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The Last Hurrah

The Last Hurrah

Drama · 1958

In a changing world where television has become the main source of information, Adam Caulfield, a young sports journalist, witnesses how his uncle, Frank Skeffington, a veteran and honest politician, mayor of a New England town, tries to be reelected while bankers and captains of industry conspire in the shadows to place a weak and manageable candidate in the city hall.

Movie details

The Last Hurrah

“… something to shout about!”

1958 Drama 1h 57m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

In a changing world where television has become the main source of information, Adam Caulfield, a young sports journalist, witnesses how his uncle, Frank Skeffington, a veteran and honest politician, mayor of a New England town, tries to be reelected while bankers and captains of industry conspire in the shadows to place a weak and manageable candidate in the city hall.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Last Hurrah?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Ford

Written by

Frank S. Nugent

Spencer Tracy

Spencer Tracy

Mayor Frank Skeffington

Jeffrey Hunter

Jeffrey Hunter

Adam Caulfield

Dianne Foster

Dianne Foster

Mave Caulfield

Pat O'Brien

Pat O'Brien

John Gorman

Basil Rathbone

Basil Rathbone

Norman Cass Sr.

Donald Crisp

Donald Crisp

The Cardinal

James Gleason

James Gleason

Cuke Gillen

Court is in session

Put The Last Hurrah on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.