The Last Detail is a 1973 American comedy-drama film directed by Hal Ashby and starring Jack Nicholson, Otis Young, Randy Quaid, Clifton James, Michael Moriarty and Carol Kane. The screenplay was written by Robert Towne, based on a 1969 novel of the same name by Darryl Ponicsan. It was released on December 12, 1973.
The film became known for its frequent use of profanity, and was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Nicholson), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Quaid) and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.
Plot[]
In Norfolk, Virginia, Navy lifers Signalman First Class Billy "Badass" Buddusky and Gunner's Mate First Class Richard "Mule" Mulhall are assigned a shore patroldetail escorting 18-year-old seaman Larry Meadows to Portsmouth Naval Prisonnear Kittery, Maine. Meadows has been court-martialed, dishonorably discharged, and has received a harsh sentence of eight years in the brig for attempting to steal $40 from a charity donation box, which happened to be run by the wife of the Norfolk Naval Base Commander.
Badass and Mule are given one week to escort Meadows to the Portsmouth brig. Despite their initial resentment of the detail, they soon come to like the young sailor, who is timid, naive, and resigned to his fate. They also discover that Meadows is a kleptomaniac. Believing that Meadows received an unjust sentence, Badass and Mule decide to make his journey to the brig as pleasant as possible; the pair make several stops along their route to provide bon-voyage adventures for the young man.
The trio's activities include bar-hopping, brawling with Marines, and other misadventures. They stay overnight at a hotel, drinking beer and watching TV after missing their train. Badass teaches Meadows some flag semaphore signals and tries to get the young prisoner to stick up for himself by provoking him into a fight, but is unsuccessful. The following morning, they take a detour to Camden, New Jersey to visit Meadows' mother, but she is not home. Meadows is embarrassed and ashamed after the three enter the house and find it unkempt with several empty liquor bottles lying around.
In New York City, the men encounter a group of chanting Nichiren Buddhists who teach Meadows how to pray. One of the Buddhists invites the three to a house party, where she offers to help Meadows flee his imprisonment and find refuge in Canada. Meadows declines, reasoning he does not want to cause trouble for his "best friends". Badass tries to seduce a woman at the party by talking about the romance of the sea, but she shows little interest. Mule makes awkward conversation about serving in the Navy with the liberal party guests.
In Boston, Badass and Mule take Meadows to a brothel so he can lose his virginity. When alone with a young prostitute, Meadows immediately ejaculates, but Mule and Badass pay for Meadows to have a second chance. While they wait, Badass and Mule make conversation about their lives outside of the Navy. Badass reveals a previous marriage dissolved because his wife wanted him to be a TV repairman. Mule has not married and is still supporting his mother. The next morning, Meadows tells the two men that despite the young prostitute's profession, he thinks she may have developed romantic feelings for him.
Just as they are about to leave for Portsmouth, Meadows suggests they go on a picnic. The senior sailors buy some hot dogs and attempt an uncomfortable barbecue in the snow at a local park, where Badass confides in Mule about his concern for Meadows and the potential abuse that he will face in prison. Meadows suddenly attempts to run away, in a last-ditch effort to escape but he falls down and is caught by the two men, who subdue and pummel him.
Badass, Mule and Meadows finally arrive at the prison; before they can say goodbye, Meadows is immediately marched off to be processed. The young duty officer, a Marine first lieutenant wearing an Annapolis ring, notices Meadows' injuries and berates Badass and Mule. The sailors are asked if Meadows tried to resist or fight, which they deny. The officer continues to give them a difficult time and points out that their orders were never signed by the master-at-arms in Norfolk, and claiming that as far the Navy is concerned, the orders are still in Norfolk. The officer says the pair are in deep trouble but relents when they demand to speak to his boss, the Executive Officer. On the way out, Badass admonishes the officer for forgetting to keep his copy of the paperwork. With the detail complete, the pair stride away from the prison complaining about the officer's incompetence. Both hope their orders will have come through by the time they arrive back in Norfolk.
Cast[]
- Jack Nicholson as Signalman 1st Class Billy L. "Badass" Buddusky
- Otis Young as Gunner's Mate 1st Class Richard "Mule" Mulhall
- Randy Quaid as Seaman Laurence M. "Larry" Meadows
- Clifton James as M.A.A.
- Carol Kane as Young Prostitute
- Michael Moriarty as First Lieutenant Marine Duty Officer
- Nancy Allen as Nancy
- Gilda Radner as Nichiren Shoshu Member
- Jim Hohn as Nichiren Shoshu Member
- Luana Anders as Donna
- Kathleen Miller as Annette
- Gerry Salsberg as Henry
- Pat Hamilton as Madame
- Don McGovern as The Bartender