F. Scott Fitzgerald’s (The Great Gatsby) fascinating tale of studio politics in early Hollywood is breathtakingly brought to the screen by director Elia Kazan (On the Waterfront) and scriptwriter Harold Pinter (The Homecoming). Robert De Niro (Taxi Driver) fronts a powerhouse cast as studio head Monroe Stahr, a thinly disguised Irving Thalberg character in command of his studio but haunted by a love lost to the past. Dana Andrews, Ingrid Boulting, Tony Curtis, Anjelica Huston, Ray Milland, Robert Mitchum, Jeanne Moreau, Donald Pleasence, Theresa Russell and Jack Nicholson contribute stirring supporting performances to this richly detailed ’30s-era gem. It leaves little doubt that Fitzgerald knew every side of Tinseltown, from the glitter to the gutter.

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[youtube https://youtu.be/ZKxNTPdeCv4?si=jJAacHdZvViaZO9_&t=4306]

Video Quality

Kino Classics presents The Last Tycoon with a major upgrade in the form of a new 1080p master transfer in 1.85:1 sourced from a 4K scan of the Original 35mm Camera Negative by Paramount Pictures that looks quite nice. The film has been given a fantastic second life with no observable instances of damage or dirt detected here. Skin tones appear to be consistent, and the presentation offers robust black levels that stay strong even in shadowy environments. There is an unmistakable uptick in fine detail that should please viewers. Subtle details in the period production design and clothing stand out more than ever before.

The transfer retains the rich natural film grain free of any compression artifacts or other such unwanted anomalies. The grain always resolves impeccably without becoming loose or clumpy. This is not an intensely vibrant movie, but there are some complex hues within the production design and costumes that saturate the screen in a really moving manner. Kino Classics has provided a great presentation for this overlooked feature.

Audio Quality

The film has been given both a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio presentation that captures this soundscape quite well. The surround sound presentation is a bit unexpected for this time, but it allows the scope of the story to feel more expansive. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear throughout without being drowned out by any competing elements. The track does not appear to suffer from any major damage. The Maurice Jarre score maintains a transfixing fidelity with no big swings to compromise stability. The track showcases vocals in relation to environmental sounds with tremendous clarity. Kino Classics has provided a mighty fine audio presentation that accomplishes what it sets out to do. The disc also comes with optional English (SDH) subtitles.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film Historian/Author Joseph McBride, Editor of Filmmakers on Filmmaking, provides an incredibly informative track in which he discusses the origins of this film as an unfinished novel, how it compares to the source material, the real-life Hollywood history that inspired the film, the reactions of the time, the backgrounds of the ensemble, the direction of Elia Kazan, and more.

Trailer: There are trailers provided for The Kid Stays In The Picture, The Carpetbaggers, True Confessions, and Boomerang.

Final Thoughts

The Last Tycoon is a somewhat incomplete film, at least when it comes to the unfinished source material left behind by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This does lead to the end feeling a bit amorphous, yet not in a way that sends audience members away. Even with some narrative inconsistencies, the journey is a highly entertaining look into the Hollywood machine and wrestling with grief. The performers are all in good form, and it is unique to see Robert De Niro more toned down to a more interpersonal mode. Elia Kazan puts forth a strong late-career turn behind the camera in this final outing from him. Kino Classics has provided a new Blu-Ray featuring a wonderful A/V presentation and a nifty commentary track. If you like the Golden Age of Hollywood or any of these performers, it is worth giving this a shot. Recommended

The Last Tycoon is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.