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Last Tango in Paris

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Last Tango in Paris

NC-17

Released Oct 14, 1972

2h 10m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Distraught following his wife's suicide, American hotelier Paul (Marlon Brando) becomes transfixed by the beautiful younger Frenchwoman Jeanne (Maria Schneider) when he meets her by chance at an apartment both are attempting to rent. The couple begin an extended but purely anonymous sexual relationship in which they do not even tell each other their names, but it soon becomes clear that the couple's deliberate level of disassociation cannot continue.

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Critics Consensus

Naturalistic but evocative, Last Tango in Paris is a vivid exploration of pain, love, and sex featuring a typically towering Marlon Brando performance.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

When Brando improvises within Bertolucci's structure, his full art is realized; his performance is intuitive, rapt, princely. Working with Brando, Bertolucci achieves realism with the terror of actual experience still alive on the screen.

Jan 3, 2018

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Helen O'Hara

Empire Magazine

Brando gives his all but just ends up becoming himself. Interesting for its historical notoriety, but overlong and dull in places.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 7, 2007

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Variety Staff

Variety

An uneven, convoluted, certainly dispute-provoking study of sexual passion in which Marlon Brando gives a truly remarkable performance.

Dec 7, 2007

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

It has some visual notes that are complemented by a strong performance by Marlon Brando, but his essay on passion and the dilemmas of couple relationships often remain imprisoned in the walls of superficiality. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Apr 4, 2024

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Tim Dirks

Filmsite

Director Bernardo Bertolucci's landmark and controversial erotic film - an arthouse film, told about the development of a destructive relationship, as it followed a distraught, confused, grieving widower and middle-aged American exile named Paul

Nov 9, 2023

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Marlon Brando, at the height of his fame and his talent, delivers a raw, emotionally naked performance as the 45-year-old American widower ...

Sep 22, 2023

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Matheus A

To simply violate a woman during the filming of this movie—an idea conceived by Marlon Brando and the director—is one of the most reprehensible acts imaginable. It does not matter if he is a talented artist or a skilled director; his actions essentially ruined the young woman's life. If you think this is trivial, let me see how you would feel if the same were done to you.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/22/24

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James B

pretty good brando was great shocking ending on the waterfront and the godfather are good brando films too

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/08/24

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nick s

A very immersive movie with a slow, voyeuristic vibe, but without any story complexity. Quite a bit of exposition. It was somewhat on the raw side with nude scenes and simulated sex. How the director could use such a young actress for that l have no idea. Its strongest points for me were the acting, which I couldn't fault, and the cinematography, which was often gorgeous.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/27/24

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Shioka O

A controversial film by Bertolucci in 1972. Brando at the peak of his career, and his performance looks terrifyingly realistic and improvised. Beautiful cinematography by Storaro as always. Story is mediocre but still worth watching.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/09/24

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Rami A

Though it occasionally tries not to be, the film is incredibly humorous despite being a very sad film. Marlon Brando gives a truly remarkable performance here.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/27/23

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Leaburn O

I don't think I have any idea what this was about or why I should like it….but I did like it and found Brandio and Schneider captivating and ridiculous simultaneously. Bought this one on DVD a long time ago and finally watched it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/26/23

Full Review

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Bernardo Bertolucci

Director

Marlon Brando

Paul

Maria Schneider

Jeanne

Jean-Pierre Léaud

Tom

Darling Legitimus

Concierge

Catherine Sola

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Synopsis

Distraught following his wife's suicide, American hotelier Paul (Marlon Brando) becomes transfixed by the beautiful younger Frenchwoman Jeanne (Maria Schneider) when he meets her by chance at an apartment both are attempting to rent. The couple begin an extended but purely anonymous sexual relationship in which they do not even tell each other their names, but it soon becomes clear that the couple's deliberate level of disassociation cannot continue.

Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Producer: Alberto Grimaldi
Screenwriter: Bernardo Bertolucci, Bernardo Bertolucci, Franco Arcalli, Agnès Varda, Franco Arcalli, Bernardo Bertolucci
Distributor: MGM Home Entertainment, United Artists
Production Co: Les Productions Artistes Associés, Produzioni Europee Associate (PEA)
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Drama
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 14, 1972, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 29, 2012
Runtime: 2h 10m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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