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What is the plot?
Shelly Gardner, a 57-year-old veteran showgirl, has dedicated nearly four decades to performing in Le Razzle Dazzle, a classic French-style revue on the Las Vegas Strip. The show, known for its traditional glamour and artistry, has become a defining part of her identity. Shelly shares the stage with younger performers Mary-Anne and Jodie, who regard her as a maternal figure, while maintaining a close friendship with Annette, a former showgirl who was dismissed years earlier and now works as a cocktail waitress. Despite their different circumstances, the bond between Shelly and Annette remains strong, underscored by shared memories and mutual support.
The story opens with Shelly preparing nervously for an audition, where she conceals her true age, signaling her anxiety about her fading relevance in the entertainment world. Soon after, the fragile stability of her life shatters when Eddie, the show's producer and stage manager, unexpectedly arrives at Shelly's home during a casual gathering with Annette, Mary-Anne, and Jodie. He delivers the crushing news that Le Razzle Dazzle will close in two weeks due to declining ticket sales. The revue is to be replaced by a modern, neo-burlesque circus show that has already commandeered the prime performance nights. Shelly is devastated, viewing the new production as vulgar and lacking the artistic integrity she cherishes. Meanwhile, Mary-Anne and Jodie begin auditioning for roles in other shows, despite Shelly's disapproval of their choices, which she considers too risqué and beneath the dignity of their craft.
With the show's imminent closure, Shelly confronts the harsh reality of having no retirement plan or financial cushion. Her income dwindles as performances decrease, and she faces additional setbacks, such as pay cuts for a torn costume that required expensive repairs. Annette struggles with her own demons, battling alcoholism and gambling addiction, which have left her financially destitute. In a moment of vulnerability, Annette confides in Shelly that she has been living out of her car, prompting Shelly to offer her a place to stay.
Amidst this turmoil, Shelly attempts to reconnect with her estranged daughter, Hannah, a college photography student living in Tucson who spent much of her adolescence with family friends. Their reunion is awkward and strained; Shelly forgets key details about Hannah's life, such as her age and academic major, highlighting the emotional distance between them. Hannah initially declines Shelly's invitation to dinner but later returns, and they share a brief, tentative moment of warmth.
Hannah secretly attends a Le Razzle Dazzle performance, which leads to a tense confrontation backstage. She accuses Shelly of prioritizing her career over their relationship, calling the show a "stupid nudie show" and expressing resentment for the sacrifices she endured growing up. Shelly, feeling misunderstood and hurt, storms out. Shortly afterward, Jodie visits Shelly's home, distressed over her own fractured relationship with her mother. Shelly, still reeling from her encounter with Hannah, rebuffs Jodie's plea for support. This rejection deepens the rift between them.
At the next performance, Jodie refuses to assist Shelly with her costume preparations. In a frantic rush to the stage, Shelly's costume catches on a doorframe and tears, causing her to miss her cue and break down backstage in tears. This moment marks a low point for Shelly, symbolizing her unraveling both professionally and personally.
Seeking solace and clarity, Shelly invites Eddie to dinner. During their conversation, she expresses her feelings of isolation as an aging woman in show business and her fears about the future. Eddie reveals a startling secret: he is Hannah's biological father, a fact neither Shelly nor Eddie has disclosed to their daughter. This revelation intensifies the tension between them, as Shelly lashes out at Eddie for his absence in Hannah's life and his failure to understand the struggles women like her face in the industry. Eddie, in turn, voices disappointment in Shelly's parenting.
Desperate to reclaim some control over her destiny, Shelly attends a casting call for a new show, where she encounters Mary-Anne. The audition quickly turns humiliating; the director bluntly tells Shelly she lacks the youthful appeal and talent required, attributing her past success to her looks rather than skill. Crushed and embarrassed, Shelly lashes out at Mary-Anne, accusing her of abandoning the values Shelly upheld. Mary-Anne sacrifices her own audition to comfort Shelly, underscoring the complex dynamics of mentorship and rivalry.
As the final days of Le Razzle Dazzle approach, Shelly leaves an apologetic voicemail for Hannah, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation. She also mends fences with Jodie and Mary-Anne, sharing a moment of solidarity and hope. Meanwhile, Annette's situation worsens as she faces eviction and financial ruin, but Shelly's offer of refuge provides a temporary reprieve.
On the night of the last performance, the atmosphere is bittersweet. Shelly toasts with her fellow performers, expressing a tentative optimism about attending Hannah's upcoming graduation and possibly starting anew, even considering work as a cocktail waitress like Annette. During the show, Shelly experiences a dreamlike vision of Hannah smiling at her from the audience, with Eddie seated beside her. Hannah calls Shelly "mom" for the first time, though it remains ambiguous whether this is a real moment or a hopeful fantasy. Shelly performs with renewed grace and receives a heartfelt standing ovation, marking the end of an era.
The film closes on this poignant note, with Shelly's future uncertain but her spirit unbroken, encapsulating the struggles of aging performers confronting obsolescence, fractured family ties, and the relentless passage of time in the fading glamour of Las Vegas. No character deaths or violent confrontations occur; the drama unfolds through emotional conflicts, personal revelations, and the bittersweet closure of a storied career. The political intrigue centers on the shifting entertainment landscape of Las Vegas, where traditional revue shows give way to modern, commercialized spectacles, leaving seasoned artists like Shelly to navigate an unforgiving industry and their own personal reckonings.
What is the ending?
At the end of The Last Showgirl (2024), Shelly Gardner, the aging showgirl, faces the closure of her long-running Las Vegas revue, Le Razzle Dazzle. After the final performance, she confronts the reality of her uncertain future, reconnects with her semi-estranged daughter Hannah, and finds a bittersweet acceptance of the end of her career. Her close friends, including Annette and younger co-stars Mary-Anne and Jodie, each face their own crossroads, with Annette continuing her life outside the spotlight and Mary-Anne and Jodie moving on to new opportunities. The film closes on a note of quiet reflection and transition for all.
The ending unfolds over several key scenes:
The film's climax begins as the cast and crew prepare for the final two weeks of Le Razzle Dazzle, the classic French-style revue on the Las Vegas Strip that has been Shelly's home for three decades. Shelly, played by Pamela Anderson, is visibly shaken by the news of the show's closure, delivered by Eddie, the stage manager. She watches as younger dancers like Mary-Anne and Jodie start auditioning for other shows, signaling the end of an era. Shelly's emotional state is fragile; she clings to the traditions and glamour of the past while the new neo-burlesque circus show takes over their prime nights.
Shelly's relationship with her daughter Hannah, who has been distant and somewhat estranged, becomes central in the final act. Hannah visits Shelly at her modest home, and their reunion is awkward at first--Shelly forgets details about Hannah's life, such as her age and college status, highlighting their emotional distance. Hannah initially declines to stay for dinner but returns the next night, and they share a more genuine connection, suggesting a tentative reconciliation.
Meanwhile, Annette, Shelly's older friend and former showgirl now working as a cocktail waitress, remains a constant presence. Jamie Lee Curtis's portrayal of Annette is raw and unfiltered; she embodies the hard-lived reality of a showgirl past her prime. In the final scenes, Annette performs a poignant, solitary dance on a casino table to "Total Eclipse of the Heart," a moment that captures her defiant spirit and the bittersweet nature of their shared profession's decline.
As the final performance of Le Razzle Dazzle approaches, Shelly gives a heartfelt, if subdued, farewell on stage. The younger dancers, Mary-Anne and Jodie, who once looked up to Shelly as a mother figure, are now moving on, their paths diverging from hers. Mary-Anne is pragmatic, seeking steady work, while Jodie uses the job as a stepping stone for her own ambitions. Their relationships with Shelly are complex, marked by both affection and tension.
The film closes with Shelly walking alone along the Las Vegas Strip at night, the neon lights flickering around her. She reflects on her career, the sacrifices made, and the uncertain future ahead. The final image is one of quiet resilience--Shelly may be the last showgirl of her kind, but she carries the legacy of a fading world with dignity.
In terms of character fates:
- Shelly Gardner faces the end of her career and the challenge of redefining her identity beyond the stage. She reconnects with her daughter but remains uncertain about her future.
- Annette continues her life outside the spotlight, embracing a rougher, more cynical existence but still connected to the world of showgirls through memory and friendship.
- Mary-Anne and Jodie move on to new opportunities, symbolizing the changing face of Las Vegas entertainment and the younger generation's pragmatic approach.
- Hannah, Shelly's daughter, begins to bridge the emotional gap with her mother, suggesting potential healing.
The ending is a detailed, scene-by-scene portrayal of transition, loss, and tentative hope, capturing the personal and professional crossroads faced by each character as the glittering world of classic Las Vegas showgirls fades into history.
Is there a post-credit scene?
No, the movie The Last Showgirl (2024) does not have a post-credit scene. The credits roll with a song playing, but there are no additional scenes or extras after the credits end. The film concludes with the final show performance of Shelly, the main character, and ends on a note of ambiguous but hopeful closure without any post-credit content.
What is the nature of the relationship between Shelly and Annette in The Last Showgirl?
Shelly and Annette are former coworkers and friends whose friendship has lasted longer than their job at the Las Vegas revue. Annette, a former showgirl with a gambling addiction who now works as a cocktail waitress, serves as a foil and friend to Shelly. Their dynamic contrasts Shelly's more reserved financial sense with Annette's brash, hard-living personality, and their interactions reveal deep emotional layers and shared history.
How do Shelly's younger coworkers, Jodie and Mary-Anne, influence the story in The Last Showgirl?
Jodie and Mary-Anne represent contemporary counterparts to Shelly and Annette. Jodie uses the showgirl job to support herself and audition substitutes for her birth family, seeing Shelly as a mother figure initially. Mary-Anne is focused on simply having a job. Their relationships with Shelly are complex, with Jodie and Shelly potentially healing each other's wounds but ultimately becoming triggers, while Mary-Anne and Annette emerge as the more loyal 'ride or die' characters.
What internal conflicts does Shelly face as the show she headlines is closing?
Shelly struggles to reconcile with the decisions she has made throughout her decades-long career and the community she has built. She faces the challenge of planning her future as her identity, long tied to being a showgirl, is threatened by the closure of the revue. This includes dealing with her semi-estranged daughter Hannah, who brings up childhood trauma and career insecurities, adding to Shelly's emotional turmoil.
What role does Shelly's daughter Hannah play in the plot of The Last Showgirl?
Hannah, Shelly's daughter, visits and confronts Shelly with unresolved childhood trauma, a quarterlife crisis, and insecurities about career prospects. Her presence complicates Shelly's emotional state and relationships, highlighting Shelly's personal struggles beyond her professional life and adding depth to the character's internal conflict.
How is the Las Vegas revue 'Le Razzle Dazzle' depicted in the film and what significance does it hold?
'Le Razzle Dazzle' is a classic French-style revue that Shelly has headlined for decades. It symbolizes Shelly's career and identity, and its impending closure after a 30-year run forces her to confront the end of an era. The show is portrayed as a vibrant but fading institution, with its closure marking a significant turning point for Shelly and the other performers, reflecting themes of change, loss, and the passage of time.
Is this family friendly?
The 2024 film The Last Showgirl is not family friendly and is rated R due to language and nudity. It contains many scenes of non-sexual nudity during backstage dressing room moments and onstage performances, as well as suggestive dancing typical of Las Vegas showgirls. The film includes strong language, with at least 29 uses of the F-word and other profanities.
Potentially objectionable or upsetting content for children or sensitive viewers includes:
- Female breast and buttock nudity both onstage and backstage.
- Sexualized dance routines and brief implied sexual acts as part of performances, though without explicit visual detail.
- Strong language including frequent use of harsh profanity.
- Discussions and arguments about parenting, aging, and life choices, which may be emotionally intense.
- Mild violence mainly in the form of verbal confrontations and emotional distress.
- Depictions of alcohol consumption and brief marijuana use, with references to drug culture in Las Vegas.
Overall, the film explores mature themes such as aging, career loss, and family dynamics in a Las Vegas showgirl setting, making it unsuitable for children and sensitive audiences.