Logan's Run (1976)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Michael Anderson

Writers:

William F. Nolan (novel) &
George Clayton Johnson (novel) ...

Release Date:

23 June 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Welcome to the 23rd Century

Plot:

An idyllic sci-fi future has one major drawback: life must end at 30.

Plot Keywords:

Runner | Sanctuary | Domed City | Sandman | Escape

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Michael York	...	Logan
Richard Jordan	...	Francis
Jenny Agutter	...	Jessica 6
Roscoe Lee Browne	...	Box
Farrah Fawcett	...	Holly (as Farrah Fawcett-Majors)
Michael Anderson Jr.	...	Doc
Peter Ustinov	...	Old Man
Randolph Roberts	...	2nd Sanctuary Man
Lara Lindsay	...	The Woman Runner
Gary Morgan	...	Billy
Michelle Stacy	...	Mary 2
Laura Hippe	...	Woman Customer
David Westberg	...	Sandman
Camilla Carr	...	Sanctuary Woman
Greg Lewis	...	Cub (as Gregg Lewis)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Stereo (with Dolby noise reduction) (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | West Germany:12 | Italy:T | Australia:G (alternate rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Singapore:PG | UK:PG | USA:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | UK:A (original rating) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Dallas, Texas, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The character of Francis was originally to be played by William Devane, but he pulled out of the film.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: At the end of the film when the old man waves to Logan and Jessica, one man in the crowd waves back at the old man and then slips in the "Vulcan Greeting".

Quotes:

[first lines]
Logan: [tapping on a glass window of maternity room] Wake up.
Francis 7: Logan, you are here. I couldn't believe it when they told me. What are you doing?
Logan: [indicates baby] Logan 6. Well it's not everyday that they authorize a new sandman. I tell you Francis,
[indicating baby]
Logan: that's him.
Francis 7: Well maybe, maybe not. What does it matter? Anyway, he isn't yours anymore.
Logan: [continues tapping lightly on the glass]
Francis 7: All right, you want me to wake him?
[bangs loudly on the glass with his baton]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003)

And I Thought Turning 40 Was Supposed To Be the Bad Age....

I must admit that I should be ashamed as a sci-fi fan: I hadn't seen this film until recently, and I wanted to better understand the parody from "Free Enterprise".

But I enjoyed the film.

Watching this film against the more recent glut of sci-fi films, I have to say that they made them a little more original back in the 70's-80's, instead of everything being techno-computer-CG-spaceship fights. A grim look at the downside of maintaining an "ideal", utopian society. When you hit 30, you either have the option of willingly submitting yourself to be killed under a pretense of renewal, or having the Sandmen play with you before they go in for the kill. Neither option seems really appealing. But the idea of one of the killers having to face their mortality is an interesting idea.

A little slow in places (but I did keep wanting to see what would happen next), and some of the special effects look really dated (even to '77's "Star Wars"), but the story holds up well, and it's an entertaining ride overall.

It's truly a classic of the genre, and I wish I had seen it sooner.