Z.P.G. (1972)

In the not too distant future, a very smoggy and overpopulated Earth government makes it illegal to have children for a generation. One couple, unsatisfied with their substitute robot baby,... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Campus

Writers:

Frank De Felitta, Max Ehrlich

Stars:

Oliver Reed, Geraldine Chaplin, Don Gordon

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Oliver Reed	...	Russ McNeil
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Carol McNeil
Don Gordon	...	George Borden
Diane Cilento	...	Edna Borden
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eugene Blau	...	Baby Shop Salesman
Bent Christensen	...	Baby Shop Salesman
Belinda Donkin	...	Daughter
Birgitte Federspiel	...	Psychiatrist
Birgitte Frigast	...	Nurse
Anne-Lise Gabold	...	Mother in Baby Shop
Michel Hildesheim	...	Thief
Peter Hohnen	...	Edict Boy
Torben Hundal	...	President's Aide
Theis Ib Husfeldt	...	Jessie
Wladirmir Kandel	...	Edict Examiner

Storyline

In the not too distant future, a very smoggy and overpopulated Earth government makes it illegal to have children for a generation. One couple, unsatisfied with their substitute robot baby, breaks the rules and gets in a lot of trouble. (Z.P.G. stands for Zero Population Growth.)

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Plot Keywords:

future | robot | pregnancy | overpopulation | acronym in title | 

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Taglines:

The Time Is Tomorrow And There's No Time Left.

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

February 1973 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Edict

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sagittarius Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final feature film of Bill Nagy.

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Connections

Referenced in Hammer (1972)

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Soundtracks

"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged by Jonathan Hodge

User Reviews

This is a great example of a great story idea undone by listless direction...and it's a shame as I wanted to like this film.

I love dark sci-fi films--particularly those that portray a dystopic future (where society is horrid and NOT the nice Star Trek sort of world). "1984", "Soylent Green" and "Brave New World" are just a few dystopias that I adored--so I really, really was hoping I'd love "ZPG". However, sadly, the great story idea was completely undone by horrid directing...and I mean horrid.

The film is set sometime in the future--and apparently in the near future. Disease has been virtually eliminated and the resulting population boom has made the planet unsustainable. Most animal life has been destroyed and the air is semi-toxic. And so, to try to stop the rapid decline of the planet and feed everyone, the governments of the Earth implement a new program--making having children illegal for the next 40 years. And, a young couple (Geraldine Chaplin and Oliver Reed) are determined to somehow have a baby and not face immediate execution. I loved this story idea--and it really was strongly reminiscent of "Soylent Green" (a great film).

So why if I loved the plot idea did I give the film only a paltry 5? Well, the director did a particularly lousy job. The film completely lacked life and emotion--and it felt as if almost everyone was half asleep during the film. You'd think there's be LOTS of emotions concerning this birth edict...but Chaplin and the rest muddle through the film in a somnambulistic state. It could have easily been renamed "ZPG--Zero Plot Growth"! And this completely sterile and muted look of the film can only be blamed on the director--especially since the film had some very talented actors (in addition to the leads, Don Gordon was quite capable). I would really love to see this film remade--as the film should have been a clear winner.