The Omega Man (1971)

Biological war has decimated life on Earth. Los Angeles is a windswept ghost town where Robert Neville tools his convertible through sunlit streets foraging for supplies.

Director:

Boris Sagal

Writers:

John William Corrington (screenplay) (as John William), Joyce Hooper Corrington (screenplay) (as Joyce H. Corrington)

Stars:

Charlton Heston, Anthony Zerbe, Rosalind Cash

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Charlton Heston	...	Neville
Anthony Zerbe	...	Matthias
Rosalind Cash	...	Lisa
Paul Koslo	...	Dutch
Eric Laneuville	...	Richie
Lincoln Kilpatrick	...	Zachary
Jill Giraldi	...	Little Girl
Anna Aries	...	Woman in Cemetery Crypt (scenes deleted)
Brian Tochi	...	Tommy
DeVeren Bookwalter	...	Family Member (as De Veren Bookwalter)
John Dierkes	...	Family Member
Monika Henreid	...	Family Member
Linda Redfearn	...	Family Member
Forrest Wood	...	Family Member

Storyline

Due to an experimental vaccine, Dr. Robert Neville is the only survivor of an apocalyptic war waged with biological weapons. The plague caused by the war has killed everyone else except for a few hundred deformed, nocturnal people calling themselves "The Family". The plague has caused them to become sensitive to light, as well as homicidally psychotic. They believe science and technology to be the cause of the war and their punishment, and Neville, as the last symbol of science, the old world, and a "user of the wheel", must die. Neville, using electricity, machinery, and science attempts to hold them at bay.

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Plot Keywords:

plague | post apocalypse | based on novel | global pandemic | antidote | 

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Taglines:

Pray for the last man alive. Because he's not alone.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charlton Heston had approached Orson Welles to direct this.

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Goofs

When the family is shooting the flaming ammo via catapult up to Robert Neville's residence there is a sound effect heard with the projected object which sounds like a flaming type noise. The last one however, while Robert is about to take aim with his gun, is thrown without being on fire, but has the sound effect to go along with it anyway.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[the last man on earth wrecks his car]
Neville: There's never a cop around when you need one.

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits feature the credit "Based on a book by Richard Matheson", and does not give the title of the actual book, I Am Legend.

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Alternate Versions

In the common version of this film, the scene where Richie tells Neville that he should either kill the Family or cure them takes place inside Neville's apartment. In an alternate version, the scene takes place on the rooftop, where Neville has a large water tank and a .50 caliber machine gun.

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Connections

Referenced in NCIS: Restless (2011)

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Soundtracks

The Omega Man - Where Have All The People Gone
Written by Ron Grainer
Performed by The Ron Grainer Orchestra

User Reviews

Before Mad Max or Blade Runner, There was The Omega Man!

I just saw this movie for the first time and I really enjoyed it. Considering it was made in 1971, the make-up and special effects are fairly good. I really liked the story and was impressed (as usual) with Heston's performance. Keep in mind that if this movie seems a little dated or old it is because the story has been done over and over again. This was before any of the numerous Mad Max films, before Blade Runner, even before Logan's Run. I am not saying that it was necessarily better than these movies but it is a pioneer of sorts. Good flick!

Details

Official Sites:

HBOMAX Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

I Am Legend

Filming Locations:

South Flower Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$8,720,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walter Seltzer Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1