# Anyone seen 'The Last of Sheila'?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-the-last-of-sheila/278256>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 5, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-the-last-of-sheila/278256 "2004-12-05T20:07:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-the-last-of-sheila/278256/1 "2004-12-05T20:07:23Z")

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I just watched this last night and quite enjoyed it. I was initially inspired to pick it up because it was written by Stephen Sondheim (and Tony Perkins), whom I love in his normal genre of musical theatre. He’s a puzzle geek, and this is a _huge_ part of the film.  
I was frankly surprised at the universally (or nearly so) positive reviews on IMDb, but I thought it was quite clever. Verrrrrry 70’s (my God! those trousers! eek!).  
I actually figured it out _relatively_ quickly, despite, or perhaps because of, the fact that the whole thing was actually put together intelligently. I’m not sure I got everything straight though, I shall have to watch it again to see all the things I missed.  
The acting is mostly good, especially James Mason! (I have some questions about how his character was handled, but I don’t want to get into spoilers yet — this is a real whodunit).  
The script is also very witty and scathing about Hollywood. My favourite line would have to be Dyan Cannon’s extremely amusing delivery of ‘get me a glass of water and a couple lesbians!’.

So, if you’ve seen it, what did you think of it?

Cheers,  
Daphne

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**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-the-last-of-sheila/278256/2 "2004-12-06T10:21:25Z")

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I remember seeing this on TV. Probably when it was first shown. In about 1974. I didn’t figure out the ending, but I still remember what it was.

And I remember that I liked it quite a bit (even though that ‘lesbians’ line was probably edited out on TV). I should see it again.

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**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-seen-the-last-of-sheila/278256/3 "2004-12-06T12:04:18Z")

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I bought the DVD of this a few weeks ago because I had fond memories of seeing it on TV when I was younger, and it’s still a lot of fun to watch even when I know very well whodunnit. I love the mystery game sequences (and I wonder how the rest of the game would have gone if an actual murder had not intervened).

I also liked Dyan Cannon’s and Richard Benjamin’s commentary together on the DVD; they sound like they’re old friends having a good time remembering making this movie. Raquel Welch also has comments, but she’s by herself and doesn’t seem to have much to say.