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The Last American Virgin (1982)

The Last American Virgin Movie Poster
L

os Angeles -1982.

Fast food, fast cars, and Valley Girls. New wave fashions and the driving, throbbing beat of the hot new hits.

If you've ever been a teenager, you'll love this funny, provocative movie about growing up -and facing the tough issues of loyalty friendship, teen pregnancy and responsibility...

Gary has a job, friends, and a problem. He desperately needs to lose his virginity. He's the "Everyteen", constantly searching for the "right time" but it never comes. He's also a more romantic soul than his friends.

"The Last American Virgin" introduces us to Gary (Lawrence Monoson) and his friends, Rick (Steve Antin) and David (Joe Rubbo). Rick is the good-looking chisled one. He's the best friend that likes action and can spot it from across the room. David dines at the local drive-in a little too much and always keeps track of the three's finances. (David always has the money but inexplicably is never seen working.)

Gary spots Karen (Diane Franklin, best remembered as the French exchange student from "Better Off Dead") at the local hang-out and his eyes widen, his pulse quickens, and he does the craziest thing he can think of, he orders the same ice cream flavor as she does (endearing to the end). From here, it's a never ending pining for the enormously cute love interest. Gary gets a foot in the door by driving her to school one day and he thinks the deal is done ...but, as he finds out, nothing is as it seems.

All the while, Gary finds himself coerced by his friends to try to get any girl and "do the deed". On the way, Gary finds himself dealing with stubborn bra straps and artificial sweetener acting as coke (which ends in a hilarious shell game between a would-be score for David and Gary's mom), a Spanish nymphomaniac (who yearns for her dear Paco's return while "teaching Spanish" to the boys), a chain-smoking lady of the night, cures for crabs, and a car going in the ocean. All while keeping a job delivering Pink Pizza and going to high school.

The party scene at friend's place sets the dynamic for the rest of the movie. Gary starts to hit the bottle early and ends up finding out his biggest rival for Karen's affection ends up being his best friend, Rick (!). Gary is devastated and not even the wily charms of Rose (Kimmy Robertson of Twin Peaks) can sway him from his quest for Karen. (When there's a pool scene at a party, is it law that somebody unwittingly ends up soaked?) Gary spends a lot of time staring in Karen and Rick's direction with a "I-can't-believe-this-is-happening" look on his face.

The big hoo-ha happens when Gary finds out Rick has had his way with Karen AND is unwilling to help her when he finds out that she's pregnant! So, now, the friendship is fraying, but, Gary continues to adore Karen (ignoring the "two to tango" understanding) by giving her the help she needs. There's a very moving scene when Karen goes to the Clinic to "solve" her problem.

After all that, Gary knows for sure that she's come around to him. But, the twist at the end is about the most heart-wrenching that any comedy movie could ever spawn.

This is wrapped in a soundtrack that would make an 80's afficiando drool. 'Devo', 'Blondie', and 'The Cars' are only the tip of this musical iceberg. There are few movies that can rival the hits contained.

Prizewinning director Boaz Davidson (of "Lemon Popsicle" and "Going Steady") penetrates the world of todays teen from their own point of view.

By far, "The Last American Virgin" digs into facets of adolescent reality that many teen films of the 80's only touched. Gary's torture sitting next to Karen and Rick is only one example.

On the other hand, it also showcases an absurdity that we all wished high school had (or maybe just me!).

Don't forget that The Last American Virgin is now available to order on Widescreen DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...

Written By: Lou Materia [Contact]
 

"The Last American Virgin" is, quite possibly, the best Drama-Comedy that came out of the 80's. It hits on every issue so diligently and hard. As a rule, so many teen films of the time took the role of one or the other. LAV makes you laugh at the outrageousness of a nymphomaniac ready to service the boys to scenes that are so real that crying isn't an option, it's necessary.

Granted, this wasn't oscar material then or now. The acting in many palces is lackluster but forgivable. It even noticably changes from day to night and back again in more than one scene. But as an 80's movie, it is absolutely essential.

Rewind Factor: 9.5
  
Did you know?

This is actually a remake of another film by the same director, Boaz Davidson. The original was made in the 70's in his native Israel under the name "Lemon Popsicle". That movie spawned many sequels in his home country.


Lawrence Monoson starred in an episode of Medium with Patricia Arquette. -Thanks to Amy Lerner

Steve Antin, "Rick", also played the character of "Troy" in the movie, "The Goonies". -Thanks to Lisa C.

Lawrence Monoson played Joey "The Rock" Manelli in the show Resurrection Boulevard in 2001, Virgil Smith in Any Day Now in 2001 & Tobey Arcane in CSI in 2002. -Thanks to Stephanie

Actor Mel Welles who played the drug store clerk ("your b*lls itch?") is best known for his role as Gravis Mushnick in Roger Corman's 1960 original "Little Shop Of Horrors".

Although a ladies man in "Last American Virgin", Steve Antin (Rick) is actually openly gay and was once the boyfriend of music mogul David Geffen. -Thanks to Pete Smith

Steve Antin is the brother of Robin Antin, creator of the Pussycat Dolls, and Johnathan Antin, celebrity hair stylist and star of the reality series Blow Out. Steve is also a producer of the CW show The Next Doll starring sister Robin.

Louisa Moritz (Carmela) also appeared in the 1981 slasher film, "New Year's Evil," where she pleaded with the killer to spare her life. Luckily, she did manage to escape being slashed (as opposed to LAV castmate Lawrence Monoson, who met an unfortunate fate in front of a stag movie screen in "Friday the 13th Part 4").

Steve Antin wrote and starred in Inside Monkey Zetterland with Rupert Everett, Sandra Burnhardt, Rikki Lake and several other famous faces. -Thanks to Vanessa

Tessa Richarde (Brenda) played good-time-gal Doreen in another late-night Cable 80s' classic- "Beach Girls." She also appeared as "Bonnie" on a 1983 episode of Cheers where Sam held a beauty contest at the bar, much to Diane's feminist-based chagrin.

Diane Franklin, Karen, played the French love interest of John Cusack in "Better Off Dead". -Thanks to Ellen

Lawrence Monoson went on to star in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter in 1984 as Ted & "Mask" as Rocky's (Eric Stoltz) best friend in 1985. I thought he looked familiar when I saw his face on the video jacket of "The Last American Virgin" before I watched it for the 1st time!

Millie (Winifred Freedman), the overweight girl Gary tried to cop a feel with also starred as the driver's ed student, Stephanie, in the "Naked Gun" (I'm sure you remember her in the hilarious scene when the truck driver gives her a hard time and her instructor calmly and patiently tells her to flick him off). -Thanks to Stephanie

Notice any time Gary and/or Rick & David are carrying the pizza boxes, there's very little effort to carry them because there's nothing in them! They could've put something in the boxes or faked, like it was more work to carry them.

In the scene where Rick and Gary swindle Victor into using his car..he says" Careful with this baby, I just had her painted, cost me my last buck!" but if you watch the scenes that follow, you see that the car is a totally banged up beater!! -Thanks to Strevens

As a teenager, Diane Franklin had an extensive modeling and TV commercial career in campaigns for Coke, Trident, Maxwell House coffee & Jell-o.

The film has 3 different tag lines: 1.) "A Very Funny Movie About The First Time!" 2.) "The Comedy That Puts Zip Into Being A Teen" 3.) "See It Or Be It!" -Thanks to Stephanie

Franklin has also made TV guest appearances in Providence, Matlock, Murder She Wrote & Charles in Charge.

Lawrence Monoson has made TV guest appearances in Diff'rent Strokes, Beverly Hills 90210, JAG, Murder She Wrote, Touched by an Angel, Chicago Hope, The Practice & ER.

Steve Antin starred as Detective Nick Savino in NYPD Blue from 1994-1998. Antin also has had a very prolific career as a stunt person in the following films: "Breakin'" (uncredited stunt breaker), "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo" (uncredited stunt breaker: Cabbager Patch & The Jerry Lewis), "Teen Wolf" (uncredited, utility stunts), Teen Wolf Too (uncredited, stunts of the Wolf), Dances with Wolves (uncredited, stunts of the Wolf) & Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style (uncredited, dance stunts for Screech). He wrote the screenplay for the film "Gloria" and also made a TV guest appearance on 21 Jump Street. Steve Antin also appeared in the 80's movie "The Goonies" as Troy. He also played one of Jodie Foster's rapists in "The Accused" -Thanks to Jennifer Conant

It is very obvious that after shooting LAV, Lawrence Monoson got a nose job & fixed his teeth because when you see him in Friday the 13th Part 4: The Final Chapter, he's not really recognizable at first.

Filming must've taken longer than anticipated (or there were re-shoots) because Lawrence Monoson looks really young in some of the scenes & his hair is shorter (e.g. the locker room scene & the scene in which he asks David for Karen's address). But in other scenes, he looks a little older & his hair is longer (e.g. the party that he gets really upset & wasted at & the scene in which he lets the air out of one of the tyres on Karen's moped). There are a couple of other scenes where he looks even older & has a tan (e.g. the beginning of the film when he's delivering pizzas & the scene when he comes home drunk).

Sadly, Phil Rubenstein (Gino), died of a heart attack in 1992 at the age of 51. -Thanks to Stephanie

Louisa Moritz (Carmela the Nympho) played Rose in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" & in "Up in Smoke" as Officer Gloria Whitey. She also made TV guest appearances in The "Incredible Hulk" & "Happy Days". -Thanks to Stephanie

Steve Antin played the boyfriend "Jesse" in Rick Springfield's "Jesse's Girl" video. -Thanks to Erin Olson

Steve Antin wrote, produced & directed the short-lived but well-acclaimed show "Young Americans." -Thanks to Stephanie

Diane Franklin is actually deaf in one ear. That is why she does not ride her moped or a bike in the movie. Being deaf in one ear, disrupts your inner balance. -Thanks to Heavy Cee

Joe Rubbo (David in the movie) apparently got into some hot water with the SEC over a $90 million stock offering for an independent movie company. -Thanks to Joe Speevey

Steve Antin also starred in the following films: 'Til There Was You (Kevin), It's My Party (Zack Phillips), S.F.W. (Dick Zetterland), Without You, I'm Nothing (Himself) & Sweet 16 (Hank Burke). He wrote the screenplay for the film Chasing Papi.

Keep on the lookout for the sequel to Starship Troopers, which Lawrence Monoson is starring in. Monoson also starred in the film Gaby: A True Story as Gaby's boyfriend & in And the Band Played On as Chip. He won a Cable Ace nomination for this role. Sandy Sprung (Gary's mom) was the writer & producer for the show 'Married with Children'.

Kimmy Robertson appeared in the famous Andy Kaufman show at Carnegie Hall, the one where he took everyone out for milk & cookies afterwards. She got the part of Rose in LAV with the help of her agent, who worked in the same office that her ballet company was in. She used to date David Duchovny.

Cinematographer Adam Greenberg went on to do camerawork for numerous films like The Terminator, Terminator II, La Bamba, Ghost, 3 Men & a Baby, Sister Act, The Santa Clause, The Santa Clause II, Rush Hour, Eraser & Collateral Damage.

Kimmy Robertson auditioned for the role of 'Tina' in 'The Return of the Living Dead', which eventually went to Beverly Randolph.

The following scenes in the trailer in the DVD are nowhere to be found: 1) Karen licking the ice-cream cone 2) A key-hole shot of Carmela lying on the bed with the fan resting on her chest. 3) Carmela shimmying her shoulder as she gazes at the boys. -Thanks to Stephanie

Diane Franklin was in the movie "Amityville Horror II". -Thanks to Melissa Bone

Steve Antin was also in a couple of episode's of 21 Jump Street with Johnny Depp. -Thanks to Gary Jaesin

« Click here to add some Last American Virgin trivia

Rediscover your favorites! If you like The Last American Virgin or 80's Comedy classics, then be sure to check out this list: ..... Tootsie ..... Raising Arizona ..... Good Morning, Vietnam ..... Blues Brothers ..... Heathers ..... Fast Times At Ridgemont High ..... This Is Spinal Tap ..... Naked Gun ..... Adventures In Babysitting ..... Airplane ..... License To Drive ..... Money Pit ..... Porky's ..... Risky Business ..... Twins ..... Soul Man .....[More]



 


Director Boaz Davidson had the guys (Steve Antin, Lawrence Monoson & Joey Rubbo) watch the Lemon Popsicle over & over so they could get an idea of what he wanted for LAV: a cooler film that was more hip with the times.

The 3 guys became very good friends during the making of the film & to this day, they're still very close.

Rubbo ad-libbed a lot of his lines. A lot of people on the set called Rubbo John Belushi. He is currently a mortgage broker in Florida & has 3 daughters. -Thanks to Stephanie

You can see Lawrence Monoson (Gary) in the first season of "Star Trek: Enterprise" on an episode called "Fortunate Son" as a freighter officer.

Kimmie Robertson, who played Karen's best friend Rose, was 27 or 28 at the time of filming. She sure fooled me! She looked much younger than her age.

In the make-out scene when Rick & Karen are messing around in the backseat & Gary & Rose in the front seat, it is night but when the car goes into the ocean, it's sunset!

There's an outside shot of the parking lot of the hang-out & Gary's car isn't there. But when he storms out after finding out that Rick slept with Karen, the car is in the parking lot!

All throughout the film, Gary drives a pink station wagon, but when he pulls up to the football field, it's light blue! It even changes to light green on the highway after he's driven off after hearing that Rick slept with Karen. My speculation is that Larry Monoson was driving the pink car most of the time (that is, for the easy driving maneuvers because he was just learning how to drive) while the stunt drivers used the blue & green cars for riskier driving (e.g. driving on a busy highway & speeding & coming to a fast halt).

When Gary looks for Karen, it's night but then they cut to Rick & Karen walking along the bleachers & it's early evening. When they're in the dugout doing the deed it goes from evening to afternoon! The same thing happens when Gary is looking for them under the bleachers!

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S. California Locations
The Last American Virgin Movie Locations
 The Last American Virgin Locations
 
Many of the exteriors of the characters' homes, including Karen's driveway and Carmela's apartment, were shot in Studio City and the North Hollywood / Toluca Lake area (you can tell from the house numbers and street signs). [Thanks to Christian McLaughlin]

The "Roosevelt Highschool" scenes were shot at Birmingham High. We think the football field scene was filmed at Reseda Highschool on Victory Blvd and Reseda, in Reseda CA. [Thanks to Jason]

The front of the Pizza place where Gary works, looks a lot like "Piece O' Pizza", which was located on Reseda Blvd. [Thanks to Dawn]

The pizza joint where Gary works is at Western and Hollywood blvd in Hollywood right behind the Pioneer Chicken (which Charles Bronson walks by in "Death Wish 2") [Thanks to Robert Vanmnoy]

Can you help? Do you know any of the Los Angeles, S. California filming locations used for The Last American Virgin, particularly Carmela's (Spanish nympho) apartment, Gary's grandma's house? [Please send them in]

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[16:9 -Widescreen Enhanced][STEREO or SURROUND]Trailer
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What a great list of songs! This soundtrack was available when the film first came out and since then has not re-appeared. Much like the movie itself.

1. "Oh No" - The Commodores
2. "Whip It" - Devo
3. "Open Arms" - Journey
4. "Keep On Lovin' You" - REO Speedwagon
5. "I Will Follow" - U2
6. "I Know What Boys Like" - The Waitresses
7. "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" - The Police
8. "Just Once" - Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram
9. "Are You Ready For the Sex Girls?" - Gleaming Spires
10. "That's the Way I like it" - KC and the Sunshine Band
11. "Love Action (I Believe In Love)" - Human League
12. "Better Luck Next Time" - Oingo Boingo
13. "Since You're Gone" The Cars
14. "Shake it Up" The Cars
15. "Sesame Mucho & Granada" - Fabulous Paraguayas
16. "It Aint Easy Comin' Down" - Charlene
17. "When I Find You" - Phil Seymour
18. "Zero Hour" - Plimsouls
19. "Teen Angel Eyes" - Tommy Tutone
20. "Airwaves" - The Fortune Band

Throughout the movie, one of the best romantic songs ever created, 'Open Arms' by 'Journey' is played at least four times. -Thanks to Paulina

« Click here to add new music trivia for Last American Virgin

Soundtrack Available: Used Vinyl LP / Tape


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The Last American Virgin Movie Details
Year:
1982
Studio:
Cannon Films
Director:
Boaz Davidson
Starring:
Lawrence Monoson, Diane Franklin, Steve Antin, Joe Rubbo, Kimmy Robertson
--
Genre:
Comedy
  
+
Excellent story, great mix of Comedy and Drama, and a legendary soundtrack.
-
Continuity in places, acting not always on par.

The Last American Virgin Links
The best links we've found for The Last American Virgin.
IMDb page for The Last American VirginThe IMDb page for The Last American Virgin
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Last American Virgin Site
Great Site devoted to the movie

Lemon Popsicle Forever
Simply great site for the Lemon Popsicle Series


 

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The Last American Virgin and all movie images are ©1982 Cannon Films.
All original content is ©1999, 2008 Fast Rewind WebSites. Page Written By: Lou Materia