When Vincent landed in Italy Original title: Last Man on Earth
Director: Ubaldo Ragona - Sidney Salkow
Year: 1964
Production: Italy-US
Genre: horror / sci-fi
Length: 86 min.
Cast: Vincent Price, Franca Bettoja, Giacomo Rossi Stuart
rating: Until the last 7.5
did not know whether to write something on film or novel. In fact, at least in recent times, I watch many more movies than read books, although both strongly believe (and I'm not the only one) that, in most cases, the paper is stronger - artistically speaking - of the film.
short, as usual I find myself talking about the film, but this time the motivation is more than valid. Although also in this case the book is far superior, there must also be said that a book is quite famous and which have already been written a lot of things, while the film (which is a very good film) has always been snubbed, if even forgotten.
Someone recently rediscovered (myself included) thanks once again to that small and magical object by the name of the DVD.
I'm speaking of "The Last Man on Earth" by Ubaldo Ragona (or as he says in Dardano Sacchetti documetario that appears in the pool, Sidney Salkow) and its counterpart in paper form, "I Am Legend" (though anyone familiar with the title of his first - and unfaithful - Italian translation, "Vampires") of Richard Matheson .
The genesis of this little gem is quite troubled: the first script was rejected by English Matheson Hammer who gave the project the American "Associated Producers Inc.". The latter suggested the Italian "Productions The Queen", which he accepted, however, requiring the collaboration of the cast and crew. If these sources is difficult to attribute to the director or Salkow Ragona, is more than likely that the truth lies somewhere in between and that the passing of the torch was due to the dissatisfaction of the star Vincent Price against the Italian production.
It must be said that Matheson was not particularly happy with the work and so he chose to sign with the pseudonym Logan Swanson.
To the detriment of the many criticisms of the time that they have certainly compromise the success and even reaches the complexity, anxiety and a strong social critique of the novel, "The Last Man on Earth" is a remarkable film, shot on a shoestring in a beautiful, almost gothic black and white to ' Eur
Rome, made the ability to Franco Delli Colli as spectral and haunting as ever before (but even then I would say) it was seen at the cinema. A remarkable film because of the times forerunner and precursor of all the vein zombesco (the "vampire" which has to do with the zombies look a lot like Vincent Price romeriani), as well as the catastrophic or apocalyptic.
important for the metaphor, taken from just George Romero four years later in "The Night of the Living Dead", the man behind asseragliato his fears, but also for its symbolic value (almost mystical) represented by man lit-proclaimed savior of mankind, and instead finds himself killed by modern Pharisees.
oppressive, melancholic and deeply pessimistic , in a word: Highly recommended. Keep this in mind when, soon, will be screened "I Am Legend's Francis Lawrence, starring Will Smith star.
David Battaglia
