When I was in high school I had to read “The Last Hurrah.” I did not read it of course. I was not a good student in high school. I went to summer school all four years.
Brother Peter called on me in calls to ask what the last words of Frank Skeffington were and I did not know because I did not read the book.
The book came out in 1956. I would have known if I had watched the 1958 movie. My last year of high school was 1959.
I just watched the movie again. I have seen it a number of times. It is a great little movie. Young people now days do not like to watch black and white movies and they also do not like old movies. Well at least that is the way it is with three of my four kids.
“…With Democracy (1880), All the King's Men (1946), and Advise and Consent (1959), The Last Hurrah is among the more successful novels about American politics.[5] Along with The Late George Apley (1937), it is also one of two successful works of fiction about Boston. [9]
Perhaps most notably, the phrase '"The Last Hurrah" has since become a common phrase in the English lexicon[10] to mean a swan song or, in politics, the last campaign of a politician.[11]
Interestingly, the success of the novel and subsequent film adaptations have greatly improved the public image of James Michael Curley, on whose story the novel is thought to be based. Skeffington is depicted as rambunctious yet heroic, whereas Curley had been largely forgotten. Now the late mayor and governor is looked upon with nostalgia.[11]
[edit]Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
U.S. poster of the 1958 film The Last Hurrah
See also: The Last Hurrah (1958 film)
John Ford, himself an Irish-American, directed this very notable book-to-movie adaptation. Much of its success was due to the very reputable and well-performing cast, which includes Spencer Tracy, Pat O'Brien,Jimmy Gleason, Frank McHugh, Wallace Ford and Willis Bouchey. Columbia Pictures bought the rights to make this movie from O'Connor for $150,000.[4]…”
Comments