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IMDb > Zardoz (1974)
Zardoz
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Zardoz (1974) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
5.6/10   6,898 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 12% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
John Boorman (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Zardoz on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
6 February 1974 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Beyond 1984, Beyond 2001, Beyond Love, Beyond Death more
Plot:
In the far future, a savage trained only to kill finds a way into the community of bored immortals that alone preserves humanity's achievements. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(9 articles)
Sean Connery Returns, Or At Least His Voice Does
 (From Get The Big Picture. 18 November 2009, 1:04 AM, PST)

Singer's Excalibur
 (From JoBlo. 20 August 2009, 3:23 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Everything but the kitchen sink! more (153 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Sean Connery ... Zed

Charlotte Rampling ... Consuella
Sara Kestelman ... May
John Alderton ... Friend
Sally Anne Newton ... Avalow
Niall Buggy ... Arthur Frayn / Zardoz

Bosco Hogan ... George Saden
Jessica Swift ... Apathetic
Bairbre Dowling ... Star
Christopher Casson ... Old Scientist
Reginald Jarman ... Death (voice)
more
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Additional Details

Runtime:
105 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
To make the shots of the stone head move into the mouth accurately, the camera was placed at the mouth and tracked backwards, and the film reversed in the lab. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: About three minutes into the movie, when the floating head is in the clouds, part of a car can be seen in the top right corner of the screen. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Arthur Frayn: I am Arthur Frayn, and I am Zardoz. I have lived three hundred years, and I long to die. But death is no longer possible. I am immortal. I present now my story, full of mystery and intrigue - rich in irony, and most satirical. It is set deep in a possible future...
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Symphony No. 7 in A, op. 92, 2nd movement more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
80 out of 93 people found the following comment useful.
Everything but the kitchen sink!, 26 September 2004
9/10
Author: Jonathan-May

This movie is truly awful, but at the same time it's got to be one of the BEST SCI-FI MOVIES I'VE EVER SEEN!

There are so many concepts to digest: Civilization's end, immortality, genetic manipulation, artificial intelligence, time control, psychic power, space travel, and on and on and on. If you're the least bit interested in science-fiction, there's more for you in this one movie than you'll find in a year's worth of Star Trek conventions!

Then why do I say it's awful? Well, within this movie's running time are some of the most cheesy moments ever captured on celluloid!

From the opening shots of the hairy-backed, leather-thonged, gun-toting Sean Connery (who at least manages to wear more than most of the rest of the cast), to the catch-cry of the Giant Hovering Stone Head ("The gun is good! The penis is bad!"), as it spews out a torrent of weapons and ammo from its mouth. What about the Eternal's predilection for studying erectile tissue function, by flashing up images of naked mud-wrestling? Or that crazy "wobbling-hands" thing that they do when in some sort of telepathic communion? Completely laughable!

Despite these moments of "cheesy-ness", Zardoz tells an utterly engaging and compelling story. The moment of revelation of the meaning of "Zardoz" took me completely by surprise, even though all the clues had been under my nose right from the beginning! (The Magritte painting "La chateau des Pyrenees", hanging in Frank's house, reminiscent of the hovering stone head, for example.)

If you like hard-core science fiction, and can put up with a few minor flaws, then I think you'll really enjoy Zardoz! It's weird, it's brilliant, it's unique! (Just make sure you watch it while you're wide awake, though, or you may drift off from time to time!)

9 out of 10!

jon :-)

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Zardoz (1974)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
May or Consuella? spiderfish13
Huh? tankgirl23
Connery has fond memories of making this film sp017
Who is.... Tsotha-lanti
Sean Connery in a red S+M leather outfit megaskunk
See Zardoz in 10 minutes huffthetalbot
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