MovieChat Forums > Last Summer (1969) Discussion > Just a few thoughts, Just Rewatched this...

Just a few thoughts, Just Rewatched this (Possible Spoilers)

posted 7 years ago by discodave4093
2 replies | jump to latest

I just watched this for the first time since I was about 16 and I'm 37 now. The version I saw as a teenager was the cut version making it harder to understand but now I have actually got around to seeing the uncut version

Firstly if I was Peter I would of stayed with Rhoda and let Dan and Sandy run on, they were obviously a bad influence on him and as Rhoda says he acted differently with them. Rhoda admitted she loved peter so wouldn't he of been much better off with a girl who actually loved him and probably he loved her too deep down but was just scared of what Dan and Sandy would think. (And you would think he would of helped her at the end instead of taking part)

When I watched this movie again I realised that Rhoda is actually a lot like my wife in personality. Before my wife and I got married we had to let go of a few so called friends like Dan & sandy in order to be together and be happy and we don't regret it one bit

I noticed when the boys are talking about sandy one of them wonders what if she says no to sex and the other asks "why would she say no"? I would think she probably would of said no, why? Because she is just using and teasing them like she does with everyone. She was probably lying about her stepdad too and what she did to Annibal was totally sick

By the way I'm only talking about the characters here not the Actors/Actresses as I think they all did an amazing job

[–] Kompressor_Fan 7 years ago

This is such a good movie, and it is too bad that it seems to have been just about lost and forgotten. I like and agree with your analysis very much. The difference in how you see this now, as opposed to when you were younger, is your perspective is now colored by experience and maturity.

Peter should have paired off with Rhoda and just let the other two take a hike. But, the problem is that so many teens are terrified of doing what their feelings tell them to do for fear of being alienated by "the cool kids." This being so, many will reject someone they really like in the most cruel and heartless ways just so they don't wind up on the outs with their clique.

The movie is harsh....but it is rooted in a certain truth that (unfortunately) plays out in real life. The ending montage indicates that Peter will spend his life with quilt and regret as a result of this horrible thing that he and his friends did to this innocent girl.

BTW.....glad to hear you didn't let "the cool kids" push you into making a mistake. Glad to hear you went with your heart, and that life has rewarded you with real love as a result.

[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 6 years ago

Unfortunately, kids will follow the leader. Sandy definitely was the leader. She seemed to have a big influence over what the guys did in the beginning because they started out like a couple of horny teenage boys. Surprise! That's what they are! She also had a way of persuading people to do her bidding. combine that with a nasty streak and the outcome could be extremely cruel. She saw Rhoda as frumpy, immature, and weak. Rhoda really was none of those things. I do think that the boys were the weak ones.... As you say, Peter should have stayed with Rhoda, but in the end we are talking about kids.