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THX 1138

  • 19711971
  • GPGP
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
51K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,087
1,097
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
THX 1138 (1971)
Theatrical Trailer from Warner Bros. Pictures
Play trailer1:50
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Sci-Fi
  • Thriller

In the 25th century, a time when people have designations instead of names, a man, THX 1138, and a woman, LUH 3417, rebel against their rigidly-controlled society.In the 25th century, a time when people have designations instead of names, a man, THX 1138, and a woman, LUH 3417, rebel against their rigidly-controlled society.In the 25th century, a time when people have designations instead of names, a man, THX 1138, and a woman, LUH 3417, rebel against their rigidly-controlled society.

IMDb RATING
6.7/10
51K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,087
1,097
  • Director
    • George Lucas
  • Writers
    • George Lucas(story by)
    • Walter Murch(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Robert Duvall
    • Donald Pleasence
    • Don Pedro Colley
Top credits
  • Director
    • George Lucas
  • Writers
    • George Lucas(story by)
    • Walter Murch(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Robert Duvall
    • Donald Pleasence
    • Don Pedro Colley
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 255User reviews
    • 100Critic reviews
    • 75Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos2

    THX 1138
    Trailer 1:50
    THX 1138
    THX 1138
    Trailer 2:37
    THX 1138

    Photos129

    Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasence, and Don Pedro Colley in THX 1138 (1971)
    Robert Duvall in THX 1138 (1971)
    THX 1138 (1971)
    Sid Haig in THX 1138 (1971)
    Robert Duvall in THX 1138 (1971)
    THX 1138 (1971)
    THX 1138 (1971)
    THX 1138 (1971)
    THX 1138 (1971)
    George Lucas in THX 1138 (1971)
    Robert Duvall in THX 1138 (1971)
    Robert Duvall and Maggie McOmie in THX 1138 (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Duvall
    Robert Duvall
    • THXas THX
    Donald Pleasence
    Donald Pleasence
    • SENas SEN
    Don Pedro Colley
    Don Pedro Colley
    • SRTas SRT
    Maggie McOmie
    Maggie McOmie
    • LUHas LUH
    Ian Wolfe
    Ian Wolfe
    • PTOas PTO
    Marshall Efron
    Marshall Efron
    • TWAas TWA
    Sid Haig
    Sid Haig
    • NCHas NCH
    John Pearce
    John Pearce
    • DWYas DWY
    Irene Cagen
    • IMMas IMM
    • (as Irene Forrest)
    Gary Alan Marsh
    • CAMas CAM
    John Seaton
    • OUEas OUE
    Eugene I. Stillman
    • JOTas JOT
    Jack Walsh
    • TRGas TRG
    • (as Raymond J. Walsh)
    Mark Lawhead
    • Shell Dwelleras Shell Dweller
    Robert Feero
    Robert Feero
    • Chrome Robotas Chrome Robot
    Johnny Weissmuller Jr.
    Johnny Weissmuller Jr.
    • Chrome Robotas Chrome Robot
    Claudette Bessing
    • ELCas ELC
    Susan Stroh
    • Control Officeras Control Officer
    • (as Susan Baldwin)
    • Director
      • George Lucas
    • Writers
      • George Lucas(story by) (screenplay by)
      • Walter Murch(screenplay by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    It's sometime in the future in a state controlled society, where conformity and homogeneity are the rule. What is also the rule is that the populace follows the wants of the faceless state without question. How this is achieved is through a mandatory drug regimen, which also suppresses human desire, with sexual intercourse and human relationships banned. The law of the state is policed by a force of robocops. The physical environment is totally within a manufactured enclosure, what being outside of this unknown. THX 1138 is a loyal subject, he who goes about his business as a skilled factory working building robocops. And even when he begins to have strange feelings, he does what is obliged by going to the state run confessional, which further brainwashes through its reinforced mantra of happiness, loyalty and understanding. THX 1138 is given a glimpse into the other side through his computer matched and thus appointed female roommate, LUH 3417, and her surveillance colleague SEN 5241, LUH 3417's vision which may be something that THX 1138 may want to continue despite its illegality. If THX 1138 is able to keep his activities from the authorities and the robocops, he will have to figure out what options are available to him. —Huggo
    • low budget sci fi movie
    • pessimism
    • technology
    • character name as title
    • psychotronic film
    • 136 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Visit the future where love is the ultimate crime.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Sci-Fi
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • GP
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      George Lucas apparently named the film after his San Francisco telephone number, 849-1138, the letters THX correspond to letters found on the buttons 8, 4, and 9.
    • Goofs
      During the chase scene at the end, it is shown on one monitor that the THX budget is 3,410 units over the budget of 14,000 units (24%). A voice had stated earlier that accounts are to be terminated when they exceed their original budget by 5%. When the account/chase is terminated, we hear a voice say that the THX project is 6% over budget, which would be 840 units, not 3,410.
    • Quotes

      OMM: Let us be thankful we have commerce. Buy more. Buy more now. Buy. And be happy.

    • Crazy credits
      The Warner Bros. logo is preceded by a trailer for a Buck Rogers serial (or in early versions, a one-minute scene from Things to Come (1936)).
    • Alternate versions
      There are technically three versions of this movie: 1. The 1971 Warner Bros. Studio Theatrical Cut. Warner Bros in house cut 4 minutes from the film. This version has not been released on any home media. 2. The 1970/1977 Restored Version which is the version originally cut by the director prior to Warner Bros. cutting it for its 1971 theatrical release. This was finally released in 1977 following the success of "Star Wars" and later released on VHS and laserdisc releases. 3. The 2004 George Lucas Director's Cut with many scenes improved using CGI and some new shots added in following extensive work done by George Lucas and THX in 2003/2004. This was later released on all DVD and Blu-ray releases.
    • Connections
      Featured in Bald: The Making of 'THX 1138' (1971)
    • Soundtracks
      Elevator Music
      (uncredited)

      from the Miracle in the Rain (1956) score

      Composed by Franz Waxman

    User reviews255

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    George Lucas's first movie about a futuristic world in which society is robotized and love is forbidden
    Set in the futuristic 25th century in the ¨1984¨ moody vein , it describes the automatism and slavery of a robotic future whose terrifying vision comes to life . Mankind lives under the surface of Earth where lifelike androids carry out survey and control of slaved people with drugs used to limit their will and they confess at confessional booths . The story centers around a man and a woman who rebel against their rigidly controlled society under command of robotlike where sex is prohibited and love is the ultimate crime . There in a totalitarian future society in which everything looks the same , a man whose daily work is a mechanical routine attempts to rebel by falling in love . As a valiant who handles radioactive materials in a factory begins to have thoughts of rebellion and love for a fellow member . Who controls the present controls the past .

    Dystopian as well as imaginative story which a futuristic , state-run society controlled by a superior robotized intelligence and it packs a polemic denounce to totalitarianism . "THX 1138" is a workmanlike rendition based on an interesting screenplay from George Lucas and Walter Murch that captures the desolation and misery within a terrible future world . This thought-provoking as well as visually breathtaking film boasts vicious robots , intelligent but submitted humans who attempt to flee and a trick ending that is intriguing and unique . George Lucas has worked the title of this film , or parts of it, in some of his other film ; in American Graffiti (1973), the license plate of one car is "THX 138". In Star Wars (1977), a reference is made to "prison cell 1138" ; the cinema sound certification his company developed is called "THX". Impressive as well as evocatively atmospheric production design has been rendered with meticulous attention to period detail , the underground chase near the end was shot in a not-yet-completed segment of the subway system in San Francisco ; in addition , numerous scenes were inspired by Japanese theater, design and graphics . Very good acting by Robert Duvall as a human slave who finds himself stuck in a rebellion of the Earth of the future , he is a tragic figure who dares to fall in love within a totalitarian society where emotions are outlawed . Supported by Donald Pleasence who is perfect , as usual . Furthermore , brief appearances from Sid Haig , Ian Wolfe , Don Pedro Colley , Johnny Wissmuller Jr and David Ogden Stiers's film debut . The picture is rated : ¨PG¨, Parents Guide , for violence , nudism and some strong scenes .

    George Lucas's original plan was to shoot the film in Japan , but Francis Ford Coppola did not give Lucas enough money in the film's budget to take the entire production to Japan , the feature was shot in San Francisco and Los Angeles . Adequate as well as strange musical score by Lalo Schifrin , usual composer of the seventies , and the music playing during the end credits is the first movement from Johann Sebastian Bach's St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 . And many of the electronic sound effects heard throughout the film are derived from telephone dial tones, pitch-shifted and electronically modified . The motion picture was well produced by Francis Ford Coppola , his first film for American Zoetrope , and compellingly directed by George Lucas , pre-Star Wars , and he considers to be one of the greatest achievements of his career . This film was made as a result of George Lucas's student film short project at USC, being an expanded of a prize-winning featurette . George Lucas , subsequently , would go on with big successes such as American Graffiti and many others . This is a superior science-fiction movie that will appeal to cinema buffs and interested in to watch an example of the kind of work filmmaker Lucas was doing at the beginning .
    helpful•9
    2
    • ma-cortes
    • Jul 15, 2015

    FAQ1

    • What are the differences between the Original Version and the Director's Cut?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 11, 1971 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Lucasfilm Ltd. (United States)
      • Warner Bros. (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • THX-1138
    • Filming locations
      • BART Operations Control Center - 101 Eighth Street, Oakland, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • American Zoetrope
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $777,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,437,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,437,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 26 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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