IMDb > The Terminal Man (1974)
The Terminal Man
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The Terminal Man (1974) More at IMDbPro »


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Overview

User Rating:
5.8/10   583 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Michael Crichton (novel)
Mike Hodges (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Terminal Man on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 February 1975 (Finland) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Harry Benson is a brilliant computer scientist. For three minutes a day, he is violently homicidal.
Plot:
As the result of a head injury, brilliant computer scientist Harry Benson begins to experience violent seizures... more | add synopsis
User Comments:
Slow?! Try a little patience. more (16 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

George Segal ... Harry Benson
Joan Hackett ... Dr. Janet Ross
Richard Dysart ... Dr. John Ellis
Donald Moffat ... Dr. Arthur McPherson

Michael C. Gwynne ... Dr. Robert Morris
William Hansen ... Dr. Ezra Manon
Jill Clayburgh ... Angela Black
Norman Burton ... Det. Capt. Anders
James Sikking ... Ralph Friedman
Matt Clark ... Gerhard
Jim Antonio ... Richards
Gene Borkan ... Benson's Guard

Burke Byrnes ... Benson's Guard
Jordan Rhodes ... Questioner No. 1
Dee Carroll ... Night Nurse
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Additional Details

Runtime:
107 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:16 | Finland:(Banned) (1974) (original rating) | Finland:K-18 (1974) (re-rating) | USA:PG | UK:15

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Crichton was fired from writing the screenplay due to the fact that his script did not follow the novel (which he had written) closely enough. more
Quotes:
[last lines]
1st man behind door: They want *you* next.
2nd man behind door: Quit kiddin' around!
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003) more
Soundtrack:
Goldberg Variation No. 25 more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
18 out of 19 people found the following comment useful.
Slow?! Try a little patience., 29 June 2003
Author: wilbrifar from Los Angeles

I was looking for a bit of trivia about this film and made the mistake of reading the reviews here. My jaw dropped when I saw the overwhelming opinion that this movie is worthless because it's too slow. Has everyone been too brain-deadened by recent Hollywood thrill rides to appreciate a patiently unfolding story? The Terminal Man is very creepy, very scary, and is acted with amazing skill by even the smallest of bit players. Each one of the doctors involved in the experiment, for example, carries his or her own personal baggage, and it's that baggage which clouds their reason and makes true progress impossible. The message of the film seems to be that no matter how advanced science becomes, people will still be people, and our petty prides and jealousies will tear down every accomplishment. That's the brilliance of this movie; it takes a broad sci-fi theme yet reduces it to its most unpredictable element: the personalities of the persons involved. There are so many amazing scenes in this film where a line or two of casual conversation reveals so much about the power games being played between the speakers. On the outside, these scientists are titans of technology; on the inside, they're closer to the befuddled old men of the comedy "BALL OF FIRE". The only one who thinks with heart as well as head is the Joan Hackett character, and the clash between her and the good 'ol boys of science is both profound and heartbreaking.

I urge anyone with an IQ larger than their shoe size to ignore the negative comments and give this film a chance. Viewed with an open mind and a little patience, this movie becomes quite an exiting experience. It's one of the greatest sci-fi/horror films of all time, and has never gotten it's due respect. It's the kind of film we could use more of, and the fact it's considered boring by today's audiences is very sad proof of the dumbing-down effect of Hollywood clap-trap. We're used to movies that ask you to set back while you're force-fed the story. The Terminal Man requires that you watch what's happening, listen to what's being said, and think about what's between the lines. If you can't do that, stick with Vin Diesel films.

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Message Boards

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Screening in London - Wed 3rd of December biggles1701
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