World on a Wire (1973)

Somewhere in the future there is a computer project called Simulacron one of which is able to simulate a full featured reality, when suddenly project leader Henry Vollmer dies. His ... See full summary »

Director:

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Writers:

Daniel F. Galouye (novel), Fritz Müller-Scherz (teleplay)

Stars:

Klaus Löwitsch, Barbara Valentin, Mascha Rabben

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Klaus Löwitsch	...	Fred Stiller
Barbara Valentin	...	Gloria Fromm
Mascha Rabben	...	Eva Vollmer
Karl Heinz Vosgerau	...	Herbert Siskins (as Karl-Heinz Vosgerau)
Wolfgang Schenck	...	Franz Hahn
Günter Lamprecht	...	Fritz Walfang
Ulli Lommel	...	Rupp, Journalist
Adrian Hoven	...	Professor Henri Vollmer (as Adrian Hooven)
Ivan Desny	...	Günther Lause
Joachim Hansen	...	Hans Edelkern
Kurt Raab	...	Mark Holm
Margit Carstensen	...	Maya Schmidt-Gentner
Ingrid Caven	...	Uschi, secretary
Gottfried John	...	Einstein
Rudolf Lenz	...	Hartmann

Storyline

Somewhere in the future there is a computer project called Simulacron one of which is able to simulate a full featured reality, when suddenly project leader Henry Vollmer dies. His successor Dr. Fred Stiller experiences odd phenomena. A good friend, Guenther Lause, disappears in the middle of a conversation and a week later nobody has ever heard of him. And those fits of dizzyness - Stiller cannot believe himself to be fool. There has to be an explanation for all this. Could Simulacron have something to do with it?

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Plot Keywords:

computer | new german cinema | tv mini series | simulated reality | cyberpunk | 

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German English

Release Date:

14 October 1973 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

World on a Wire

Filming Locations:

Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

DEM 950,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

205 min (2 parts)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is based on the novel "Simulacron-3" by Daniel F. Galouye.

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Goofs

In the beginning of Part 1 around the 7:10 mark as the camera does a long pull away from Professor Vollmer and Lause, a crewman's (possibly the camera operator) shoe can be seen reflected in the mirrored pedestal with the bust on top of it in the right hand bottom corner of the screen.

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Quotes

Fred Stiller: [Final lines] I am. I am.

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Connections

References 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

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Soundtracks

Café Mozart Waltz
Music: Anton Karas
Courtesy Chappell & Co.

User Reviews

Matrix, Dark City, eXistenZ, 13th Floor.....Welt am Draht!

First of all, this film is nearly impossible to get a grip on, but the upcoming Fassbinder DVD-Collection (Code 2!) hopefully includes this one. If you are fond of virtual reality stories (and capable of understanding the German language) you might want to look for a video-hunt. This film is truly fascinating, with a great cast of famous (and sometimes notorious...) German actors. It foreshadows everything about VR - because it is the first adaption of the novel "Simulacron", on which "13th Floor" is based as well. "Welt am Draht" is brilliantly shot by Michael Ballhaus and Ulrich Prinz. Although I am not a fan of Fassbinder's works, I really liked the eerie atmosphere and the hilarious 70's design.

Rating 9/10!