Logan's Run (1976)

Director:

Michael Anderson

Writers:

David Zelag Goodman (screenplay)
William F. Nolan (novel) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 June 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Action | 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 | Computer | Escape

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Michael York	...	Logan
Richard Jordan	...	Francis
Jenny Agutter	...	Jessica
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)
Ashley Cox	...	Timid Girl
Bill Couch	...	Sandman
Glenn R. Wilder	...	Runner (as Glen Wilder)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joe L. Blevins	...	Last Day Character (uncredited)
Roger Borden	...	Sandman Daniel (uncredited)
Dick DeCoit	...	(uncredited)
Chuck Gaylord	...	Cub (uncredited)
Mitchell Gaylord	...	Cub (uncredited)
Johnny Haymer	...	(uncredited)
William E. Johnson III	...	Extra (uncredited)
Richard Kelton	...	Sanctuary Man (voice) (uncredited)
Jessie Kirby	...	Confused City Dweller (uncredited)
Greg Michaels	...	3rd Sanctuary Man / Ambush Man (uncredited)
Bob Neill	...	1st Sanctuary Man (uncredited)
Candice Rialson	...	1st Screamer in Logan's Apartment (uncredited)
Johnny Timko	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Anderson

Writing credits
David Zelag Goodman		(screenplay)
William F. Nolan		(novel "Logan's Run") and
George Clayton Johnson		(novel "Logan's Run")

Produced by
Hugh Benson	....	associate producer
Saul David	....	producer

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Ernest Laszlo		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bob Wyman

Casting by
Jack Baur

Production Design by
Dale Hennesy		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Dale Hennesy

Set Decoration by
Robert De Vestel

Costume Design by
Bill Thomas

Makeup Department
Judith A. Cory	....	hair styles (as Judy Alexander Corey)
William Tuttle	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Byron Roberts	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan Brimfeld	....	second assistant director (as Alan H. Brimfield)
Win Phelps	....	second assistant director
David Silver	....	assistant director
John Slosser	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jack M. Marino	....	property master
Charles Sertin	....	property assistant
William Cruse	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jerry Jost	....	sound
William L. McCaughey	....	sound (as William McCaughey)
John Riordan	....	sound editor (as John P. Riordan)
Aaron Rochin	....	sound
Harry W. Tetrick	....	sound
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Stephen Katz	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Glen Robinson	....	special effects
Wayne Beauchamp	....	special effects (uncredited)
Gary L. King	....	special effects (uncredited)
Jay King	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Terry W. King	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Wayne Rose	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
L.B. Abbott	....	special visual effects designer
James F. Liles	....	optical supervisor (as Jim Liles)
Larry Robinson	....	assistant: L. B. Abbott
Frank Van der Veer	....	additional visuals (as Frank Van Der Veer)
Matthew Yuricich	....	matte paintings

Stunts
Bill Couch	....	stunt coordinator
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunt coordinator (as Glen Wilder)
Phil Adams	....	stunts (uncredited)
Craig R. Baxley	....	stunts (uncredited)
May Boss	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dottie Catching	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Couch Jr.	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paula Crist	....	stunts (uncredited)
Pepper Curtis	....	stunts (uncredited)
Angelo De Meo	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paula Dell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Wayne Dillard	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Donna Garrett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Gaylord	....	stunts (uncredited)
Barbara Graham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts (uncredited)
Whitey Hughes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rosemary Johnston	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dawn Landing	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carole Navarro	....	stunts (uncredited)
Beth Nufer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Regina Parton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alex Plasschaert	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fluir Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dar Robinson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Walter Robles	....	stunts (uncredited)
Russell Saunders	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lori Thomas	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mike Washlake	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sunny Woods	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Ziker	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Martin Kashuk	....	key grip (as Martin G. Kashuk)
Don Stott	....	chief set electrician
Ron Anderson	....	electrician (uncredited)
Doug Byers	....	electrician (uncredited)
Scott Hamilton	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Robert Jason	....	electrician (uncredited)
Robert C. Jessup	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Mike Redding	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Gary Stark	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Richard Butz	....	wardrobe (as Dick Butz)
Edna Taylor	....	wardrobe
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Freeman A. Davies	....	associate film editor (as Freeman A. Davies Jr.)
Chuck Ellison	....	assistant film editor (as Charles G. Ellison)

Music Department
Harry V. Lojewski	....	music supervisor
William Saracino	....	music editor
Jerry Goldsmith	....	conductor (uncredited)
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Aaron Rochin	....	music engineer (uncredited)

Other crew
Leon Charles	....	dialogue coach
Lara Lindsay	....	assistant to producer
Ron Mitchell	....	production assistant
Don Morgan	....	unit publicist
Christopher Outwater	....	laser consultant
Ray Quiroz	....	script supervisor
Richard Vetter	....	consultant: Todd-AO
Stefan Wenta	....	choreography

Thanks
Diane Booker	....	thanks: executive director, the Texas Film Commission, Dallas, Texas
W.E. Cooper	....	thanks: president, Dallas Market Center, Dallas, Texas
T.S. Eliot	....	"Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" is quoted by permission

Production Companies

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

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1976) (France) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1977) (USA) (TV)
• MGM Home Entertainment (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Australia) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (Canada) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Other Companies

• Kenworthy / Nettman Snorkel Camera, The  holograms by (as Kenworthy Snorkel Camera Systems)
• Texas Film Commission  thanks (as the Texas Film Commission, Dallas, Texas)
• Ft. Worth Water Gardens  grateful acknowledgment is made for filming in (as the Ft. Worth Water Gardens, Ft. Worth, Texas)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)  titles and opticals (as MGM)
• Multiplex Co.  holograms by
• National Health Studio  grateful acknowledgment is made for filming in (as National Health Studio, Arlington, Texas)
• OZ Restaurant  grateful acknowledgment is made for filming in (as OZ Restaurant, Dallas, Texas)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints) (as Dolby System Noise Reduction-High Fidelity)

Certification:

Australia:G (alternate rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Singapore:PG | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) (1995) | USA:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | UK:A (original rating) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Netherlands:12 | Iceland:L | West Germany:12 | Italy:T | Canada:PG (TV rating) | Argentina:Atp | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (video rating: feature and audio commentary: 227 min 31 sec) (2008) | UK:PG (SubTV) (1991) | UK:PG (tv rating)

Filming Locations:

Dallas, Texas, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

According to "The Aurum Film Encyclopaedia Science Fiction" edited by Phil Hardy, "This film was initially set up by producer George Pal with [Michael] Anderson (who had directed the awful Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975) for Pal in 1975) scheduled to direct only to have one change of MGM executives throw out the project and another reinstate it but without Pal".

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The face of the robot Box is obviously made of shaped metal foil that Roscoe Lee Brown is wearing. You can see his lips and teeth as he talks.

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 "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Tapestry (#6.15)" (1993)

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.