Westworld (1973)

Director:

Michael Crichton

Writer:

Michael Crichton (written by)

Release Date:

21 November 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Western

Tagline:

Westworld ...where robot men and women are programmed to serve you for ...Romance ...Violence ...Anything

Plot:

A robot malfunction creates havoc and terror for unsuspecting vacationers at a futuristic, adult-themed amusement park.

Plot Keywords:

Future | Saloon | Computer | Brawl | Hovercraft

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Yul Brynner	...	Gunslinger
Richard Benjamin	...	Peter Martin
James Brolin	...	John Blane
Norman Bartold	...	Medieval Knight
Alan Oppenheimer	...	Chief Supervisor
Victoria Shaw	...	Medieval Queen
Dick Van Patten	...	Banker
Linda Gaye Scott	...	Arlette (as Linda Scott)
Steve Franken	...	Technician
Michael T. Mikler	...	Black Knight (as Michael Mikler)
Terry Wilson	...	Sheriff
Majel Barrett	...	Miss Carrie
Anne Randall	...	Daphne
Julie Marcus	...	Girl in Dungeon
Sharyn Wynters	...	Apache Girl
Anne Bellamy	...	Middle Aged Woman
Chris Holter	...	Stewardess
Charles Seel	...	Bellhop
Wade Crosby	...	Bartender
Nora Marlowe	...	Hostess
Lin Henson	...	Ticket Girl
Orville Sherman	...	Supervisor
C. Lindsay Workman	...	Supervisor (as Lindsay Workman)
Lauren Gilbert	...	Supervisor
Davis Roberts	...	Supervisor
Howard Platt	...	Supervisor
Richard Roat	...	Technician
Kenneth Washington	...	Technician
Jared Martin	...	Technician
Robert Patten	...	Technician
David M. Frank	...	Technician (as David Frank)
Kip King	...	Technician
David Man	...	Technician
Larry Delaney	...	Technician
Will J. White	...	Workman
Ben Young	...	Workman
Tom Falk	...	Workman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Barry Cahill	...	3rd Male Interviewee (uncredited)
Robert Hogan	...	Delos Guests' Interviewer (uncredited)
Robert Nichols	...	1st Male Interviewee (uncredited)
Ty Randolph	...	Girl in Saloon (uncredited)
Leoda Richards	...	White-Haired Woman on Elevator (uncredited)
Paul Sorensen	...	2nd Male Interviewee (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Crichton

Writing credits
Michael Crichton		(written by)

Produced by
Paul Lazarus III	....	producer (as Paul N. Lazarus III)
Michael I. Rachmil	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Fred Karlin

Cinematography by
Gene Polito		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
David Bretherton

Casting by
Leonard Murphy

Art Direction by
Herman A. Blumenthal		(as Herman Blumenthal)

Set Decoration by
John P. Austin		(as John Austin)

Makeup Department
Frank Griffin	....	makeup artist
Irving Pringle	....	makeup artist
Dione Taylor	....	hairdresser

Production Management
Claude Binyon Jr.	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Claude Binyon Jr.	....	assistant director
James F. Boyle	....	second assistant director (as James Boyle)
Craig Huston	....	dga trainee (uncredited)

Art Department
Arthur Friedrich	....	property master

Sound Department
Richard S. Church	....	sound (as Richard Church)
Harry W. Tetrick	....	sound
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Van Allen James	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Charles Schulthies	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Brent Sellstrom	....	visual effects coordinator
John Whitney Jr.	....	automated image processing
Matthew Yuricich	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Stunts
Bobby Bass	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Brubaker	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Bill Catching	....	stunts (uncredited)
Louie Elias	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Alan Oliney	....	stunts (uncredited)
Charlie Picerni	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dean Smith	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Wilson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Ziker	....	fire gag stunt (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph A. August Jr.	....	camera operator (as Joseph August)
Doug Byers	....	electrician (uncredited)
Owen Marsh	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Richard Bruno	....	wardrobe supervisor
Betsy Cox	....	wardrobe: women's

Music Department
Bill Campbell	....	musician: paino (uncredited)

Other crew
Dick Ziker	....	action scenes coordinator
Charles Lippincott	....	unit publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1973) (USA) (theatrical) (as Metro Goldwyn Mayer)
• Cinema International Corporation (UK) (1974) (UK) (theatrical)
• Fox-MGM (1974) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• MGM-Fox (1974) (Finland) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1999) (Australia) (theatrical) (New 35mm print - re-issue)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Paragon (2012) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Neue Visionen Filmverleih (????) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Vídeo Arte (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Information International (automated image processing by) (as Information International, Inc.)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1986) (1994) (2008) | UK:AA (original rating) (passed with cuts) | USA:PG | West Germany:16 (nf) | Singapore:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1974) | Iceland:16 | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | France:-12 | UK:15 (tv rating) | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

Harold Lloyd's Greenacres Estate - 1740 Green Acres Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The robot that Yul Brynner portrays is an homage/spoof of his character Chris from The Magnificent Seven (1960) and wears the same costume.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In several scenes, most noticeably when the guests first arrive in Delos, the announcer calls Westworld "Westernworld".

Quotes:

[first lines]
Interviewer of Delos Guests:[hosting a commercial] Hi. Ed Ramsey from Delos. If there's anyone who doesn't know what Delos is, well, as we've always said: Delos is the vacation of the future, today. At Delos, you get your choice of the vacation you want. There's Medieval World, Roman World and, of course, Westworld. Let's talk to some of the people who've been there.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Remote Recovery (2013)

Solid, older, but entertaining, sci-fi.

Michael Crichton wrote and directed this precursor to "Jurassic Park" that, while showing some of it's age, is still effective and was undeniably influential. The story concerns a unique and expensive vacation resort called Delos in which customers can choose from one of three "worlds"--Roman World, Medieval World or Western World (as it is referred to in the film.) Here, customers can indulge their fantasies of conquest (violent or sexual) among a host of ultra-realistic robots who are programmed to promote the experience while not allowing the participants to become hurt. Benjamin stars as a newcomer to the place with his buddy Brolin along for his second visit. Brolin shows Benjamin the ropes at Western World (how to shoot villains, seduce dance hall girls, etc...) One of the bad guys they encounter is icy Brynner who they dispose of more than once. Eventually, things start to come unglued as the men note that things aren't working as properly as expected and promised. The controllers of the park are unable to prevent the robots from hurting or even killing the guests! The film begins with that once-cutting-edge, but now amusing, sense of high-tech awe as the guys enter the park. Benjamin is an acquired taste and borders on annoying for much of the film. More at ease is Brolin who doesn't have a great deal to do. The most striking performance is that of Brynner. He has almost nothing to say, but he doesn't need to talk. His steely stare and mechanical gait wind up being quite relentless and terrifying. The highlight of the film is his non-stop pursuit of Benjamin. ("The Terminator" owes a lot to this section of the film.) There are several other supporting roles, but, aside from Van Patten, the actors create little interest in their exploits. "Star Trek" fans will note the presence of Barrett as a robot madame. There were rumors of a remake with Arnold Schwarzegger, but Arnie's already done the indestructible robot thing and no one's going to outglare Brynner. His bid as Governor seems to have quashed these plans anyway.