The Last Picture Show (1971)

Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

Our second film in our "In Memorium" pairing honors the 1972 winner of the Best Supporting Actress award for her portrayal of Ruth Popper in "The Last Picture Show." We lost film and television legend Cloris Leachman on January 27th, 2021. Although well-known for her comedic roles and her collaborations with Mel Brooks, Ms. Leachman won the Academy Award for her role in Peter Bogdanovich's magnum opus as the neglected wife of the high school athletics coach. Co-written by original novel author Larry McMurtry and Bogdanovich, the film co-starred Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Ben Johnson, Ellen Burstyn, Eileen Brennan, and Clu Gulager. It also gave newcomers Cybill Shepherd and Randy Quaid their start in motion pictures! The film tells the story of the slow death of Anarene, Texas in the early 1950s, by telling the interwoven and tragic stories of its residents. The film gave Leachman her only Oscar, and also awarded Ben Johnson a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance as Sam the Lion. Plus, the trio discuss why they're afraid Chad won't be able to get through the next horror pairing!