Twice in the last week I have been genuinely shocked by the boundaries which were pushed by early 1970s cinema.
Firstly, there was prim and proper Jane Asher throwing herself around in the altogether in Deep End (1970),
And now, it's Cybill Shepherd taking all-comers in The Last Picture Show (1971).
Both movies are being reviewed here because they have been re-released (presumably to celebrate 40 years since hitting the big screen).
I had seen neither before but have learned that while it is excusable to say that I'd missed Deep End, because it had virtually disappeared, I seem less credible having not previously viewed Peter Bogdanovich's classic Texan drama.
Why? Well, it won two oscars and was nominated for six more.
The good news is that I could judge it with fresh eyes and I must say after a slow-burn start I rather enjoyed it.
What has to be particularly admired about the film is that if I didn't know the actors I would have been totally convinced it had been made in 1951, the year in which it was set.
Bogdanovich's use of black and white goes along way down the road of convincing the viewer but I reckon it's more than that.
It might be the starkness of the sets, the melodramatic acting or the nature of the story but I was lulled into thinking a young Jimmy Stewart could pop up at any minute.
The story surrounds the coming of age of a group of teenagers in a small town where everyone knows everybody else's business.
The town Anarene has precious little going on outside of the local cafe and the Picture Show, its cinema.
Thus, the townsfolk have to make their own entertainment and this often creeps over the established social boundaries.
Shepherd stands out in more ways than one. Her beauty is matched by a truly alluring performance.
This is matched on both accounts by Ellen Burstyn as her equally flighty mother.
There are also stand-out turns by Jeff Bridges and Timothy Bottoms whose characters' close friendship is tested to its limits.
It scarcely needs me to say that there are also two cracking supporting roles from Ben Johnson and Cloris Leachman (they both won academy awards).
But it is Bogdanovich who should win the greatest plaudits for creating an atmosphere of seediness in an otherwise prim setting which makes The Last Picture Show so compelling.
There is also a wonderful soundtrack with some classic 1950s favourites, led by Hank Williams.
It gets a rating of 8.5/10.
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