''The Last Performance'' is a 1929 American film directed by
Paul Fejos
Pál Fejős (27 January 1897 – 23 April 1963), known professionally as Paul Fejos, was a Hungarian-American director of feature films and documentaries who worked in a number of countries including the United States. He also studied medicine i ...
and starring
Conrad Veidt
Hans Walter Conrad Veidt (; 22 January 1893 – 3 April 1943) was a German film actor who attracted early attention for his roles in the films ''Different from the Others'' (1919), '' The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'' (1920), and ''The Man Who Laugh ...
and
Mary Philbin
Mary Loretta Philbin (July 16, 1902 – May 7, 1993) was an American film actress of the silent film era, who is best known for playing the roles of Christine Daaé in the 1925 film ''The Phantom of the Opera '' opposite Lon Chaney, and as Dea in ...
. The film was made in two version: a silent version and
Movietone version complete with music, talking sequences, and sound effects with the talking sequences were confined only to the last reel.
Premise
Conrad Veidt stars as Erik the Great, a sinister stage magician who is in love with a woman half his age, Julie, played by
Mary Philbin
Mary Loretta Philbin (July 16, 1902 – May 7, 1993) was an American film actress of the silent film era, who is best known for playing the roles of Christine Daaé in the 1925 film ''The Phantom of the Opera '' opposite Lon Chaney, and as Dea in ...
. A young thief, Mark Royce (played by Fred MacKaye) is caught stealing from Erik's apartment and is taken in at Julie's suggestion. Secretly she falls in love with the new apprentice. However, Erik's other apprentice, Buffo (played by
Leslie Fenton
Leslie Fenton (12 March 1902 – 25 March 1978) was an English actor and film director. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1923 and 1945.
Early life
Fenton was born on 12 March 1902 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. He emigrated to ...
) becomes aware of Julie's love for Mark, and driven by jealousy tells Erik. Buffo is later found killed, and Mark is the prime suspect.
Cast
*
Conrad Veidt
Hans Walter Conrad Veidt (; 22 January 1893 – 3 April 1943) was a German film actor who attracted early attention for his roles in the films ''Different from the Others'' (1919), '' The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'' (1920), and ''The Man Who Laugh ...
as Erik the Great
*
Mary Philbin
Mary Loretta Philbin (July 16, 1902 – May 7, 1993) was an American film actress of the silent film era, who is best known for playing the roles of Christine Daaé in the 1925 film ''The Phantom of the Opera '' opposite Lon Chaney, and as Dea in ...
as Julie Fergeron
*
Leslie Fenton
Leslie Fenton (12 March 1902 – 25 March 1978) was an English actor and film director. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1923 and 1945.
Early life
Fenton was born on 12 March 1902 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. He emigrated to ...
as Buffo Black
*
Fred MacKaye as Mark Royce (credited as Fred Mac Kaye)
*
Eddie Boland
Eddie Boland (December 27, 1885 – February 3, 1935) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 110 films between 1912 and 1937, mostly in comedic supporting roles. Among his best-known roles were "The Obliging Gentleman" in F. ...
as Agent
*
Anders Randolf
Anders Randolf (December 18, 1870 – July 2, 1930) was a Danish American actor in American films from 1913 to 1930.
Biography
Anders was born in Viborg, Denmark, where he became a professional soldier in the Danish army and a world-class sw ...
as Judge
*
Sam De Grasse
Samuel Alfred De Grasse (June 12, 1875 – November 29, 1953) was a Canadian actor. He was the uncle of cinematographer Robert De Grasse.
Biography
Samuel Alfred De Grasse was born in Bathurst, New Brunswick to Lange De Grasse (1828–1891) ...
as District Attorney
*
Gusztáv Pártos
Gusztáv Pártos (18 August 1895, Pusztaszentbenedek – 22 March 1951, Budapest) was a Hungarian actor.
Selected filmography
* ''Lord Arthur Saville's Crime (film), Lord Arthur Saville's Crime'' (1920)
* ''The Black Captain'' (1920)
* ''Arsene ...
as Theatre Manager (as Gustav Paros)
*
William H. Turner as Booking Agent
*
George Irving as Defense Attorney
Production
According to the ''Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World'', filming began on July 30, 1928 withwroking titles that included ''The Play Goes On'' and ''The Last Call''.
The film made use of set from ''
The Phantom of the Opera
''The Phantom of the Opera'' (french: Le Fantôme de l'Opéra) is a novel by French author Gaston Leroux. It was first published as a serial in from 23 September 1909 to 8 January 1910, and was released in volume form in late March 1910 by Pierr ...
'' (1925). The film was made in both Silent and sound versions, with the now lost dialogue version having 272 feet more film than the silent one.
Both Veidt's and Philbin's contracts with Universal were cancelled before the film's release.
Michael R. Pitts described the style of the film as not being a
horror film
Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes.
Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...
, but "a dark drama with genre overtones".
Release
The film debuted in October 1929. It was released in Great Britain as ''Erik the Great''. Surviving silent prints of ''The Last Performance'' run between 48 and less than 60 minutes.
In 2012,
The Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection, Inc. (or simply Criterion) is an American home-video distribution company that focuses on licensing, restoring and distributing "important classic and contemporary films." Criterion serves film and media scholars, cinep ...
included ''The Last Performance'' and a reconstructed sound version of ''
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
'' as extra features on the DVD and Blu-ray release of Fejos' 1928 film, ''
Lonesome''.
The silent version was released by the
Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection, Inc. (or simply Criterion) is an American home-video distribution company that focuses on licensing, restoring and distributing "important classic and contemporary films." Criterion serves film and media scholars, cinep ...
on Blu-ray and DVD with Fejos' ''
Lonesome'' in August 2012. The DVD release runs about 59 minutes.
Reception
From contemporary review, a review in ''Hollywood Filmography'' praised the film saying "its outstanding quality is the performance of Veidt, which is one of the most efective the American screen has witnessed" and that "the photography was most effective, and the settings macabre enough to carry out the gruesome action and drama." ''
The Boston Herald
The ''Boston Herald'' is an American daily newspaper whose primary market is Boston, Massachusetts, and its surrounding area. It was founded in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States. It has been awarded eight Pulit ...
'' reported that Veidt was "a master of subtle and telling pantomime, his gesture are eloquent in their dark simplicity and his face is one of the most interesting and expressive that we
ave
''Alta Velocidad Española'' (''AVE'') is a service of high-speed rail in Spain operated by Renfe, the Spanish national railway company, at speeds of up to . As of December 2021, the Spanish high-speed rail network, on part of which the AVE s ...
ever seen." A review in ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' commented that "Fejos has handled his scenes with no small digress of imagination. Moreover, the narrative is with a certain force and skill. While some of the straight camera work is not up to scratch, there are number of photographic feats that are quite effective."
Conversely, ''Photoplay'' declared it "a much over-acted and over-directed film" while ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' stated that it was "one of the draggiest pictures made with the photography of the poorest. Apparently, Paul Fejos was up against handicaps at the star, with a story that is more foreign than domestic in brand, eh sought to give it the German touch." ''
Harrison's Reports
''Harrison's Reports'' was a New York City-based motion picture trade journal published weekly from 1919 to 1962. The typical issue was four letter-size pages sent to subscribers under a second-class mail permit. Its founder, editor and publisher ...
'' summarized the film as "Good acting, but mediocre entertainment. The story is somewhat gruesome."
Pitts praised Veidt's performance, stating he gave a "tour de force performance as Erik, imbuing the character with multiple characteristics, including mystery, tenderness, philanthropy and vengeance." and that the actor was matched by Mary Philbin.
References
Sources
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*
*
External links
*
*
New York Times - plot description
{{DEFAULTSORT:Last Performance, The
American silent feature films
1929 films
1929 drama films
American black-and-white films
1929 romance films
1920s English-language films
Films about magic and magicians
Films directed by Paul Fejos
Transitional sound films
Universal Pictures films
1920s American films
Silent American drama films
Silent romantic drama films
American romantic horror films
American romantic drama films
American films about revenge
Melodramas