The Last of Sheila: Archive Collection Blu-ray Review

THE MOVIE — 4/5

Plot Synopsis: A movie kingpin (JAMES COBURN), whose wife, Sheila, was killed by a hit-and-run driver a year before, hosts a cruise aboard his sleek yacht. His guests (JAMES MASON, RAQUEL WELCH, DYAN CANNON, RICHARD BENJAMIN, JOAN HACKETT and IAN MCSHANE) are all friends (and some lovers) who may know more about Sheila’s death than they’re letting on. An elaborate murder game with Mediterranean ports of call is in the itinerary. What unfolds is a mystery so intriguing, so cleverly plotted, even the title is a clue.

Quick Hit Review: The Last of Sheila is a fun, if not also a slowly developing, whodunit co-scripted by Norman Bates himself, Anthony Perkins in what was is first and only screenplay. This is a movie right in my wheelhouse as I do enjoy a murder mystery and with a solid cast that includes James Coburn, Ian McShane and Raquel Welch and some decent twists and turns, even if the finale becomes a tad predictable. As mentioned, the middle part is a bit slow and admittedly I sort of zoned out a time or two only for the movie to grab me for a entertaining third act.

The film was helmed by Herbert Ross, the director behind The Goodbye Girl, Footloose, Steel Magnolias and My Blue Heaven and while this doesn’t have much of a visual flair, despite some lovely locales (production was in France), and the pacing isn’t the best, however still manages to make a worthwhile mystery film with some comedic flair especially knowing actress Raquel Welch was pretty much playing a version of herself as written in the script.

SPECIAL FEATURES – 2/5

Features include an Audio Commentary by Actors Richard Benjamin, Dylan Cannon and Raquel Welch, though Welch sounds like was recorded separately and her comments spliced in. There is also the Theatrical Trailer.

VIDEO – 4/5, AUDIO – 3½/5

This comes to Blu-ray through the Warner Archive Collection and is presented in its original 1.85 widescreen aspect ratio and has been given a new 1080p high-definition transfer. Per the press release, the picture was taken from a 4K scan of the original camera negative and although not entirely brilliant looking, this still has good detail and balanced colors which has good range from the bright scenes during daytime shots on the yacht to darker elements such as in the monastery. I didn’t notice any major instances of artifacting, aliasing, dust marks or any other substantial flaws.

The movie comes with a DTS-HD Master 2.0 Mono track as standard with many older Warner Archive releases. Nothing amazing about this lossless track however dialogue does come across with good clarity and there were no noticeable hints of hissing or pops. Not a whole of depth here though the monastery sequence provides a bit there with vocals reverberating the ruins of an old church.

OVERALL – 3½/5

Overall, The Last of Sheila was a surprisingly well done murder-mystery that was co-written by Anthony Perkins and features a nice ensemble cast headlined by James Coburn with an early role for Ian McShane.