Demon Seed (1977)

Director:

Donald Cammell

Writers:

Dean R. Koontz (novel)
Robert Jaffe ...
(more)

Release Date:

30 September 1977 (West Germany)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Julie Christie carries the "Demon Seed."

Plot:

A scientist creates Proteus--an organic super computer with artificial intelligence which becomes obsessed with human beings, and in particular the creators wife.

Plot Keywords:

Computer | House | Scientist | Artificial Intelligence | Laboratory

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Julie Christie	...	Susan Harris
Fritz Weaver	...	Alex Harris
Gerrit Graham	...	Walter Gabler
Berry Kroeger	...	Petrosian
Lisa Lu	...	Soong Yen
Larry J. Blake	...	Cameron
John O'Leary	...	David Royce
Alfred Dennis	...	Mokri
Davis Roberts	...	Warner
Patricia Wilson	...	Mrs. Talbert
E. Hampton Beagle	...	Night Operator
Michael Glass	...	Technician
Barbarao	...	Technician (as Barbara O. Jones)
Dana Laurita	...	Amy
Monica MacLean	...	Joan Kemp
Peter Elbling	...	Scientist (as Harold Oblong)
Georgie Paul	...	Housekeeper
Michelle Stacy	...	Marlene
Tiffany Potter	...	Baby
Felix Silla	...	Baby
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Dorn	...	Bit (uncredited)
Robert Vaughn	...	Proteus IV (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Donald Cammell

Writing credits
Dean R. Koontz		(novel "Demon Seed")
Robert Jaffe		and
Roger O. Hirson

Produced by
Herb Jaffe	....	producer
Steven-Charles Jaffe	....	associate producer (as Steven C. Jaffe)

Original Music by
Jerry Fielding

Cinematography by
Bill Butler		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Frank Mazzola		(as Francisco Mazzola)

Casting by
Jennifer Shull

Production Design by
Edward C. Carfagno

Set Decoration by
Barbara Krieger

Makeup Department
Don L. Cash	....	makeup artist
Frank Griffin	....	special makeup
Lee Harman	....	makeup artist
Dione Taylor	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Michael I. Rachmil	....	unit production manager (as Michael Rachmil)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan Brimfeld	....	second assistant director (as Alan Brimfield)
Edward Teets	....	assistant director (as Edward A. Teets)

Art Department
Bill Wainess	....	property master (as William Wainess)

Sound Department
Jerry Jost	....	sound
William L. McCaughey	....	sound (as William McCaughey)
John Riordan	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Tom Fisher	....	special effects
Terry W. King	....	special effects (uncredited)
Glen Robinson	....	special mechanical effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Grant Bassett	....	genigraphics animatior
Jordan Belson	....	special proteus monitor footage
Richard L. Froman	....	electronic animator
Bo Gehring	....	synthavision animator
Ron Hays	....	electronic visuals designer
Ron Hays	....	electronic visuals developer
Domenic Iaia	....	technical associate
James F. Liles	....	optical supervisor (as Jim Liles)

Stunts
Julie Ann Johnson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Colin J. Campbell	....	gaffer
James R. Connell	....	camera operator
George Hill	....	key grip
John R. Shannon	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sandy Cole	....	costume designer: Julie Christie
Joie Hutchinson	....	costumer: women
Bucky Rous	....	costumer: men

Editorial Department
Gary Bell	....	associate film editor
Freeman A. Davies	....	associate film editor (as Freeman Davies Jr.)
Frank Mazzola	....	montage (as Francisco Mazzola)

Music Department
Dan Carlin Sr.	....	music editor (as Dan Carlin)
Jerry Fielding	....	conductor
Harry V. Lojewski	....	music supervisor
Lee Ritenour	....	electronic performances
Ian Underwood	....	electronic performances

Other crew
Dixie J. Capp	....	assistant video coordinator
Oga Danylo	....	secretary to producer
Kathy Green	....	technical consultant
Regina Gruss	....	publicist
Mary Meacham	....	title designer
Christopher Outwater	....	laser consultant
Brent Sellstrom	....	video coordinator
Robert Stewart	....	technical consultant
Marshall J. Wolins	....	script supervisor (as Marshall Wolins)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1977) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1979) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1979) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1978) (USA) (TV)
• Esselte CIC Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS) (through)
• Esselte Video (????) (Finland) (VHS)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• MGM / UA Home Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS) (through Esselte CIC Video)
• Regie Cassette Video (RCV) (19??) (Belgium) (VHS)
• Vídeo Arte (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2008) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)  titles and opticals
• Level-Seven  tetralinks
• Computer Science Department, University of Utah  delta wing computer animation
• Wang Laboratories  computer equipment and technical support
• Lick Observatory  moon photographs courtesy of
• Image West Ltd.  facilities: electronic visuals
• MacGillivray Freeman Films  aerial footage (as MacGillivray Freeman)
• General Electric (GE)  our thanks to
• Braun North America  our thanks to
• Bang & Olufsen  our thanks to (as Bang & Olufsen of America Inc.)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1977) | France:-12 | Norway:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 (re-rating) | Argentina:X (original rating) | Finland:K-15 (uncut) (2007) | Norway:18 (video rating)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Composer Jerry Fielding conceived and recorded several cues electronically, using the musique concrète sound world; some of this music he later reworked symphonically. This premiere release of the "Demon Seed" score features the entire orchestral score in stereo, as well as the unused electronic experiments performed by Ian Underwood (who would later be best known for his collaborations with James Horner) in mono and stereo.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Mrs. Harris is trying to get the little girl out of the car for her session, a sound man can be seen through the back window behind her.

Quotes:

Proteus IV:I want to study man: his isometric body and his glass-jaw mind.
Alex Harris:Ambitious program, but at the moment all the terminals are occupied.
Proteus IV:Construct one.
Alex Harris:I'm sorry. Request denied.
Proteus IV:Dr. Harris, when are you going to let me out of this *box*?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Donald Cammell: The Ultimate Performance (1998)

Though-provoking all the way to its great ending.

This visionary and scary sci-fi thriller was somewhat coldly directed, but the extremely thought-provoking (and provocative) script ("what if...this could happen one day"), some unusually intelligent dialogue ("eternity does exist, but the price of admission, death, is too high for me to pay") and Julie Christie's tense performance make this film worth watching. Plus, the voice of the computer (Robert Vaughn) is suitably both calm and menacing. (***)