Universal Sued OverThis JAWS Ripoff...and WON!
Summary
TLDRIn this video, Mike Bracken, aka the Horror Geek, reviews 'The Last Shark,' an Italian Jaws knockoff from 1981. Notorious for its plagiarism lawsuit by Universal, the film features Jimmy Franciscus and Vic Morrow in a tale of a monstrous shark terrorizing a beach town. Bracken humorously critiques the film's low-budget effects, including recycled stock footage and a laughable fake shark. Despite its lack of gore, 'The Last Shark' earns its status as a cult classic among shark movie enthusiasts.
Takeaways
- 🎬 'The Last Shark' is a 1981 Italian film known for its similarities to 'Jaws', leading to a lawsuit from Universal.
- 🐋 The film features Jimmy Franciscus and Vic Morrow, who are likened to characters from 'Jaws', playing roles similar to Brody and Quint.
- 📽️ The movie is filled with reused footage and low-budget special effects, including a notably unconvincing shark.
- 🏝️ The setting involves a beach community where a shark attack threatens to disrupt the local way of life.
- 🎶 The film includes a notably poor title song that is criticized for its quality.
- 💸 The production appears to have a low budget, which is evident in the use of stock footage and low-quality props.
- 🤣 The script is filled with humor and sarcasm, often mocking the film's low production values and plot.
- 🌟 Vic Morrow's performance stands out as particularly over-the-top, adding a layer of entertainment to the film.
- 🦈 The film's climax involves a dramatic showdown with the shark, featuring explosions and a race against time.
- 🏆 Despite its flaws, 'The Last Shark' has achieved cult status and is appreciated for its entertainment value in the realm of B-movies.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the video script?
-The main theme of the video script is a review and humorous critique of the 1981 Italian film 'The Last Shark', which is known for being a rip-off of the movie 'Jaws'.
Who is Mike Bracken and what is his role in the video?
-Mike Bracken, also known as the Horror Deacon, is the host of the video. He provides a comedic analysis and review of 'The Last Shark', diving into its plot, characters, and notorious status as a 'Jaws' knockoff.
Why is 'The Last Shark' considered a cult movie?
-It is considered a cult movie because it was sued by Universal for plagiarism, leading to its removal from theaters, which in turn made it a sought-after film for cult movie enthusiasts.
What are some of the alternative titles mentioned for 'The Last Shark'?
-Some alternative titles mentioned for 'The Last Shark' include 'The Shark', 'Great White', and 'L'ultimo squalo'.
Which actors from 'Jaws' does the script compare the characters of 'The Last Shark' to?
-The script compares the character played by Jimmy Franciscus to Chief Brody and the character played by Vic Morrow to Quint from 'Jaws'.
What is the significance of the 'five barf bag rating' mentioned in the script?
-The 'five barf bag rating' is a humorous metric used by the host to rate the quality of gore and overall enjoyability of B-movies, with a higher rating indicating a more 'satisfying' level of over-the-top or low-quality effects and scenes.
What is the host's opinion on the quality of the special effects in 'The Last Shark'?
-The host humorously criticizes the special effects in 'The Last Shark', pointing out the use of stock footage, fake plastic sharks, and other low-quality effects as part of the movie's charm and entertainment value.
How does the script describe the character of Vic Morrow in 'The Last Shark'?
-The script describes Vic Morrow's character as a 'Bargain Basement Quint', hamming it up and providing a caricature of the Quint character from 'Jaws'.
What is the significance of the mention of 'Cruel Jaws' in the script?
-The mention of 'Cruel Jaws' is significant as it is another Italian 'Jaws' rip-off movie, and the script implies that 'The Last Shark' borrows or 'ripped off' scenes from it, further emphasizing the unoriginality of 'The Last Shark'.
What is the final 'barf bag rating' given to 'The Last Shark' by the host?
-The host gives 'The Last Shark' a 'two barf bag' rating, indicating that while it is not as gory or over-the-top as one might hope for in a 'Jaws' knockoff, it is still a legendary cult classic.
Outlines
🎬 Dive into 'The Last Shark' Review
The video script opens with a dramatic introduction to 'The Last Shark,' a film by Enzo Castellari released in 1981. It's noted for its legal controversy, as Universal Studios sued the filmmakers for plagiarism, claiming it was too similar to 'Jaws.' The reviewer, Mike Bracken, humorously sets the stage for a critique of this cult classic, mentioning the film's cast including James Franciscus and Vic Morrow, who are compared to characters from 'Jaws.' The script also pokes fun at the film's reuse of footage and the iconic theme song, promising a deep dive into the film's gore and quality, with a rating system based on 'barf bags.'
🌊 Shark Tales and Regatta Mayhem
Paragraph 2 delves into the plot of 'The Last Shark,' highlighting the mayor's reluctance to close the beaches despite the shark threat, aiming to maintain the Regatta event. The script satirically comments on the characters' denial of the shark's existence and the film's reuse of footage from other movies, including 'Jaws' and 'Cruel Jaws.' It also humorously critiques the acting, particularly Vic Morrow's, and the film's low-budget effects. The narrative includes a comedic take on the film's suspense and the characters' reactions to the shark attacks, culminating in the mayor's decision to seek help from a Quint-like character, despite previous reluctance.
🐋 Stock Footage Frenzy and Shark Showdown
Paragraph 3 continues the review with a focus on the film's low-quality special effects, including the use of stock footage and fake sharks. The script humorously describes the characters' actions and the film's plot points, such as the hunt for the shark and the various methods used to lure and kill it. It also includes a running joke about the film's lack of continuity and the over-the-top acting, especially from Vic Morrow. The paragraph culminates in a description of the climactic shark battle, with a nod to similar scenes in 'Jaws,' and ends with a transition back to the film's aftermath and the characters' fates.
🏆 The Final Verdict on 'The Last Shark'
In the final paragraph, the reviewer concludes the critique by summarizing the film's highlights and lowlights. Despite the film's numerous flaws, including its derivative plot and low-budget effects, it's celebrated as a cult classic within the 'Jaws' rip-off genre. The script humorously awards 'The Last Shark' a 'two barf bag' rating for its gore, acknowledging that while it may not be the most gruesome, it's a must-see for fans of B-movie shark films. The reviewer also encourages viewers to check out other reviews for more brazen 'Jaws' rip-offs, promising more entertainment in future videos.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Stock-footed shark
💡Jaws rip-off
💡Cult movie
💡Barf bag rating
💡Italian Jaws knockoff
💡Universal lawsuit
💡Gore
💡Vic Morrow
💡Ennio Morricone
💡Helicopter scenes
Highlights
Introduction to 'The Last Shark', a film known for its lawsuit with Universal over plagiarism claims against 'Jaws'.
Jimmy Franciscus and Vic Morrow star in roles reminiscent of 'Jaws' characters, adding a layer of parody.
The film's cult status is attributed to its removal from theaters, making it a sought-after gem for movie enthusiasts.
A humorous critique of the film's title song, suggesting it's so bad the shark might eat someone just to make it stop.
Commentary on the film's reuse of windsurfing footage, a common tactic in Italian 'Jaws' knockoffs.
Mention of the film's multiple titles, reflecting its journey through different markets and its elusive nature.
A nod to Vic Morrow's performance, drawing comparisons to Robert Shaw's Quint from 'Jaws'.
The film's low budget is mocked, suggesting it was spent on the lead actors, leaving little for the rest of the production.
A scene involving a character running over a depth charge is highlighted for its absurdity.
The film's director, Enzo Castellari, is discussed, noting his involvement after another director dropped out.
A live stream setup is humorously compared to the film's production, suggesting a similar level of chaos.
The film's use of stock footage is critiqued, with the shark attacks being described as less convincing than the original 'Jaws'.
A scene with a rubber toy shark is mocked for its low production value.
The film's climax is compared to 'Jaws', with a focus on the similarities and the film's inability to escape its influence.
The ending of 'The Last Shark' is discussed, with a focus on its similarity to the ending of 'Jaws', and the film's overall rating.
A final verdict on 'The Last Shark', praising it as a cult classic among 'Jaws' rip-offs.
Transcripts
just when you thought it was safe to go
back in the water the ocean's most
feared Predator the stock-footed shark
is back one thing's for sure it wasn't a
floating chainsaw welcome to thick
flicks where I take a deep dive into the
Cinematic sewer to help you embrace your
inner core geek Mike Bracken aka the
horn Deacon today we're tackling Enzo
castellari's killer shark flick the last
shark released in 1981 the last shark is
mostly known because Universal sued the
filmmakers claiming the film was
basically a plagiarized version of Jaws
they were eventually Victorious getting
the film pulled from theaters and
ensuring the cult movie Geeks would seek
it out whenever possible for at least
another Century well played Universal
this one has Jimmy Franciscus basically
playing Brody and Uber and Vic Morrow
Hamming it up as a Bargain Basement
Quint it's really quite amazing but
enough about that can the ultimate shark
devour enough Italians pretending to be
Americans to earn a coveted five barf
bag rating let's get to the gore and
find out oh and before we get started
today's video is brought to you by
patrons Eric traderberg sorry if I
butchered your name WTF what the flick
and malfunction if you'd like to help
sponsor some videos and free me from the
shackles of YouTube's arbitrary
Community guidelines nonsense you'll
find a link to my patreon in the pinned
comment description below seriously
every little bit helps keep the show
rolling and now let's get bloody we fade
in on this production company logo I'm
not sure if this is really variety since
you basically just ripped off Jaws feels
like more of the same to me hey look
it's the windsurfing footage they reuse
and every Italian Jaws rip off way to
recycle I feel like this dude is
definitely board certified and the one
downside of being a professional
Windsurfer is you're always bored at
work Jesus listen to this title song
[Music]
what are you thinking Sarah
it stinks but hey on the upside this
movie has Vic Morrow in it he's your
discount Robert Shaw oh yeah way to
phone it in title card like many Italian
films of the ERA this one has a
multitude of titles it's been the shark
great white and the Ultimo swallow just
to name a few
honestly the shark's probably just gonna
eat this guy to make this terrible theme
song end and I can't blame him
so we clearly blew the budget getting
Jimmy Franciscus and Vic Morrow in this
thing because I don't know what any of
these other people written by Mark
princy we have a generous assist from
Peter benjley and Carl Gottlieb
apparently even I don't have balls big
enough to demand a screenwriter's credit
for a movie that blatantly rips off Jaws
directed by Enzo castellari really
enough he got the gig after Rogero
deodato dropped out I would really love
to see a deodato Jaws rip off here's a
live look at me getting ready for next
month's live stream none of the
equipment works like usual welcome back
to K Jaws where we guarantee you 32
minutes of crappy music in every hour
out on the water it looks like there
must have been a sale on surfboards okay
let's look at this radio they're
probably picking up broadcast from other
galaxies with that thing welcome back to
my live stream Big Show today we're
going to be reacting to shark attack
videos we'll say this Windsurfer sure is
getting edgy out here hmm can't tell if
that's a seal screw it close enough oh
God Don't bit off his Rudder how will he
ever get back to shore now now damn I
guess it doesn't matter since he clearly
just ran over our leftover depth charge
from World War II sick air and just like
that he's gone not even a speck of blood
this guy's running in like castellari no
Universal is gonna sue him we'll say
it's nice they let James Franciscus his
headshot show up in the movie before he
does maybe this was all they could
afford 20 bucks says Franciscus is just
type of Jaws it's about rip off the book
too right writing time is interrupted
when Jimmy gets sidetracked with some
motorboating hell yeah no not like that
you pervs I mean he has to take his boat
out to look for the missing Windsurfer
um why wouldn't you get the Coast Guard
to do this maybe they realize Franciscus
had done this before I mean he was San
Antonio Margaritas killer fish a few
years prior to this oh [ __ ] it's ennio
gerolami Joe from the Killer Croc films
is here this shark doesn't stand a
chance back out on the water all they
found is a piece of surfboard looks like
someone's been chewing the scenery again
hey it's Vic Morrow doing his best I'm
Quint but don't tell Universal because I
don't want to get sued impression he's
really more like an oceanic janitor than
Quinn at this point oh hey it's Talia
mayor Vaughan but he's gonna want to
keep the beaches open I'm not gonna lie
there's some very strong Mentos
commercial Vibes here
[Music]
Mentos the fresh maker man I hate it
when the crew winds up in the shot out
on the water this happens one thing's
for sure it wasn't a floating chainsaw
yeah but the bigger question is was it a
boating accident Franciscus is quite The
Optimist though well there's still a
missing half of Mike's surfboard maybe
Mike's on it from Lance Henriksen
carried away in on this that's the
stupidest [ __ ] thing I've ever heard
when rubber toy sharks attack Jesus look
at Vic Morrow it's like Peak manhood
right there we've been struggling to
live up to this standard for the past 40
years Franciscus who's basically doing
double duty as Chief Brody and Hooper
heads off to inform the mayor that they
may have a giant shark problem
um why does the mayor have this weird
mannequin in his office I will say it's
weird to see Joe denying the existence
of a giant shark after being obsessed
with killer Crocs we know this was my
Explorer could have drifted up from
Florida
um yeah drifted up from Florida to Italy
happens all the time moro's like let's
just cut to the chase give me 10 grand
for that you get the head the tail the
whole damn thing
sure hope they kept Vic Morrow off the
set on the day they shot these
helicopter scenes what too soon oh yeah
Bruno mate totally stole this scene for
cruel Jaws which is probably okay given
how much stuff is stolen in this movie
hey that's Ben Gardner's boat it is
interesting that this gets labeled as a
Jaws rip-off which it definitely is but
it's also sort of a Jaws 2 rip off as
well witnessed by these dorky teens we
keep following There's Something Fishy
here I don't like it just insert your
own it's your mom joke here not Quinn
not Brody not mayor Vaughn and Joe head
in to investigate it's a good thing
there's another guy here to lend them a
hand I love how in denial Joe is
couldn't it have been something else
well sure could have been leprosy too
but probably not and then this random
shark shows up
psych do kids still say psych I'm so
damn old but if you guessed I Can't
Believe It's Not mayor Vaughn wasn't
going to stop the weekend Regatta give
yourself a screenwriter's credit no damn
shark's gonna screw up a whole Year's
work in planning Vic Morrow has thoughts
too it wasn't a nickel
I wasn't a tiger well what was it Five
Below Quint don't leave us hanging
gentleman's shark in this whole world
big enough to cause that kind of damage
oh more footage May taste all for cruel
Jaws underwater steel cage match back on
dry land the mayor is doing his best
Steve kornacki and working the big board
for election Night results we've still
got mermaid and shark vote from the
Northeast Lagoon this is still a
winnable race oh good we can watch him
on TV this is very meta and now it's
time for another great moment in horror
film acting hey wait a minute you mean
people will
Panic man he nailed that pause somewhere
Bill Shatner is nodding in approval of
course the mayor knows they have a shark
problem so he heads straight to Amazon
Basics Quint look I don't have the
budget funds to pay you the 10K after
that whole stripper thing I had to
settle last month uh what do you say to
a payment in Schlitz Vic has a counter
offer though that's very nice of you but
there's only one thing that I'd be
needing fine fine of course banquet it
is that's my final offer oh hi there and
shark picture Montage someone give me
Universal's legal team on line one
anyway everyone seems super excited to
see the slides from Jimmy franciscus's
last vacation what is going on with Vic
Morrow here Dude Looks Like An off-duty
about to go clubbing version of Captain
Kangaroo because the great white shark
you can't get off whoa whoa whoa where
the hell did this accent come from you
can see the wheels turning in his head
Eat Your Heart Out Robert Shaw I'm
getting an Oscar for this [ __ ] anyway
hold on to your panties ladies because
we've got a dude on the beach with an
acoustic guitar great now we've got Hot
Wieners hell yeah no I mean hot dogs on
the grill oh good another crappy Montage
song
what do you think of this when he and
Sarah it stinks stock footage shark
drink Italian Baywatch opening is pretty
lit though they really nailed the vibe
our girl goes in the water
stock footage shark is in the water
farewell and a due to you fair Italian
ladies it's like a buffet out here that
shark has options oh it's Derpy shark I
remember him from Cruel Jaws honest to
God this is like what you did if you
asked a blind kid with no arms to draw a
shark for you this thing is scarier than
any real shark I do love the castellari
shot this whole sequence in slow mo I
mean this is the only way the movie ran
88 minutes I give to you the ocean's
most ferocious Predator the stock
footage shark back on the beach we found
the worst Jack in the Box ever Jesus I'd
rather open the lament configuration and
summon cenobites than touch this thing
this is followed by a montage of
castellari's home movies from the beach
padding and attacks right off Smart give
me an S give me an H give me an a give
me an R give me a k
go shark look if these guys can recycle
scenes from other movies I'm recycling
jokes meanwhile Vic Morrow is supporting
this year's hottest new purse honestly
the mayor's just here to find out if
they broke into the Watergate hotel yet
let's give it up for tonight's
entertainment Booker T and the Slim
Pickens and here's more footage that
turned up in Cruel Jaws
castellari royalties I will say it's
awesome this chick has a pair of stock
footage binoculars though ah yes nothing
says excitement like watching the shark
attacks on an old 13-inch TV great
choice anyway it looks like the buoy is
taking them out you know what they say
buoys will be bullies not gonna lie I
haven't seen a red ball murder this many
people since fourth grade dodgeball
um how did they get this shot did they
mount the camera on the shark oh look at
this [ __ ] the fake dorsal fin the two
kids weren't Jaws was more convincing
than this a shark has a lot of options
on the menu but like the Killer Croc
he's got a hankering for some sloppy joe
mannequin into the air God I wish the
Italians still made this crap I mean
look at this shark it just dawned on me
the mirror sort of looks like sexy Alex
Trebek stupid sexy Trebek afterwards Vic
Morrow is still working on his accent I
thought the shark all over the world so
put that in your paper is he Irish is he
Italian your guess is as good as mine
doesn't even think Vic knows well the
shark is the mayor now guess we better
boat on over to another movie Franciscus
is going to go after the shark
um have we established what he does
exactly or how he's qualified to do this
hey it's KMart Blue Light Special
William cat or as I like to call him the
greatest American zero back to the boat
I want to know who signed off on giving
Vic Morrow C4 but they're not the only
ones hunting the Ferocious stock footed
shark the greatest American zero in his
pals are in two I'm sure this is gonna
be fine back in the boat Franciscus has
dropped the mic literally I guess this
is cool if the shark wants to do karaoke
or something hey it's massimovani he
fooled me by doing this film is Max
vanders guess pretended he was American
actually worked this time well played
Massimo stock footage shark you know
what to do hey I'm calling the
continuity cops Franciscus had a red
wetsuit on when he hit the water say it
with me kids continuity is hard and now
let's run again again stock footage
shark and Derby shark again this too was
in Cruel Jaws Franciscus is doing his
best Britney Spears impression it's a
well-known scientific fact that great
white sharks love to smash rocks with
their face apparently I think the shark
is drunk anyway Moro and Franciscus are
trapped in the cave which leads to
another great moment in horror film
acting Peter you're down to three
minutes air jaws ripoff continues
they're using mom's Christmas roast is
Chum oh yeah this chick knows her way
around a pole hell yeah no no not like
that this fishing pole meanwhile Vic is
such a master diver he's nearly drowned
I mean I believe he drowned in a bottle
of Scotch but not the ocean stock
footage shark this dude's one hell of a
shot he's hitting a shark in an entirely
different movie damn room a taste all
even the crappiest of fake shark footage
from this movie back on land we gotta
Get To The Choppa again oh yeah you're
gonna need a bigger boat and Francis his
daughter winds up in the drink with the
ferocious stock-footed shark I mean she
should be fine right it's probably a
man-eater she winds up at the hospital
and Franciscus is like hey can you hook
me up with some of those perks I'm gonna
be here a while plus it'll tell the pain
of the upcoming hospital bills the
greatest American zero tries to
apologize to Trebek for taking the boat
but all he gets for his effort is a
taste of jarbeck's pimpan that's Double
Jeopardy right there oh I'm gonna be
late for the Tournament of Champions
back inside it's time for another great
moment in horror film acting oh God
snub this performance then we get this
random medical diagnosis she's still
pretty groggy from the anesthetic she'll
feel her missing leg for months perhaps
for a year and scene Trebek is so late
they had to Charter a chopper for him
God what a diva oh yeah maybe I can nap
through the rest of this movie too
that's a solid idea apparently they also
replaced her missing leg with a hover
skirt or something Franciscus kinda
looks like a young micro today on Dirty
Jobs Dad shut up I'm high on painkillers
and you're ruining my buzz stock footage
shark Bottoms Up Trebek is planning to
be here a while dude back to lunch oh
helicopter fishing what could possibly
go wrong oh hi there
um none of these stock footage sharks
look like The Fake Plastic shark at all
oh God don't crash the toy helicopter in
the bathtub Trebek's seen enough I'm
going in I'll kick this shark's ass on
my own hey it's like he's cosplaying
Omar Suarez and portrait Beck he's half
the game show host he used to be oh no
Andy got the RC copter too those things
are cheap the magic of special effects
ladies and gentlemen and meanwhile Vic
Morrow gets a phone call oh hi John
Landis I'd love to be in Twilight Zone
The Movie can we talk about this after I
get through the climax here it's funny
that we talk about this movie ripping
off jaws and Jaws too but massimovani
and this guy trying to lure in the shark
to get it on film feels very much like
the Simon mccorkindale subplot of Jaws
3. did Universal rip off the last shark
as karmic payback we've got like 18
minutes left in this movie so let's just
bask in the glory of Vic Morrow's
overacting some expertise
accent man magic anyway he goes in the
water with our stock footage shark it's
nice they basically filmed the scene in
a glass of watered-down skim milk I mean
it's not like I wanted to see what was
happening anyway it does appear that Vic
is all tied up right now who the hell is
this guy rocking the denim on denim
there's 10 minutes left should we really
be
characters at this point oh great I
think Scott Bakula just Quantum leaped
into this movie and just in time because
this stock footed shark is out of
control who's the guy with a gun see
even the movie doesn't know who in the
hell this dude is look out the shark is
attacking the dock this is some literal
peer pressure but things get even worse
and jump scare
Plastics and Joan Rivers well it's a
very timely reference Jones only been
dead for what almost a decade I'll snap
he's back for more poor muscle movani
looks like his screen time has been
halved I will say I'm really glad we had
a redneck Scott Bakula to the mix in the
last minutes of the movie so he could do
absolutely nothing I really think this
is all just a big misunderstanding shark
has some massive movani stuck in his
teeth and is just trying to use the pier
like a toothpick okay sure let's just
basically rip off the end of Jaws too
while we're here oh no now Franciscus is
stuck out here oh so what the hell
happened to Vic Morrow shouldn't Dollar
Tree Quint be out here bold strategy
trying to get the shark to fill up on
Lumber appetizers let's see if it pays
off for him oh hey there's Vic Morrow or
maybe we should just call him Bob oh Vic
I can't quit you fantastic he's eating a
mannequin this is just like beat for
beat the end of Jaws right now but
Franciscus managed to grab the
explosives and St plunges right into the
climax
[Music]
yeah mate ripped this off too naturally
the Press is waiting to interview our
hero on Shore yeah I got a quote for you
quote this pimp hand and with that
Argyle drives them home from nakatomi
Plaza wait wrong movie and credits wait
the shark was made by a Ferrari no way I
think it was way more Fiat multipla than
Ferrari so what have we learned from the
last shark well for starters then I'll
never get tired of Italian Jaws rip-offs
this one is arguably the best of the
bunch I mean you got Franciscus Amaro in
the cast both were clearly slumming it
here but enough about that can the last
shark devour enough hapless humans
aren't a coveted five barf bag rating
let's go to the gore card in terms of
worse anatomy and this one is pretty
middle of the road we're treated to
multiple stock footage and Fake Plastic
shark attacks severed limbs devoured
mannequins and Windsurfer explosions the
last shark is not as bloody as you'd
hope an Italian Jaws knockoff would be
which is why I'm giving this one a two
bar [ __ ] rating it's not a sick flick but
it is a legendary cult classic that you
have to see if you love the wild world
of Jaws rip-offs looking for an even
more Brazen ripoff of Spielberg's
classic then be sure to check out my
review of cruel Jaws you'll find a link
here on the screen I'll meet you over
there until next time I'm Mike Bracken
aka the horror geek bringing you all the
splatter that matters
تصفح المزيد من مقاطع الفيديو ذات الصلة
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