The Last Word (1979 film)
The Last Word (1979 film)
The Last Word is a 1979 American comedy-drama directed by Roy Boulting, his last feature. It stars Richard Harris, Karen Black, Martin Landau, Dennis Christopher, and Penelope Milford. The film is also known as The Number.
Plot
A washed-up inventor, Danny Travis, is furious when his house is slated for condemnation and his children will be left homeless. When a city official comes to evict him, Travis takes the man hostage. A television reporter, Paula Herbert, covers the crisis and sways public opinion, while a Los Angeles police captain, Gerrity, tries to defuse the situation.
Production
The screenplay was written by Michael Varhol, Greg P. Smith, and L. M. Kit Carson, based on a story by Horatius Haeberle. The film was produced by Richard G. Abramson, with cinematography by Jules Brenner, editing by George Grenville, and music by Carol Lees. It runs 102 minutes and is in English.
Release
The movie premiered on October 10, 1979 at the Chicago International Film Festival and opened in the United States on March 12, 1980, distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Company.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 19:48 (CET).