Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)

Director:

Joseph Sargent

Writers:

James Bridges (screenplay)
D.F. Jones (novel)

Release Date:

10 July 1970 (West Germany)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

We built a super computer with a mind of its own and now we must fight it for the world!

Plot:

An artificially intelligent supercomputer is developed and activated, only to reveal that it has a sinister agenda of its own.

Plot Keywords:

Computer | Scientist | Super Computer | Dystopia | Nuclear Bomb

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Eric Braeden	...	Dr. Charles Forbin
Susan Clark	...	Dr. Cleo Markham
Gordon Pinsent	...	The President
William Schallert	...	CIA Director Grauber
Leonid Rostoff	...	Russian Chairman
Georg Stanford Brown	...	Dr. John F. Fisher
Willard Sage	...	Dr. Blake
Alex Rodine	...	Dr. Kuprin
Martin E. Brooks	...	Dr. Jefferson J. Johnson (as Martin Brooks)
Marion Ross	...	Angela Fields
Dolph Sweet	...	Missile Commander
Byron Morrow	...	Secretary of State
Lew Brown	...	Peterson
Sid McCoy	...	Secretary of Defense
Tom Basham	...	Thomas L. Harrison
Robert Cornthwaite	...	First Scientist
James Hong	...	Dr. Chin
Serge Tschernisch	...	Translator (as Sergei Tschernisch)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Frees	...	Colossus (voice) (uncredited)
Fred Holliday	...	Military Computer Entry - Missile Launch (uncredited)

Directed by
Joseph Sargent

Writing credits
James Bridges		(screenplay)
D.F. Jones		(novel "Colossus")

Produced by
Stanley Chase	....	producer

Original Music by
Michel Colombier

Cinematography by
Gene Polito		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Folmar Blangsted

Art Direction by
Alexander Golitzen
John J. Lloyd

Set Decoration by
Ruby R. Levitt		(as Ruby Levitt)
John McCarthy Jr.		(as John McCarthy)

Costume Design by
Edith Head

Makeup Department
Larry Germain	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Bob Larson	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robin S. Clark	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Terry Kellum	....	sound
Ronald Pierce	....	sound
Waldon O. Watson	....	sound
Terrance Emerson	....	sound cable man (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Don Record	....	optical effects: Universal Title
Albert Whitlock	....	special photographic effects

Music Department
Stanley Wilson	....	music supervisor
Dan Wallin	....	music scoring mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
Jay Akerman	....	technical advisor
Goury Booyakovitch	....	technical advisor: Russian
Don Record	....	title designer: main titles, Universal Title
Bert Steinberger	....	dialogue coach

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1970) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1971) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (1970) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Fabulous Films (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Metrodome Distribution (2009) (UK) (DVD) (IN2FILM)

Other Companies

• California Computer Products  Calcomp plotter provided by
• Control Data Corporation  computer equipment
• Univeral Pictures Professional Cosmetics  cosmetics
• Universal Title  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:X (original rating) | UK:12 (DVD rating) | West Germany:16 (f) | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG (re-rating) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Lawrence Hall of Science - Centennial Drive, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Originally Charlton Heston and Gregory Peck were considered for the lead role, but Stanley Chase insisted on an unknown actor for the lead and German-born actor Eric Braeden was cast.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Colossus is learning math, Harrison is standing across from Forbin. He is asked to get a printout. When he comes back to Forbin he stands next to him, yet there is a quick shot of him standing across from Forbin and then in the next shot he is standing next to Forbin.

Quotes:

Colossus:This is the voice of World Control. I bring you peace. It may be the Peace of Plenty and Content or the Peace of Unburied Death.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Stranded in Space (#4.5)" (1991)

Man vs machine. Intelligence can be dangerous wisdom.

This is an under rated Sci-Fi gem. Absolutely powerful story line leaving no room for cob webs in your mind. Dr. Charles Forbin(Eric Braeden)puts his life's work into creating a super intelligent computer that links up with a similar machine created by the U.S.S.R. and tries to hold the world hostage. Dramatic dialogue and crafty schemes seem just enough to outwit the computerized meglomaniac. Tension is tight and privacy is a cherished commodity.

Braeden, who later would become a major TV soap opera character Victor Newman, is outstanding in this role. Susan Clark plays one of his co-workers and pretends to be his lover in trying to fool the computer. Gordon Pinsent plays the concerned President, while Lenoid Rostoff plays his Russian counterpart. William Schallert is the calm and cordial Director of the CIA. Other notables in the cast are Marion Ross and Georg Stanford Brown. If you get the chance to see this Cold War thriller...by all means check it out. If you want to leave your brain at the door, forget it...you will need it.