[Quick Summary: A group of teens come of age in a dying Texas town.]
Once upon a time, I tried reading one of Bogdanovich's books.
I admired the extremely detailed, encyclopedic discussion of film...but the denseness exhausted me. I never finished the book.
I did finish this script. Fair warning: It is also very detailed and dense.
On the plus side, the script doesn't shy away from a complex female character.
Watch:
1) How others react to Jacy
2) How Jacy doesn't let their opinions deter her from what she wants
ex. "INT. POOLHALL - DAY
Billy brings Sonny a peanut pattie as Jacy comes in, looking sorrowful.
JACY: Sonny?
SONNY: Come on in.
She comes over, gives him a big kiss...she looks at Billy, who moves away warily; Jacy clearly doesn't like him.
JACY: Oh, I was so worried I just had to see you --
SONNY: I been missin' you -- I'm a lot better'n I was.
JACY: You can't believe how famous we are -- we're all anybody talks about in this town now --
SONNY (unhappily): I guess so.
JACY: I want us to get married.
SONNY: What?!"
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: This reminds me that I don't need to like a character. I only need to understand what she wants.
P.S. Have you heard of Bogdanovich's Index Card File?
The Last Picture Show (1971)(10/2/70 final draft)
by Larry McMurtry & Peter Bogdanovich
Based on the novel by Larry McMurtry
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