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The Last American Virgin

The Last American Virgin

The Last American Virgin is a 1982 American coming-of-age film written and directed by Boaz Davidson, with music by Debbie Harry and Mark Allen. It is a remake of Davidson's 1978 Israeli film Eskimo Limon (Lemon Popsicle)

After the success of the original film and its sequels in Israel, writer/director Davidson re-teamed with producers Golan-Globus to attempt to re-create the same success in the United States. Though the film's plot and characters remained largely the same, the setting was updated from 1950s Israel to then-present day suburban Los Angeles. The soundtrack, a major facet of both films, was also updated from the original's golden oldies to more contemporary new wave rock.

The Last American Virgin
Soundtrack albumby
Released1982
Recorded1980-1982
GenreRock
Length
LabelColumbiaJS 38279
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Plot

The plot closely follows the original Israeli film Eskimo Limon (Lemon Popsicle), and revolves around protagonist Gary (Lawrence Monoson), a typical high school student in early 1980s Los Angeles, and his friends Rick (Steve Antin), the slick ladies' man, and David (Joe Rubbo).

Most of the plot involves their numerous attempts to have sex, which are usually successful for Rick and David, but rarely for Gary.

Early in the film the three boys pick up three girls with the promise of cocaine (instead they use Sweet'n Low). They go over to Gary's house where he gets stuck with the homely and overweight Millie, a friend of the other two more attractive girls. But their party is interrupted when Gary's parents return home and pandemonium ensues.

A love triangle develops between Gary, Rick and Karen (Diane Franklin). Karen is a beautiful transfer student to their school who is a virgin that Rick is determined to deflower.

One day Gary delivers pizza to Carmela (Louisa Moritz), a sexy Latina woman whose sailor boyfriend is never home, and she tells him she wants more than just pizza. Being too afraid to follow up on it, he goes away and convinces his friends to go along with him. They drop by her home using the pretext they were nearby on a pizza delivery and decided to bring her over some extra pizzas. She lets them in, puts on music and performs a sexy dance routine, to the delight of the boys. She promptly fornicates with Rick and David, but her boyfriend Paco returns home just as Gary is about to have his turn, prompting them to flee.

Eventually, Rick gets Karen pregnant after they have sex only once, and he leaves her.

Gary decides to help Karen pay for her abortion by selling most of his possessions and borrowing money from his boss. After the abortion, Gary and Karen spend the remainder of the weekend alone together in Gary's grandmother's house. While nursing her back to health, Gary tells Karen that he sincerely loves her. Karen appears to reciprocate and they both share a tender kiss. Karen invites Gary to her 18th birthday party the following week. Gary scrapes up a few more dollars and buys Karen a gold locket for her birthday.

When Gary arrives at the party, his dreams of a lasting romance with Karen are shattered when he sees Karen making out with Rick. Despite what Rick had put Karen through, she apparently decided to take him back. Gary angrily leaves the party without saying a word to either of them, taking Karen's gift with him. Tears streaming down his face, Gary drives home alone, emotionally broken and defeated.

Cast

  • Lawrence Monoson as Gary

  • Diane Franklin as Karen

  • Steve Antin as Rick

  • Joe Rubbo as David

  • Louisa Moritz as Carmela

  • Brian Peck as Victor

  • Kimmy Robertson as Rose

  • Tessa Richarde as Brenda

  • Harry Bugin as Doctor

  • Phil Rubenstein as Gino

Home Media

VHS, CED Videodisc

The film was released on VHS and CED Videodisc by Cannon Films, November 30, 1983.

LaserDisc

The film was released by Guild Home Video on LaserDisc with a digital stereo soundtrack in 1984.

DVD

The Region 1 DVD was first released in 2002 by Cannon Films, containing only the North American release of the film. The only audio option is a 2.0 stereo mix in either English or French. The film was released on blu-ray in 2015.

Soundtrack

Side 1

No.

Title

Artist

Length

"Teen Angel Eyes"

Tommy Tutone

3:30

"De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"

The Police

4:07

"Whip It"

Devo

2:38

"When I Find You"

Phil Seymour

5:13

"Better Luck Next Time"

Oingo Boingo

3:30

Side 2

No.

Title

Artist

Length

"Are You Ready for the Sex Girls?"

Gleaming Spires

4:00

"Since You're Gone"

The Cars

3:30

"I Know What Boys Like"

The Waitresses

3:14

"Airwaves"

The Fortune Band

3:46

"I Will Follow"

U2

3:34

In addition to this, the film contains a compendium of other 1980s radio hits:

  • "Oh No"-The Commodores

  • "Open Arms]]]" -Journey

  • "Keep on Loving You]]]" -REO Speedwagon

  • "Just Once]]]" -Quincy Jones feat. James Ingram

  • "That's the Way (I Like It)]]]" -KC and the Sunshine Band

  • "Love Action (I Believe in Love)]]]" -The Human League

  • "Shake It Up]]]" -The Cars

  • "Besame Mucho & Granada"- Los Fabulosos 3 Paraguayos

  • "It Aint Easy Comin' Down" -Charlene

  • "Zero Hour" -The Plimsouls

  • "In the Flesh]]]" -Blondie

  • "España Cani" - The Dancing Brass

Reception

Even though some critics liked the movie, [10] [11] [12] other critics like Geoff Andrews have noted its sexism - "The viewpoint is predictably phallic: fear/contempt of the female festers like a squeezed pimple; an abortion is shown more lasciviously than any sex. Puberty Blues and Porky's look positively progressive beside such sickening junk." [13]

Responding to criticism dismissing The Last American Virgin as distasteful, critic Noel Murray of The A.V. Club commented "Really, the film's frankness makes it more honest than its dreamy-eyed descendants; even the shallow treatment of girls captures the point of view of a luckless teenage boy."[11]

See also

  • Fast Times at Ridgemont High

References

[1]
Citation Linken.wikipedia.orgThe original version of this page is from Wikipedia, you can edit the page right here on Everipedia.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Additional terms may apply.See everipedia.org/everipedia-terms for further details.Images/media credited individually (click the icon for details).
Jul 26, 2016, 1:49 PM
[2]
Citation Linkimdb.comThe Last American Virgin on IMDb
Nov 29, 2017, 2:24 PM
[3]
Citation Linkallmovie.comThe Last American Virgin at AllMovie
Nov 29, 2017, 2:24 PM
[4]
Citation Linkrottentomatoes.comThe Last American Virgin at Rotten Tomatoes
Nov 29, 2017, 2:24 PM
[5]
Citation Linkbelievermag.comThe Believer article, May 2006
Nov 29, 2017, 2:24 PM
[6]
Citation Linkyoutube.comFilm director Eli Roth conducts Q&A with cast at 25th anniversary screening at the New Beverly Cinema in Hollywood, California.August 8, 2007
Nov 29, 2017, 2:24 PM
[7]
Citation Linkboxofficemojo.comThe Last American Virgin
Jul 26, 2016, 1:49 PM
[8]
Citation Linknytimes.com"Film Society of Lincoln Center Lauds Cannon Films"
Jul 26, 2016, 1:49 PM
[9]
Citation Linkmovies.nytimes.com"Movie Review - The Last American Virgin - FROLICS IN FLORIDA AND OTHER ANTICS - NYTimes.com"
Jul 26, 2016, 1:49 PM
[10]
Citation Linkew.com"The Last American Virgin Review | Movie Reviews and News"
Jul 26, 2016, 1:49 PM
[11]
Citation Linkavclub.com"The Last American Virgin (DVD) | DVD | HomeVideo Review"
Jul 26, 2016, 1:49 PM
[12]
Citation Linkdvdtalk.com"The Last American Virgin : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video"
Jul 26, 2016, 1:49 PM
[13]
Citation Linktimeout.com"The Last American Virgin"
Jul 26, 2016, 1:49 PM
[14]
Citation Linkwww.youtube.com
Aug 29, 2019, 2:42 PM