The Last Hunter
| The Last Hunter | |
|---|---|
 DVD Cover Art | |
| Directed by | Antonio Margheriti |
| Produced by | Gianfranco Couyoumdjian |
| Written by | Dardano Sacchetti |
| Starring |
David Warbeck Tisa Farrow John Steiner Margit Evelyn Newton |
| Music by | Franco Micalizzi |
| Cinematography | Riccardo Pallottini |
| Edited by | Alberto Moriani |
Release date | 1980 |
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | English |
The Last Hunter (Italian: L'ultimo cacciatore) is a 1980 Italian "macaroni combat" war film directed by Antonio Margheriti and starring David Warbeck and Tony King.[1] Initially made to capitalize on the success of The Deer Hunter, The Last Hunter marked the first Euro War set during the Vietnam War, as opposed World War II like all previous entries in the subgenre.
While not prosecuted for obscenity, the film was seized and confiscated in the UK under Section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 during the video nasty panic [2]
Plot
Following the suicide of his best friend, Captain Harry Morris (David Warbeck) accepts a final deadly mission to go behind enemy lines to destroy a radio tower that is broadcasting anti-war propaganda spoken by an American woman to American troops.
Cast
- David Warbeck as Captain Henry Morris
- Tisa Farrow as Jane Foster
- Tony King as Sgt. George Washington
- Bobby Rhodes as Carlos
- Margit Evelyn Newton as Carol
- John Steiner as Major Bill Cash
- Massimo Vanni as Phillips
- Luciano Pigozzi as Bartender
Production
Director Antonio Margheriti decided to make a Vietnam War film due to the success of the American film The Deer Hunter. The Last Hunter was originally titled Cacciatore 2, a dubious Italian film tradition in order to appear as an unofficial sequel to The Deer Hunter which was released in Italy as Il Cacciatore. Promotional posters were printed up with this title (see left). Antonio Margheriti's son Edoardo Margheriti (who served as second unit director) said the title was changed to L'Ultimo cacciatore due to rights issues.
Unlike director Michael Cimino, Antonio Margheriti did not want to make a political film that was for or against the Vietnam War. He just wanted to make a Vietnam War film that was fun.[3]
The Last Hunter was filmed in the Philippines in many of the same locations as Apocalypse Now. The film was extremely hard shoot due to heat, wildlife, and accidents on the set. Cinematographer Riccardo Pallottini later died in a helicopter crash during the production of a later Margheriti Vietnam War film Tiger Joe.[3]
Releases
The Last Hunter was released on VHS in the 1980s by Vestron Video.
Dark Sky Films released the film on Region 1 NTSC DVD in 2007. The featurette Margheriti and the Last Hunter is included with the release.
Released on VHS in the UK by Intervision in 1981.
Re-issued in 1988 by Elephant Video (slightly cut)
Released on UK DVD by Vipco in 2002 (uncut)
Released on German DVD by X-Rated Kult Video in 2005 (as Jager Der Apokalypse)
Released on DVD in Scandinavia by Another World Entertainment in August 2008
See also
References
- ↑ J.C. Maçek III (2013-03-01). "Italy's Lost Bellissima Actress, Margie Newton, Re-Appears in The Next Reel". PopMatters.
- ↑ "Video Nasties". Melonfarmers.co.uk.
- 1 2 Margheriti and The Last Hunter Documentary, 2007. Last accessed: September 2008.