Futureworld (1976)

Director:

Richard T. Heffron

Writers:

Mayo Simon (written by) and
George Schenck (written by)

Release Date:

13 August 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Where the only way to survive is to kill yourself

Plot:

Two reporters, Tracy and Chuck, get a message from a third one who discovered something about "Futureworld"...

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Hologram | Human Duplication | Dream Sequence | Evil Robot

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Peter Fonda	...	Chuck Browning
Blythe Danner	...	Tracy Ballard
Arthur Hill	...	Duffy
Yul Brynner	...	The Gunslinger
John P. Ryan	...	Dr. Schneider (as John Ryan)
Stuart Margolin	...	Harry
Allen Ludden	...	Game Show Host
Robert Cornthwaite	...	Mr. Reed
Angela Greene	...	Mrs. Reed
Darrell Larson	...	Eric
Nancy Bell	...	Erica
Bert Conroy	...	Mr. Karnovski (as Burt Conroy)
Dorothy Konrad	...	Mrs. Karnovski
John Fujioka	...	Mr. Takaguchi
Dana Lee	...	Mr. Takaguchi's Aide
Alex Rodine	...	KGB Man
Judson Pratt	...	Bartender
Andrew Masset	...	Male Robot
James M. Connor	...	Robot Clark (as James Connor)
Ray Holland	...	Chief Technician
Mike Scott	...	Steven
Ed Geldart	...	Frenchy (as Ed Geldard)
David Perkins	...	Fantasy Technician
Charles Krohn	...	Arthur Holcombe
Hirsh Scholl	...	The Arab
Barry Gilmore	...	Guard
Cathryn Hartt	...	Secretary (as Catherine McClenny)
Barry Gremillion	...	Page
Jim Everhart	...	Shorty
Jan Cobler	...	Hostess (as Jan Cobbler)
Howard Finch	...	Reporter
Jim Antonio	...	Ron Thurlow
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Conrad Bachmann	...	(uncredited)
Nick Dimitri	...	Robot Boxer (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard T. Heffron

Writing credits
Mayo Simon		(written by) and
George Schenck		(written by)

Produced by
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	executive producer
James T. Aubrey	....	producer
Paul Lazarus III	....	producer (as Paul N. Lazarus III)

Original Music by
Fred Karlin

Cinematography by
Gene Polito		(director of photography)
Howard Schwartz		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
James Mitchell

Casting by
Betty Martin

Art Direction by
Trevor Williams

Set Decoration by
Marvin March
Dennis W. Peeples		(as Dennis Peeples)

Costume Design by
Ann McCarthy		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Janis Clark	....	hair stylist
Robert Norin	....	makeup artist
Jo Ann Phillips	....	hair stylist (as Joanne Phillips)
Marvin G. Westmore	....	makeup artist
Mike Bacarella	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Salvatore Billitteri	....	in charge of post production
Marty Hornstein	....	production manager
Elliot Schick	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert J. Koster	....	first assistant director (as Robert Koster)
Jan R. Lloyd	....	second assistant director (as Jan Lloyd)

Art Department
Kenneth Crawford	....	assistant property master (as Ken Crawford)
Reggie Foster	....	construction coordinator
Mike Garcia	....	lead man
Russell Goble	....	property master (as Russ Goble)
Eric Orbom	....	set designer
George Stokes	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Clint Althouse	....	boom operator
Charles T. Knight	....	sound mixer (as Charlie Knight)
Ross Taylor	....	sound effects
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Gene Grigg	....	special effects
Michael Wood	....	assistant special effects (as Mike Wood)

Visual Effects by
Ed Catmull	....	producer: animated face and animated hand film, University of Utah Computer Science Department (as Edwin Earl Catmull)
Albert Nalpas	....	visual effects editor
Frederic Ira Parke	....	producer: animated face and animated hand film, University of Utah Computer Science Department (as Dr. Frederic Ira Parke)
Brent Sellstrom	....	visual effects coordinator
Matthew Yuricich	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Stunts
Bud Davis	....	stuntman
Gary Davis	....	stuntman
Gary Epper	....	stuntman
Paul Nuckles	....	stunt coordinator
Jack Verbois	....	stuntman
Nick Dimitri	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lloyd Ahern II	....	camera operator (as Lloyd Ahern Jr.)
John L. Black	....	key grip (as John Black)
Peter J. Breen	....	dolly grip (as Peter Breen)
Richard J. Edesa	....	first assistant camera (as Dick Edesa)
Robert C. Jessup	....	director of photography: second unit (as Robert Jessup)
Jack Johnson	....	best boy grip
Bill Lindner	....	best boy
Lynn Lockwood	....	second assistant camera
Lon Massey	....	gaffer
Richard McConihay	....	electrician
Bill Neff	....	gaffer
Pete G. Papanickolas	....	best boy grip (as Pete Papanickolas)
Stephen Wever	....	still photographer (as Steve Wever)
Jack Willoughby	....	camera operator
Bill Jones	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Gary Chason	....	location casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
James M. George	....	costume supervisor (as Jimmy George)
Llandys Williams	....	wardrobe woman

Editorial Department
Leo Guerra	....	assistant editor (as Leo Gomez-Guerra)
Charles Titone	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Dan Carlin Sr.	....	music editor (as Dan Carlin)
Bodie Chandler	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Paul Casella Jr.	....	transportation coordinator (as Paul Casella)
James E. Foote	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Lea Andrews	....	location manager
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	presenter
Irene Berkman	....	production coordinator
Dennis A. Brown	....	production controller
Duncan Daneault	....	location auditor (as Duke Daneault)
Michael Hamilton	....	title designer
Steven Katten	....	reconstructor images
Elliot Lipchick	....	medical footage provider (as Dr. Elliot Lipchick)
Mark Lipschultz	....	production assistant
C. Panning Master	....	reconstructor images
Alex Pomansanof	....	thermal and colorization sequences
John E. Rayle	....	medical footage provider (as Dr. John E. Rayle)
Harry Templeton	....	production executive
Ron Underwood	....	production assistant
Mary Wiedeman	....	medical footage provider (as Dr. Mary Wiedeman)
Marshall J. Wolins	....	script supervisor (as Marshall Wolins)
Phil Konstantin	....	technician (uncredited)
David Sheldon	....	production executive (uncredited)

Production Companies

• American International Pictures (AIP)
• Aubrey Company, The

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Actueel Film (1977) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (1977) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Eureka Films (197?) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (????) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ambassador Film Distributors (Canada)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1978) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• CEL Home Video
• Cine-TV-Video Productions (1989) (Greece) (all media)
• Eagle Pictures (2005) (Italy) (DVD)
• Globo Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• ILC Prime (2002) (UK) (VHS)
• ILC Prime (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Koch Media (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)
• MGM Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• RCV (????) (France) (VHS)
• RsR Multimedia (2005) (Spain) (DVD)
• RsR Multimedia (2005) (Italy) (DVD)
• Shout! Factory (2013) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Star Video
• Vestron Video (video)
• Video Elit (1989) (Greece) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (video)

Special Effects

• Information International (digital image simulation) (as Information International Inc.)

Other Companies

• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)  animated face and animated hand film supported by under contract no. F30602-70-C-0300 (as Advanced Research Project Agency)
• Evans & Sutherland  body parts program (as Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation)
• Hampton Associates  production services (as Hampton Associates - 1975)
• Hyatt Regency House  we wish to thank: for their extraordinary cooperation
• Laker Airways  we wish to thank: for their extraordinary cooperation
• Metrocolor  color
• NASA Johnson Space Center  we wish to thank: for their extraordinary cooperation (as NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas)
• Panavision  lens and cameras
• Ryder Sound Services  sound
• Samuel Goldwyn Studios  rerecording
• Texas Film Commission  we wish to thank: for their extraordinary cooperation (as Texas State Film Commission)
• Transcord  production vehicles furnished by

Also Known As:

"Delosworld" - Japan (English title)

Runtime:

108 min (original release)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #24629) | West Germany:12 | UK:A (original rating) | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:12 | Spain:18 | UK:12 (new rating) | Norway:16 | Australia:M (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, Texas, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

The CGI hand which appears in the film is Pixar president Ed Catmull's. He had previously scanned a life cast of his hand as a short film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Towards the end of the film when Blythe Danner and Peter Fonda walk down the red stairs and are confronted by John Ryan you can clearly see the marks on the steps where the actors should stand.

Quotes:

Arthur Holcombe:While you are a glamorous, and highly paid television personality, you are still an employee. In fact, you're my employee. So, unless you'd like to spend the next 3 years doing weather and fashion in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, you will now shut up and do as you're told.
Tracy Ballard:Oh, yes? Yes, Arthur? we'll see about that!

Movie Connections:

Features A Computer Animated Hand (1972)

A fairly uninteresting sequel with a very poor first half and a second half that is badly delivered

Years after the failure of Westworld, the same company have regrouped and are planning to open the same theme park again but improved and totally safe. Chuck Browning, the journalist who originally broke the Westworld story, is approached by a mysterious man who has information on this new park – but he is killed before he can tell his story. Looking for dirt under the surface, Browning and colleague Ballard join the elite group selected for the opening few days at the park and begin to investigate a world where nothing is what it seems – nothing.

Having enjoyed the Jurassic Park rehearsal that was Westworld, I tuned in to this sequel hoping for, at very least, more of same stuff with a clever new slant on it. In defence of the film it does try to do something with the plot and widens it out into a bigger, potentially better conspiracy story but for some reason it fails to really engage. The first half of the film drags like a chain smoker and it seems happy to just bang out sequences that we are supposed to go 'wow' at simply because they involve special effects or robots. This is a terrible first hour because the special effects at best are superimposed men painted red and green to look like holographic chess pieces and, at worst a laughable moment where people sky down the red dust on Mars – on rather, they ski down a normal mountain but the whole scene is shot through a red filter! That is not a special effect and even in 1976 I doubt that these 'effects' were enough to stop audiences from getting bored in the first half of the movie.

The second half is a marked improvement but, by then, a lot of damage had been done and a flurry of action and conspiracy was not quite enough to make it a good film. It does have some good scenes but, ironically enough, these feature between the duplicated characters rather than being the effect shots that the producers were clearly banking on being the business side of the film. However, the extent of the threat is never translated to the film and the ending is terrible – far too muted to have even the faintest relation to the plot we were being sold just a few minutes before. The film only once or twice has even vague tension and certainly nowhere near the degree that the plot demanded.

The cast are also hamstrung by the material. Fonda looks bemused the whole time and it looks likely that nobody told him what was happening in the film – he certainly doesn't look like a man who has just uncovered an evil conspiracy! Danner is also as shapeless and dipsy and she didn't make me care one bit about her. The support cast try hard to look 'evil' and 'conspiratorial' but really they are not given the tools to do the job and just end up scowling! A cameo from Yul Brynner just seems to be totally pointless and resulting in his entire scene just being stupid.

Overall this is a very poor sequel. It tries to repeat the formula from the first film while opening it out into its own plot but it fails in a big way.

The first hour is empty, unspectacular that was meant to be spectacle but wasn't and a second half that has a potentially good plot which is just wasted by a delivery that is so lacking in excitement and tension that you'd think there was no conspiracy or danger whatsoever! Stick to the original.