In this rare and virtually unseen film we follow the exploits of Leroy Mahoney as he settles in the country leaving behind a wayward life to work his land. With plot only provided as subtext, the simple story is a dramatization of a man and his resolve to live a quite honest life farming.
Director: Harvey Hart & Alexis Kanner.
Stars: Maud Adams, Alexis Kanner, Diana Leblanc, Sam Waterston. AKA Mahoney’s Estate
This film has a cult following of sorts since it was so hard to find. If anyone likes quirky humor and back to the land sentiments, watch this. A million thanks to Jon for providing this, and so many other celluloid delights.
Leroy Mahoney has got to be the oddest character ever portrayed by an actor. In this case the actor was also co-director and co-writer, one Alexis Kanner, who grew up in Canada, performed Shakespeare with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Orson Welles. He’s probably best known in the US for a couple appearances in the TV series The Prisoner. One never knows what’s going to happen in this story of a strange young man who decides to buy a farm and live off the land despite the fact that he knows nothing about farming. I don’t think Kanner knew where the story was headed either but his performance holds it all together. Ronnie Lane (Faces) and Ron Wood (Rolling Stones) collaborated on the score. It’s a bit long but still a refreshing break from all the formulaic Hollywood fare.
“Mahoney’s Last Stand” is a very special film, more of a character study than a standard film with a linear story., this type of film was quite popular in the 1970’s. Featuring a fine soundtrack from Ron Wood, that is so much more known than the movie itself. I discovered actor Alexis Kanner through this film, and I was so impressed with this guy’s work that I searched out other films from him, and found some true gems. I hope some boutique blu ray label picks this title up for a blu ray restoration at one point. It really is a valuable time capsule of an era long gone…Fans of Kerouac’s “On the Road” should really enjoy this movie…