Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972): Cast & Plot

Barney Cashman Alan Arkin is a seafood restaurant owner who wakes up beside his wife and feels the weight of a life that’s gone flat. Burdened by the routine, he dares to flirt with change when Elaine Navazio Sally Kellerman piques his curiosity and convinces him to meet at his mother’s apartment for a discreet rendezvous. Barney’s nerves show from the start as he tries to summon confidence and charm, only to be met with Elaine’s growing impatience. He admits he doesn’t smoke, drink, or gamble, hoping to turn his first fling into something meaningful, but his awkwardness undermines every smooth line he hopes to deliver. Elaine’s frustration bubbles over, and she leaves, leaving Barney in a muddle of reconciled expectations and mounting self-doubt.