info-627-664439 Review of The Last Judgment

The Last Judgment (1961)

The Maestro Created a Masterpiece, Why Doesn't the World Know?

[10/10 · 13 June 2013]

This film took me quite by surprise at how good it was considering the brief but otherwise non-existent synopsis given for it on its selling page. The great director, after giving the world "Two Women" in 1960 together with his brilliant script collaborator Cesare Zavatina had the idea to show the world how its folly of the "Last Judgment" would play out if we could let our minds get a glimpse of how it would likely play back to us. Produced and distributed by Dino De Laurentiis, the cast is letter perfect with some actors and actresses, probably the whole cast, hitting the target with some scathingly brilliant performances. Everything about is grandiose, and at times, touching and sardonic and joyful. (Special standout of the actors is Melina Mercouri, but it is hard to not want to mention others). I wish I knew why this film is so overlooked? As the opening suggests, it is depicting a painting in a museum. Is it doomed because at the time of its making (1961) the black and white problem was less politically correct than today. Must we hide our sins? What a shame. Thankfully de Sica is responsible for "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" and "Marriage, Italian Style" and the oversight of "The Last Judgment" robs him of less.