Search a film or person :
FacebookConnectionRegistration
The Last Polka is a canadien film of genre Comedy released in USA on 15 april 1985 with John Candy

The Last Polka (1985)

The Last Polka
If you like this film, let us know!
Released in USA 15 april 1985
Length 54minutes
OriginCanada
Genres Comedy,    Musical
Rating71% 3.5886753.5886753.5886753.5886753.588675

The Last Polka is a 1985 comedy television film, and one of the first mockumentaries. It was written by and starred John Candy and Eugene Levy, and directed by John Blanchard.

The Last Polka follows the life, careers, and the final concert of Yosh (Candy) and Stan (Levy) Shmenge, two brothers from the fictional country of Leutonia who become the biggest polka duo the world has ever seen. It is presented as a mixture of live concert performance and filmed scenes.

Many fellow SCTV performers including Rick Moranis, Catherine O'Hara, and Robin Duke appear in the film. Dave Thomas narrates.

The live concert in the film is a loose parody of The Band's concert movie The Last Waltz. Special guests and longtime Shmenge collaborators include The Lemon Twins (Duke, O'Hara and her real life sister Mary Margaret O'Hara) doing a medley of their "hits" and also Linsk Minyk (Moranis) performing a medley of road songs that culminates in a version of the Doors' "Touch Me".

One stand out scene has The Shmenges performing an outdoor stadium Michael Jackson salute concert, complete with glitter outfits, sequin glove, and a polka version of "Beat It".

The Shmenges were originally created as characters for the television series Second City TV and were also known on SCTV as The Happy Wanderers.

The Last Polka was produced for and first broadcast on the HBO cable network. Both John Candy and Eugene Levy were nominated in 1985 for a Cable Ace Award in the Best Performance in a Comedy Special category.

As of March 2008, this video is out of print and has not yet been released on DVD.

Actors

John Candy

(Yosh Shmenge)
Eugene Levy

(Stan Shmenge)
Rick Moranis

(Linsk Minyk)
Catherine O'Hara

(Lemon Twin)
Robin Duke

(Lemon Twin)
Dave Thomas

(Narrator)
Trailer of The Last Polka

Bluray, DVD

Streaming / VOD

Source : Wikidata

Comments


Leave comment :

Suggestions of similar film to The Last Polka

There are 124 films with the same actors, 40627 with the same cinematographic genres (including 2844 with exactly the same 2 genres than The Last Polka), 6250 films with the same themes, to have finally 70 suggestions of similar films.

If you liked The Last Polka, you will probably like those similar films :
Pippi Longstocking, 1h15
Directed by Clive A. Smith
Origin Suede
Genres Comedy, Adventure, Musical, Animation
Themes Films about magic and magicians, Musical films, Children's films
Actors Melissa Altro, Catherine O'Hara, Eileen Brennan, Gordon Pinsent, Dave Thomas, Wayne Robson
Rating53% 2.6562852.6562852.6562852.6562852.656285
The film begins with Pippi sailing around the world with her father, Captain Efraim Longstocking, her pet horse, Horse, her pet monkey, Mr. Nilsson, and various members of the ship's crew. One night during a hurricane, the captain is washed over board into the sea. As he drifts off, he calls to Pippi that he will "meet her in Villa Villekulla". To that effect, Pippi and her pet animals make their way home, Villa Villekulla, to await his return. Not long after arriving, she makes friends with the two children across the street — Tommy and Annika, who are captivated by her free spirit and fun-loving attitude. They soon convince her to go to school (for the first time in her life) where she gets into trouble, despite winning the hearts of her classmates.
A Mighty Wind, 1h31
Directed by Christopher Guest
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical theatre, Musical
Themes Films about music and musicians, Films about sexuality, LGBT-related films, Transgender in film, Musical films, LGBT-related films, LGBT-related film
Actors Bob Balaban, Catherine O'Hara, Ed Begley Jr., Michael McKean, Larry Miller, Harry Shearer
Rating71% 3.5981253.5981253.5981253.5981253.598125
The film is structured as mockumentary about a memorial concert for (fictional) folk music producer Irving Steinbloom. Upon his death, his children organize a concert, which they hope to feature his three most famous acts: The Folksmen, The New Main Street Singers, and Mitch & Mickey.
For Your Consideration, 1h26
Directed by Christopher Guest
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Musical theatre, Documentary
Themes Films about films, Films about music and musicians, Films about sexuality, Films about television, LGBT-related films, Musical films, LGBT-related films, LGBT-related film, Lesbian-related films
Actors Bob Balaban, Ed Begley Jr., Jennifer Coolidge, Stephen Rannazzisi, Eugene Levy, John Michael Higgins
Rating62% 3.14753.14753.14753.14753.1475
Character actress Marilyn Hack (O'Hara), despite having been in the industry for 30 years, is best known for playing a blind prostitute in a film from the late 1980s. Victor Allen Miller (Shearer) is also an acting veteran who is known to the public as the hot-dog wearing mascot for a kosher line of frankfurters. Together they are cast in a new low-budget film called Home for Purim as the patriarch and dying matriarch of a Southern U.S. Jewish family in the 1940s.
Brother Bear, 1h25
Origin USA
Genres Fantasy, Adventure, Musical, Animation
Themes Films about animals, Environmental films, La préhistoire, Animaux préhistoriques, Film d'animation mettant en scène un animal, Mise en scène d'un ours, Musical films, Political films, Buddy films, Children's films, Mise en scène d'un mammifère
Actors Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Suarez, Rick Moranis, Joan Copeland, Dave Thomas, Michael Clarke Duncan
Rating69% 3.458053.458053.458053.458053.45805
The film is set in a post-ice age North America, where the local tribesmen believe all creatures are created through the Spirits, who are said to appear in the form of an aurora. Three brothers: Kenai (voiced by Joaquin Phoenix)- the youngest brother, Denahi (voiced by Jason Raize)- the middle brother -and Sitka (voiced by D.B. Sweeney)- the eldest brother, return to their tribe in order for Kenai to receive his sacred totem, a necklace in the shape of an animal. The particular animal it represents symbolizes what he must achieve to call himself a man. Unlike Sitka, who gained the eagle of guidance, and Denahi, who gained the wolf of wisdom, Kenai receives the bear of love, to which he objects, stating that bears are thieves. He believes his point is made a fact when a bear takes some salmon. Kenai and his brothers pursue the bear, but a fight follows on a glacier, during which Sitka gives his life to save his brothers, although the bear survives. Vengeful, Kenai heads out to avenge Sitka. He chases the bear up onto a mountain and kills it. The Spirits, represented by Sitka's spirit in the form of a bald eagle, transform Kenai into a bear after the dead bear's body disappears. Denahi arrives, mistaking Kenai as dead, and believing the bear is responsible, vows to avenge Kenai by hunting it down.
Little Shop of Horrors, 1h34
Directed by Frank Oz
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Comedy, Horror comedy, Musical theatre, Horror, Musical, Comic science fiction
Themes Medical-themed films, Films about music and musicians, Théâtre, Comedy science fiction films, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals, Comedy horror films, Mise en scène d'une plante
Actors Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin, James Belushi, Levi Stubbs
Rating70% 3.5483053.5483053.5483053.5483053.548305
In September 1963, Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis) and his colleague, Audrey (Ellen Greene), work at Mushnik's Flower Shop, lamenting they cannot escape the slums of New York City, living in a run-down, beat up neighborhood referred to as "Skid Row." Struggling from a lack of customers, Mr. Mushnik (Vincent Gardenia) prompts to close the store, only for Audrey to suggest displaying an unusual plant Seymour owns. Immediately attracting a customer, Seymour explains he bought the plant, which he dubbed "Audrey II", from a Chinese flower shop during a solar eclipse. Attracting business to Mushnik's shop, the plant soon starts dying, worrying Seymour. Accidentally pricking his finger, he then discovers Audrey II needs human blood to thrive.
Follow That Bird, 1h29
Directed by Ken Kwapis
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Adventure, Musical, Animation
Themes Films about animals, Transport films, Films about birds, Musical films, Road movies, Children's films
Actors Caroll Spinney, Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Sandra Bernhard, Alyson Court, John Candy
Rating66% 3.34643.34643.34643.34643.3464
The members of the Feathered Friends' Board of Birds (consisting of the Madame Chairbird, a sparrow, a turkey, a puffin, a robin, and an owl) discuss their situation about Big Bird and hope that they can find a bird family to put him with. The group's social worker Miss Finch (performed by Cheryl Wagner and voiced by Sally Kellerman) is sent to Sesame Street to find Big Bird a worthy bird family and bring him to the selected family. After leaving Sesame Street, New York City, New York, Miss Finch brings Big Bird to the fictional town of Oceanview, Illinois to live with a family of dodos. The dodos think exactly the same, even saying he should have a bird as a best friend instead of Mr. Snuffleupagus (who is currently watching over Big Bird's nest). This causes him much distress.
Orange County, 1h27
Directed by Jake Kasdan
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama
Themes Films about writers, Films about music and musicians, Musical films
Actors Colin Hanks, Jack Black, Catherine O'Hara, Schuyler Fisk, John Lithgow, Nat Faxon
Rating61% 3.0991553.0991553.0991553.0991553.099155
Shaun Brumder (Colin Hanks) is a teenager from affluent Orange County, California. Although bright and intelligent, he has very little interest in education or studying, instead trying to lead a carefree SoCal lifestyle of surfing, drinking, and partying. A turning point comes when Shaun's best friend Lonny (Bret Harrison) is killed in a surfing accident, causing Shaun to rethink his own life. One day, he finds a novel on the beach by the author Marcus Skinner, which quickly inspires him to become a writer. Upon learning that Skinner is an English professor at Stanford University, Shaun makes it his goal to attend Stanford and study under him, seeing it as an opportunity to escape from his superficial life in Orange County.
The Rescuers Down Under, 1h53
Directed by Hendel Butoy, Mike Gabriel
Origin USA
Genres Fantasy, Adventure, Musical, Crime, Animation
Themes Films about animals, Seafaring films, Transport films, Film d'animation mettant en scène un animal, Films about birds, Mise en scène d'un rongeur, Musical films, Buddy films, Children's films, Mise en scène d'un mammifère
Actors Eva Gabor, Bob Newhart, John Candy, Tristan Rogers, Adam Ryen, George C. Scott
Rating67% 3.397623.397623.397623.397623.39762
In the Australian Outback, a young boy named Cody rescues and befriends a rare golden eagle named Marahute, who shows him her nest and eggs. Later on, the boy unknowingly falls into an animal trap set by Percival C. McLeach, a local poacher wanted by the Australian Rangers. When McLeach finds one of the eagle's feathers on the boy's backpack, he is instantly overcome with excitement, for he knows that catching an eagle that size would make him rich because he had caught one before, which was Marahute's mate. McLeach throws Cody's backpack to a pack of crocodiles in order to trick the Rangers into thinking that Cody was dead, and kidnaps him in his attempt to force him to reveal the whereabouts of Marahute.
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, 1h47
Directed by Brad Silberling
Origin USA
Genres Fantastic, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure
Themes Films about children, Films about magic and magicians, Films about music and musicians, L'usurpation d'identité, Musical films, Children's films, Escroquerie
Actors Jim Carrey, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Timothy Spall, Catherine O'Hara, Jude Law
Rating68% 3.400133.400133.400133.400133.40013
Violet Baudelaire (Emily Browning), her intelligent brother Klaus (Liam Aiken), and their baby sister Sunny (Kara and Shelby Hoffman) are orphaned when a mysterious fire destroys their house. Mr. Poe (Timothy Spall), in charge of the Baudelaire fortune, entrusts them to their closest relative, Count Olaf (Jim Carrey), who only wants their money and makes them do harsh chores.
Rock & Rule, 1h17
Directed by Clive A. Smith
Origin Canada
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Musical, Animation
Themes Films about animals, Films about music and musicians, Post-apocalyptic films, Films about religion, Films set in the future, Musical films, Political films, Dystopian films, Disaster films
Actors Don Francks, Susan Roman, Paul Le Mat, Lou Reed, Catherine O'Hara, Greg Salata
Rating63% 3.195183.195183.195183.195183.19518
This plot is for the original canadian version of the film. Mok, an aging yet legendary rock musician, is on the search for a very special voice that can unleash a powerful demon from another dimension to fulfill his wish of being immortalized as a musician/Magic Man. After traveling around the world looking for the right voice, he returns to his hometown of Ohmtown, a remote, storm-ravaged village famous for its unique power plant.