The Last Hurrah

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The Last Hurrah

Released Oct 24, 1958

2h 1m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

83%

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12 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Based on the novel by Edwin O'Connor, this political drama focuses on Frank Skeffington (Spencer Tracy), an aging mayor who is embarking on his final campaign for reelection. Aided by his nephew, Adam Caulfield (Jeffrey Hunter), and savvy strategist John Gorman (Pat O'Brien), Skeffington faces considerable challenges as the political landscape that he knows slowly crumbles away, but, undaunted, he remains determined to stay in the game a bit longer.

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Lindsay Anderson

Sight & Sound

Ford has done all this once... But the poetry is gone.

Mar 18, 2020

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Full of eccentric characters, many of whom appear exaggerated but are likely quite abundant in the world of politics.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 23, 2020

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Alberto Abuín

Espinof

The extreme sensitivity in these last moments of the movie is of an astonishing delicacy. [Full Review in Spanish]

Aug 21, 2019

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

A rare John Ford political drama in which Spencer Tracy shines as an over-the-hill pol who chases one more term as mayor.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 3, 2019

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Terrific entertainment until it's stopped dead in its tracks by a painfully protracted finale.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 23, 2019

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Enjoyable as crowd-pleasing nostalgia.

Rated: B-

Mar 23, 2012

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Audience Member

Excellent film about politics! Spencer Tracy.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/21/21

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Audience Member

One of the best movies ever. So classic, serious and funny all at the same time. Explains the changing face of politics in America over the generations.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

Quite a bit of Ford's later work has nostalgia as its theme; think Cheyenne Autumn and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. As with all of us who are aging, Ford too was aware of his own world dissipating before his eyes and he projected this into his films. The Last Hurrah is one more example and its a good one, fairly accurate in its portrayal of Old Time American politics, symbolized by Tracy's role, as it loses out to a more modern, sophisticated political sense of life. It IS sentimental but what movie built on nostalgia could be otherwise? Take it for what it is and enjoy.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Ed M

Spencer Tracy! John Ford!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/26/19

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Ned P

A comedy-drama that's not funny nor dramatic. The humor doesn't translate well to modern times.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/30/18

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Audience Member

El legendario director John Ford se aleja del western para incursionar en el mundo de la politica con un encantador y conmovedor relato que evoca al "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" de Frank Capra. En "The Last Hurrah" Spencer Tracy encarna al alcalde Frank Skeffington, un hombre que todavia piensa en un politico como un hombre del pueblo cuyas decisiones deben ser medidas y jugadas. Jeffrey Hunter interpreta a su sobrino, un periodista que intenta conocer tanto a su familiar como al hombre publico. Esta es una cinta que como todas las de Ford, es protagonizada por hombres duros que nos susurran al oido.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

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John Ford

Director

Spencer Tracy

Mayor Frank Skeffington

Jeffrey Hunter

Adam Caulfield, Journalist and Skeffington's Nephew

James Gleason

'Cuke' Gillen, Skeffington Crony

Dianne Foster

Mave Caulfield

Pat O'Brien

John Gorman, Skeffington Crony

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Synopsis

Based on the novel by Edwin O'Connor, this political drama focuses on Frank Skeffington (Spencer Tracy), an aging mayor who is embarking on his final campaign for reelection. Aided by his nephew, Adam Caulfield (Jeffrey Hunter), and savvy strategist John Gorman (Pat O'Brien), Skeffington faces considerable challenges as the political landscape that he knows slowly crumbles away, but, undaunted, he remains determined to stay in the game a bit longer.

Director: John Ford
Producer: John Ford
Screenwriter: Frank S. Nugent, Edwin O'Connor
Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Video, Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 24, 1958, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 19, 2010
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: Mono

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