From top: moody lead George C Scott behind the wheel of The Last Run’s true star,a BMW 503; Scott and Van Devere produce their papers at acheckpoint
Ifirstencountered The Last Run by way of alate-night ʼ80sairingonmyblackand-white portable.Iremember being amazed that such an obscure old car– aBMW503 Cabriolet –was centre stage in this 1971 road trip. Short onlaughs, with adownbeat balalaika theme tune that lets you know from the start things arenʼt going toend well,itisthe story of an aged Chicago gangster (George CScott)who,having retired to aPortuguese fishing village,comes outofretirementfor onelastjob:smuggling an escaped convict into Italy. Scott supplies the wheels,which we see being lovingly fettled by our antihero inthe opening scenes.
Freshfromthe success of Patton,the harddrinking Scott wasafter amoody, Humphrey Bogart-style role. He spends most of the filmʼs 96 mins brooding behind dark glasses,looking suitably rugged inabattered old flying jacket, with afag clamped firmly between his teeth.