits of these creatures. One horde, led by Ben (Giacomo Rossi-Stuart (The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave [1971])) keeps returning to Morgan’s battered home, with the compelling desire to kill him, however they lack the skill and thoroughly weak-minded to carry out any sustainable attack. Meanwhile Morgan listens to music, chain-smokes, and amuses himself with home movies, until the new day when carries out daily routines of hunting the undead, staking then and burn them to a crisp, which searching supplies, by nightfall he returns to home for protection as wonder why he’s immune to the disease. He theorizes that due to a bite from vampire bat in Panama long ago gave him some sort of protection again the plague. In two different flashback scenes one that shows Morgan working a Dr. Mercer (Umberto Raho (Castle of Blood [1964])) for a cure and another that returns to December 1965 we learn that his daughter, Kathy (Christi Courtland), is infected and seized by authorities loaded onto a truck for termination by fire, soon afterward his wife, Virginia (Emma Danieli) dies; too, but under the cover of darkness he quietly buries unaware of the lurking power of the dead to return home to kill. It’s a powerful cinematic sequence even for a low-budget film, as some moments echo back to history where the military goes to civilians’ homes in an effort to protect the living.

Knock knock Dead to see you

While Morgan spends days killing many of the undead of the ghouls, he starts to notice some corpses have iron rods staking them to the ground which means others are surviving, He finds himself in a land of confusion his known world is not complete as missing puzzle pieces become more present. He finds a bit of glee when discovering a dog, the joy is overwhelming but ends quickly in despair as it’s infected; too. He strangely buries the dog after staking it and sinks further into depression before his hopes rise tremendously, he sees a woman, named Ruth (Franca Bettoia). Once they return to his home, we learn of a bizarre vaccine she takes to hold the plague at bay, which only now reminds me of the film The Returned [2013], his suspicion but takes a wild opportunity to using her blood and his to cure her, but it is all leading to a perilous point. The story makes an indirect reference to evolution, (the novel presents it clearer) that overall story shows the dying of one species and birth of another species, we often see an animal face extinction but herein it is humans. Some readers likely to point to that isn’t quite true as Morgan cures Ruth, it is an open-ended argument because one is unsure of how her cure shall impact this new species of human vampires.

Morgan and Ruth

Originally, the movie was to be set in Los Angeles but to save money the was switched to film in Rome, frankly the cities could not be further apart in design, one is filled with ancient ruins. Therefore, it led to another issue lack of permits since they did not for many scenes when or even where, so the actors were required to change their clothes in the back of moving cars out running the authorities for quick set-up shots. Although this does make Price look a tad ragged on screen in a bewilderment stage in a world filled of death. In fact, the climactic scene occurred at the Catholic church, San Pio X alla Balduiname, that Lippert wanted on budget but with a big chase scene at the conclusion of the film as thought it would look great at drive-in screens. For the fans of Price his performance doesn’t contain his trademark of overdramatization, rather gives many reflective moments allowing the sorrow and anguish of his solitary life to exude wonderfully onto the screen. Price wanted to convey the tiresome effort into surviving therefore he lifted real individuals who acted limp, hence the appearance of taking extra care of them which many viewers saw as sorrow and remorse; of course, used fake bodies for the final disposal scenes. Matheson later admitted the film was a rather faithful adaptation of his work and wanted to reinstate his proper credit to the film in later prints.

Don’t think we are in Los-Angeles

When one thinks of dubbing the first thought is often the dreaded English-Japanese movies where words have association to the lip movement nor the infliction to represent the emotions of the moment; however, the Italian filmmakers were good in working at in post-production. Clearly Sidney handled the major portions of the directorial process while Ragona supervised well-handily the dubbing aspect. The reason for this belief is centered on the rules of the Director’s Guild of America doesn’t allow for multiple directors which has maintained even to the latest agreement of 2020, subsection 7-208; it is possible for an exception but a rarity.

The Last Man on Earth has a fair reputation; with some disliking it due the simplistic design, nonetheless, most miss the undertone with the immense loneliness, Morgan has lost everyone he cared about and worked with, most people require some sort if interaction. If one takes on the psychological impact, of the isolationism the sight of the groaning vampires beckons him back to odd humanity, the fleeting contact of the dog generates short term happiness. That special bonding moment with Ruth, he feels vindicated as he cures her of the disease his happiness and glee return only to encountered almost Shakespearean downfall as he cries out “I’m the Last Man” but is he, that one woman holds the keys. While never a success at the box office, it gained a following raising it to a cult status especially with horror audiences, and the story has earned a few remakes and an enjoyable read too.

The Last True Man

TAGLINES:

• HOW MUCH HORROR CAN YOU FACE? …where lifeless hands reach out for the warmth of human flesh …where terror walks on tiptoe begging for the blood of… [The Last Man on Earth]
• WHAT CAN SHE WANT who can satisfy her… sooth that half-mad sob… that lustful giggle… that tortured scream of pain? The dead know and so does he. For he is… “THE LAST MAN ON EARTH”
• By night they leave their graves, crawling, shambling, through empty streets, whimpering, pleading, begging for his blood!
• Do you dare to imagine what it would be like to be… the last man on earth… or the last woman?
• Alive among the lifeless… alone among the crawling creatures of evil that make the night hideous with their inhuman craving!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058700/

IMDb Rating: 6.7/10

Baron’s Rating: 6.5/10

You can watch the movie here: