Last Foxtrot In Burbank — Last Foxtrot In Burbank( Blu Ray)
Well, this is something I never thought I’d see… maybe we really are moving towards the end times?!. Last Foxtrot In Burbank was the first feature film from cult auteur/ infamous horror/ sci-fi filmmaker/ producer Charles Band. Since it was released in the early 70’s, Band has done all he can to remove the film from his filmography- destroying prints, posters, PR, and writing it out of his history. The film is a sex comedy/ send up of Marlon Brando's 1972's erotic drama Last Tango In Paris- with an episodic flow, lots of dirty words, Paris stock footage, and slapstick humour- with female & some male nudity. Here from Full Moon Features is a Blu-ray release of the film
Last Foxtrot In Burbank was made in the year 1973. It was, of course, directed by Mr Brand. The script is officially credited to Bill Haggard & Sam Vaughn- this is their one & only credit. It’s also uncredited to Louis Garfinkle & Frank Ray Perilli- Garfinkle has fourteen other writer credits, such as The Deer Hunter (1978), Face Of Fire (1959), The Doberman Gang (1972). Perilli penned scripts for key/ early Band directed/ produced films like Mansion Of The Doomed (1976) and Laserblast ( 1978).
Before I get into the film review itself, I’ll have to admit I’ve never seen Last Tango In Paris, so I’m sure I’m missing a lot of the send-ups/ parodying of scenes from the original film. Anyway, what we have here lasts around the fifty-five-minute mark- we open with credits featuring someone pointing out & turning round & round a painting of some abstract/ multi limbed/ headed creature.
The film is largely centred/ focused on Paul, played by cult actor Michael Pataki- who does an impression of Marlon Brando throughout the whole picture- this moves between being impressive enough to more than a little trying
As I mentioned earlier, it's a decidedly episodic affair; we open with Paul in a trench coat- been peed on from a great height. Then we move onto a bar scene where we meet the film's other lead, the woolly-hatted & sun-glassed Jeanne (Sherry Denton)- she goes to the bathroom; there’s no toilet paper so she rings up the bar- there’s a phone in the bathroom!. The tubby barman collects napkins from the patrons to give to her.
As we unfold, we go from odd/ awkward encounters with a crossdressing landlady, male genitals with a Croucher Marks disguise on, arguments with priests, nude banter, rubbing margarine on breasts, two men comparing dressing gowns, behind-the-scenes footage/ statire of crew filming a softcore film, drowsy/ sweet ball room dancing scene. It certainly is a very distinctive creation.
I’d say it was certainly fascinating to finally see Last Foxtrot In Burbank, and very brave of Mr Band to release it- as let's be honest, it’s pretty terrible. Yes, there are lots of WTH moments, but they are outweighed by the often trying-too-hard Brando impression, the film's lack of proper structure, and really the lack of laughs.
On the extras side, we have a ten-minute introduction by Mr Brand- explaining how/ why the film came about, the point he decided to bury it, and more. This is most certainly worth a watch, and big, big kudos to him for releasing/ commenting on this real wart at the start of his career. Otherwise, we get a few trailers.
So, in finishing, Last Foxtrot In Burbank will be of interest to Band completists, those who enjoy off-key sex comedies, or fans of overbearing/ overdone Hollywood stars' impressions...yes, Pataki does do more than Marlon Brando!?