Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

The Last Detail

 The Last Detail
type
TVTItem
 The Last Detail
label
The Last Detail
 The Last Detail
page
TheLastDetail
 The Last Detail
comment
The Last Detail is a 1973 comedy-drama film directed by Hal Ashby and written by Robert Towne, based on the novel by Darryl Ponicsan. It stars Jack Nicholson, Otis Young and Randy Quaid. The film was nominated for three Oscars: Best Actor for Nicholson, Best Supporting Actor for Quaid and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium for Towne. Though not winning any Oscars, Nicholson and Towne did win BAFTAs and Nicholson won for Best Actor at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival. The movie is notorious for its use of profanity (with over 60+ uses of the word "fuck", a then record for most uses of the word), so much so that the studio had cold feet before releasing it.In Norfolk, Virginia, US Navy Signalman First Class Billy "Badass" Buddusky (Nicholson) and Gunner's Mate First Class Richard "Mule" Mulhall (Young) are tasked with escorting an 18-year-old sailor named Larry Meadows (Quaid) to the Portsmouth Naval Prison in Maine. Meadows' crime was attempting to steal $40 from a collection box for a charity drive run by his commanding officer's wife, for which he's been sentenced to eight years in prison and a dishonorable discharge. Both Buddusky and Mulhall feel that this is quite a stiff punishment for the young man, and during the trip they take a liking to Meadows. Feeling bad that he'll be missing out on most of his young adulthood while in the brig, they decide to show him a good time, indulging in such pleasures as getting drunk and finding a whore.Nicholson and Towne would collaborate again the following year, on Roman Polański's Chinatown.
 The Last Detail
fetched
2023-08-24T05:14:20Z
 The Last Detail
parsed
2023-08-24T05:14:20Z
 The Last Detail
processingComment
Dropped link to SpeedSex: Not a Feature - ITEM
 The Last Detail
isPartOf
DBTropes
 The Last Detail / int_127fc252
type
Creator Cameo
 The Last Detail / int_127fc252
comment
Creator Cameo: In one scene, director Hal Ashby can be found playing darts.
 The Last Detail / int_127fc252
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_127fc252
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_127fc252
 The Last Detail / int_20a3a758
type
Two Shots from Behind the Bar
 The Last Detail / int_20a3a758
comment
Two Shots from Behind the Bar: Referenced with the bartender, who threatens to pull a gun on Buddusky, but the sailor recalls a previous fight in the bar and knows that it's just a baseball bat beneath the bar.
 The Last Detail / int_20a3a758
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_20a3a758
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_20a3a758
 The Last Detail / int_34dcfc96
type
Kick the Dog
 The Last Detail / int_34dcfc96
comment
Kick the Dog: The bartender who refuses service to Meadows makes a racist insinuation toward Mule, implying that he's only serving a black man because it's legally required. This keeps our sympathies with Buddusky as he freaks out on the man.
 The Last Detail / int_34dcfc96
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_34dcfc96
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_34dcfc96
 The Last Detail / int_35a858b3
type
Cluster F-Bomb
 The Last Detail / int_35a858b3
comment
Cluster F-Bomb: One of the first post-Hays Code films to really indulge in this as it contains over 60+ uses of the F-word, a then-record at the time. It's even acknowledged on the poster.
 The Last Detail / int_35a858b3
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_35a858b3
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_35a858b3
 The Last Detail / int_3b113b7
type
Character Development
 The Last Detail / int_3b113b7
comment
Character Development: Buddusky and Mule both start the film as thoroughly jaded and apathetic sailors who plan to hustle their charge to his destination as quickly as possible so they can live it up on their per diem on the trip back. However, as they get to know Meadows, they are soon moved to sympathy and try to make his trip as enjoyable for him as possible. With the help of Buddusky, Meadows takes a boost in confidence; evidence is seen when before he wouldn't ask for the cheese on his burger melted to later on when he makes the staff send back his eggs because they weren't over easy.
 The Last Detail / int_3b113b7
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_3b113b7
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_3b113b7
 The Last Detail / int_3eb0f889
type
Pun-Based Title
 The Last Detail / int_3eb0f889
comment
Pun-Based Title: "The Last Detail" could mean "every little thing" or "final assignment."
 The Last Detail / int_3eb0f889
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_3eb0f889
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_3eb0f889
 The Last Detail / int_43dc74d0
type
Sensitive Guy and Manly Man
 The Last Detail / int_43dc74d0
comment
Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: Meadows is the sensitive guy to Buddusky and Mulhall's manly men.
 The Last Detail / int_43dc74d0
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_43dc74d0
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_43dc74d0
 The Last Detail / int_4781adbb
type
Jerk with a Heart of Gold
 The Last Detail / int_4781adbb
comment
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Buddusky is a bit of a hard-ass to Meadows, but he does care enough to help improve himself and feels bad about his eventual fate. And in the end when Meadows tries to run away, Buddusky catches up to him and beats him into submission. But when they finally arrive at the prison, the marine notices Meadow's injuries, he asks if he tried to escape. Buddusky lies and says no, so Meadows doesn't receive a stiffer punishment.
 The Last Detail / int_4781adbb
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_4781adbb
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_4781adbb
 The Last Detail / int_4e3d253b
type
Downer Ending
 The Last Detail / int_4e3d253b
comment
Downer Ending: Meadows attempts to escape, prompting an irate Buddusky to pummel him. Meadows is dragged away from the pair to serve his prison sentence without a word of parting. While they do cover for Meadows' escape attempt, Buddusky and Mule end the movie griping about what an asshole the desk officer was, seemingly having already forgotten about the kid.
 The Last Detail / int_4e3d253b
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_4e3d253b
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_4e3d253b
 The Last Detail / int_50b05d30
type
Disproportionate Retribution
 The Last Detail / int_50b05d30
comment
Disproportionate Retribution: Meadows is sentences to serve eight years in a military prison for attempting to steal $40 from his commanding officer's wife's charity. Everyone marvels at the miscarriage of justice.
 The Last Detail / int_50b05d30
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_50b05d30
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_50b05d30
 The Last Detail / int_5d3c6435
type
The Drunken Sailor
 The Last Detail / int_5d3c6435
comment
The Drunken Sailor: After the trio fail to get a beer at the bar due to Meadows being underage, they all buy some from the store and spend time in a hotel room and get liquored up.
 The Last Detail / int_5d3c6435
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_5d3c6435
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_5d3c6435
 The Last Detail / int_5e965a73
type
Nice, Mean, and In-Between
 The Last Detail / int_5e965a73
comment
Nice, Mean, and In-Between: Meadows is the nice, with his shy and adorkable demeanor; Buddusky is the mean, something of a hard-ass and willing to start fights with marines (though within Jerk with a Heart of Gold territory) and Mulhall is the In-Between, whose high-strung nature leads him to fight with Budduksy, but is more warmer acting later on.
 The Last Detail / int_5e965a73
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_5e965a73
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_5e965a73
 The Last Detail / int_7390323c
type
Sticky Fingers
 The Last Detail / int_7390323c
comment
Sticky Fingers: Meadows has something of a problem with kleptomania, even stealing before he joined the Navy. And while in the Navy, that's how he ended up in his current predicament. Early in their trip, he's even seen snatching a few snacks and hiding it under his coat, which he would snack on later.
 The Last Detail / int_7390323c
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_7390323c
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_7390323c
 The Last Detail / int_7453bc5b
type
Spared by the Adaptation
 The Last Detail / int_7453bc5b
comment
Spared by the Adaptation: In the original novel, Buddusky was killed in a fight at the end of the book. But in the film, he makes it out alive.
 The Last Detail / int_7453bc5b
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_7453bc5b
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_7453bc5b
 The Last Detail / int_7ae40f90
type
Manly Facial Hair
 The Last Detail / int_7ae40f90
comment
Manly Facial Hair: Buddusky sports a mustache and is a tough navy sailor who's not afraid to tell it like it is and to start fights.
 The Last Detail / int_7ae40f90
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_7ae40f90
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_7ae40f90
 The Last Detail / int_7d34f23a
type
Reckless Gun Usage
 The Last Detail / int_7d34f23a
comment
Reckless Gun Usage: Buddusky pulls his pistol on the racist bartender and slams it on the bar counter. Then he picks it up and points it at the bartender just because he's angry. Buddusky flails his gun around while chasing Meadows and ultimately flings it to the ground.
 The Last Detail / int_7d34f23a
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_7d34f23a
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_7d34f23a
 The Last Detail / int_7d89315b
type
"The Reason You Suck" Speech
 The Last Detail / int_7d89315b
comment
"The Reason You Suck" Speech: Mulhall isn't happy with Buddusky's laid-back nature doesn't really approve of him trying to show Meadows a good time, leading him to rip into Bududsky:
 The Last Detail / int_7d89315b
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_7d89315b
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_7d89315b
 The Last Detail / int_8071d6ed
type
Alcoholic Parent
 The Last Detail / int_8071d6ed
comment
Alcoholic Parent: Meadows's mother is implied to be one, when they attempt to visit her and she's not home, only finding a whiskey bottle in her house.
 The Last Detail / int_8071d6ed
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_8071d6ed
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_8071d6ed
 The Last Detail / int_8391b1c7
type
Artistic License – Law
 The Last Detail / int_8391b1c7
comment
Artistic License – Law: Portsmouth is repeatedly called a jail when it is actually a prison.
 The Last Detail / int_8391b1c7
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_8391b1c7
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_8391b1c7
 The Last Detail / int_86ae1278
type
Adaptational Dumbass
 The Last Detail / int_86ae1278
comment
Adaptational Dumbass: Buddusky in the film. He seems to be of normal intelligence if a bit headstrong. He is vastly different in the novel, where he is a closet intellect, a former school teacher and a reader of Camus.
 The Last Detail / int_86ae1278
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_86ae1278
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_86ae1278
 The Last Detail / int_86b21114
type
Badass Boast
 The Last Detail / int_86b21114
comment
Badass Boast: Buddusky makes one that lives up to his nickname. When at the bar, when the bartender refuses to serve them drinks due to Meadows being underage, Buddusky threatens him and with the latter threatening to call shore patrol. His retort? "I am the motherfucking shore patrol, motherfucker!"
 The Last Detail / int_86b21114
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_86b21114
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_86b21114
 The Last Detail / int_8797239c
type
Bait-and-Switch
 The Last Detail / int_8797239c
comment
Bait-and-Switch: The Buddhist woman takes an interest in Meadows, invites him upstairs, sits him on her bed, takes her shoes off... and then starts chanting.
 The Last Detail / int_8797239c
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_8797239c
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_8797239c
 The Last Detail / int_8b4f491c
type
Villainy-Free Villain
 The Last Detail / int_8b4f491c
comment
Villainy-Free Villain: The desk officer in the penultimate scene chews out our heroes, but only because he suspects that they brutalized a prisoner without reason.
 The Last Detail / int_8b4f491c
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_8b4f491c
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_8b4f491c
 The Last Detail / int_8ccfcf8e
type
Horny Sailors
 The Last Detail / int_8ccfcf8e
comment
Horny Sailors: The trio look at some porn magazines and even attempt to get some girls. While unsuccessful there, they take Meadows to a whorehouse, so he can lose his virginity.
 The Last Detail / int_8ccfcf8e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_8ccfcf8e
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_8ccfcf8e
 The Last Detail / int_904bf4e
type
Wasn't That Fun?
 The Last Detail / int_904bf4e
comment
Wasn't That Fun?: Buddusky's reaction after the Bathroom Brawl - Mulhall eventually concedes the point and starts laughing.
 The Last Detail / int_904bf4e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_904bf4e
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_904bf4e
 The Last Detail / int_99f2522e
type
Hit Me, Dammit!
 The Last Detail / int_99f2522e
comment
Hit Me, Dammit!: In the hotel, Buddusky talks with Meadows about getting mad and tries to urge Meadows to punch him to let loose some anger, but the poor boy doesn't have it in him, much to the former's frustration.
 The Last Detail / int_99f2522e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_99f2522e
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_99f2522e
 The Last Detail / int_9d12bbc1
type
Foreshadowing
 The Last Detail / int_9d12bbc1
comment
Foreshadowing: In their first bus station, Meadows pauses by a stand of candy, prompting Buddusky to guide him toward the bus. Later, he's seen snacking on candy, claiming to have "brought it with him." He's later confirmed to be a kleptomaniac who steals whatever is handy. Mule occasionally notes that they're allowing Meadows to wander away unsupervised and thinks it's too risky. In the end, Meadows wanders away and does use his head start to try to flee.
 The Last Detail / int_9d12bbc1
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_9d12bbc1
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_9d12bbc1
 The Last Detail / int_a806691d
type
Casanova Wannabe
 The Last Detail / int_a806691d
comment
Casanova Wannabe: Buddusky fancies himself as a ladies men. When the trio arrive at a place to get girls, however, he's seen putting the moves on a hippy girl, and she's unimpressed by his talk about Navy life.
 The Last Detail / int_a806691d
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_a806691d
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_a806691d
 The Last Detail / int_acecb17d
type
Chekhov's Skill
 The Last Detail / int_acecb17d
comment
Chekhov's Skill: Buddusky teaches semaphore to Meadows, who uses it to say goodbye to his guards.
 The Last Detail / int_acecb17d
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_acecb17d
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_acecb17d
 The Last Detail / int_af616e40
type
Accidental Misnaming
 The Last Detail / int_af616e40
comment
Accidental Misnaming: At one point early in the trip, Buddusky refers to Mulhall as "Mulhouse".
 The Last Detail / int_af616e40
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_af616e40
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_af616e40
 The Last Detail / int_b24f7133
type
Bathroom Brawl
 The Last Detail / int_b24f7133
comment
Bathroom Brawl: Buddusky spots a group of Marines enter a bus station bathroom and follows them in to pick a fight.
 The Last Detail / int_b24f7133
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_b24f7133
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_b24f7133
 The Last Detail / int_bcff3e56
type
The Last Title
 The Last Detail / int_bcff3e56
comment
The Last Title
 The Last Detail / int_bcff3e56
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_bcff3e56
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_bcff3e56
 The Last Detail / int_bdb5c651
type
Real Men Love Jesus
 The Last Detail / int_bdb5c651
comment
Real Men Love Jesus: Meadows is a devout Christian and even asks if it's sacrilegious to chant a Buddhist chant to give him good luck.
 The Last Detail / int_bdb5c651
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_bdb5c651
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_bdb5c651
 The Last Detail / int_c3c18143
type
Hope Spot
 The Last Detail / int_c3c18143
comment
Hope Spot: Buddusky stews over the fact that Meadows will be eaten alive in prison, conflicted about following his orders. Then Meadows makes an attempt to run away from his captors. However, Buddusky and Mule follow their orders, run Meadows down, and take him back into custody.
 The Last Detail / int_c3c18143
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_c3c18143
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_c3c18143
 The Last Detail / int_cfda0ecb
type
Escort Mission
 The Last Detail / int_cfda0ecb
comment
Escort Mission: The mission of Buddusky and Mulhall is to escort Meadows from Norfolk to the Portsmouth Naval Prison, but since they have a week as a time limit, decide to show Meadows a good time before he goes off to the slammer.
 The Last Detail / int_cfda0ecb
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_cfda0ecb
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_cfda0ecb
 The Last Detail / int_d3f33049
type
Blasphemous Boast
 The Last Detail / int_d3f33049
comment
Blasphemous Boast: Discussed when Buddusky asks if Meadows got mad, he recalls a story about an officer asking him if he believes in Jesus. After he says yes, the officer responds, "I'm Jesus now". Which upset him, even saying he would get in trouble with the Chaplin. Buddusky is naturally disappointed Meadows didn't beat him up.
 The Last Detail / int_d3f33049
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_d3f33049
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_d3f33049
 The Last Detail / int_d54b9eb3
type
Inter-Service Rivalry
 The Last Detail / int_d54b9eb3
comment
Interservice Rivalry: When Buddusky spots some Marines enter a bathroom, he immediately follows them in to pick a fight. For their part, the Marines are only too happy to start hurling insults the moment they see him.
 The Last Detail / int_d54b9eb3
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_d54b9eb3
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_d54b9eb3
 The Last Detail / int_name
type
ItemName
 The Last Detail / int_name
comment
 The Last Detail / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Last Detail / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Detail / int_name
 The Last Detail / int_name
itemName
The Last Detail

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 The Last Detail
hasFeature
Bathroom Brawl / int_378e6c9e
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
Batter Up! / int_378e6c9e
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
I Am the Noun / int_378e6c9e
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
Professional Sex Ed / int_378e6c9e
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
Sticky Fingers / int_378e6c9e
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
The Last Title / int_378e6c9e
 The Last Detail
hasFeature
Two Shots from Behind the Bar / int_378e6c9e