It would be a shame if no strong print of Hathaway's "To The Last Man" survives, because it is far from a typical western-it could fairly be called "pre-code"- and it stands with Walsh's failed "The Big Trail" as an attempt to make a "grown up" adult Western.
Like "The Big Trail" , "Last Man" has one for in the formal styles of Silent Film. What sets it apart is it's theme of decency finally caving in to humanities thirst for revenge and violence. The brutality of the film, both in terms of violence and emotional cruelty, is formidable. It all leads to an ending that, despite the upbeat coda, is truly apocalyptic.
Worth going out of your way to see; but it is too bad there is no quality print.
Like "The Big Trail" , "Last Man" has one for in the formal styles of Silent Film. What sets it apart is it's theme of decency finally caving in to humanities thirst for revenge and violence. The brutality of the film, both in terms of violence and emotional cruelty, is formidable. It all leads to an ending that, despite the upbeat coda, is truly apocalyptic.
Worth going out of your way to see; but it is too bad there is no quality print.