The Last of Sheila

On a sunlit yacht, a year after Sheila dies in a hit and run, a wealthy husband gathers his closest friends for a weekend game built like a sophisticated scavenger hunt. The party becomes a real time mystery as clues, taunts, and inside jokes pull the group into dangerous territory. Each participant brings a slice of the past into the cabin and the guests begin to suspect that the game is more than play. The lines between role playing and reality blur as hidden motives surface, leaving everyone to question who is really in control and what price the truth will demand. As clues multiply, voices rise and reputations clash, and the yacht becomes a pressure cooker.

Directed by Herbert Ross, The Last of Sheila grew from a screenplay collaboration between Anthony Perkins and Stephen Sondheim, weaving a sensibly stylish puzzle on screen. It premiered in 1973 and marked a rare suspense project for its talented team.

Sheila is remembered for its tight game frame and wit, a rare collaboration between a famed composer and a screenwriter that blends high society intrigue with puzzle solving. The film helped popularize the notion that a mystery can play like a party game and still feel tense, and its clever construction continues to inspire modern parlor mystery films.

Critics praised its clever plotting, stylish direction, and the ensemble cast led by Richard Benjamin, Dyan Cannon, James Coburn and James Mason. The themes of memory, guilt, and control run through a seemingly bon vivant weekend that spirals into a deadly test of trust. Its themes still spark discussion about truth, memory and class.

Box office receipts for the era put The Last of Sheila at roughly 2.2 million dollars worldwide, reflecting a modest but steady response for a prestige mystery with a cult following. The film found life on home video and in later reruns, further cementing its cult status.