Zardoz (1974)

In the distant future, a savage trained only to kill finds a way into the community of bored immortals that alone preserves humanity's achievements.

Director:

John Boorman

Writer:

John Boorman

Stars:

Sean Connery, Charlotte Rampling, Sara Kestelman

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sean Connery	...	Zed
Charlotte Rampling	...	Consuella
Sara Kestelman	...	May
John Alderton	...	Friend
Sally Anne Newton	...	Avalow
Niall Buggy	...	Arthur Frayn / Zardoz
Bosco Hogan	...	George Saden
Jessica Swift	...	Apathetic
Bairbre Dowling	...	Star
Christopher Casson	...	Old Scientist
Reginald Jarman	...	Death (voice)

Storyline

2293. Zardoz, an unseen "God" who speaks through an idol, a large stone statue of a head, leads a barbaric race called the Brutals, who live a harsh existence in the Outlands. Zardoz tells the Brutals that once they die, they will be transported to the Vortex, where they will live happily as immortals. He has armed a small group, the Exterminators, with guns, as Zardoz's philosophy is that killing is good, and procreation is the root of all that is bad. In reality, Zardoz is Arthur Frayn, from a competing, more advanced race, called "the Eternals", who live in paradise in the Vortex. The Eternals truly are immortal as they do not age and their bodies undergo reconstruction if they "die". As such, they truly do not believe in procreation as their society has reached perfect equilibrium. Past human acts such as sex and sleep are obsolete in their advanced state. All major decisions are achieved through pure democracy. The Eternals, however, are not immune to non life threatening disease...

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Plot Keywords:

hairy chest | loincloth | surrealism | tattooed moustache | retro future | 

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Taglines:

Beyond 1984, Beyond 2001, Beyond Love, Beyond Death

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

18

Did You Know?

Trivia

In Papua New Guinea, during filming of Charley Boorman: Sydney to Tokyo by Any Means (2009), John Boorman's son Charley met tribesmen who wore masks similar to those seen in this movie.

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Goofs

About three minutes into the movie, when the floating head is in the clouds, part of a car can be seen in the top right corner of the screen.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Arthur Frayn: I am Arthur Frayn, and I am Zardoz. I have lived three hundred years, and I long to die. But death is no longer possible. I am immortal. I present now my story, full of mystery and intrigue - rich in irony, and most satirical. It is set deep in a possible future, so none of these events have yet occurred, but they *may.* Be warned, lest you end as I. In this tale, I am a fake god by occupation - and a magician, by inclination. Merlin is *my* hero! I am the puppet master. I ...

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Alternate Versions

The pre-credits sequence featuring Arthur Frayn's disembodied head was added by director John Boorman after the movie was released, as an attempt to explain the plot to audiences that found it hard to understand. Boorman would later declare that the scene didn't work as he wanted it to.

• The Spanish (Spain) released version cut part of the "boner" scene (the breasts-rugging and mud wrestlers on-screen). Later prints and current DVD and video releases are uncut.

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Connections

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

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Soundtracks

Symphony No. 7 in A, op. 92, 2nd movement
Music by Ludwig van Beethoven (as Beethoven)
Played by the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest (as Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra)
Conducted by Eugen Jochum

User Reviews

I will not go to level 2!

British Director John Boorman produced, directed, and wrote this extremely campy sci-fi drama about a utopian refuge created by the world's elite sometime in the future. Into the oasis of culture and leisure, whose inhabitants never age and are troubled only by the occasional negative aura, bursts Zed (a burly Sean Connery), a brutal from the overpopulated outlands beyond the perfect plastic bubble.

Initially an object of fascination to decadent futurists May (Sarah Kestelman, luminous in her best role), Consuella (a smoldering Charlotte Rampling), and Friend (John Alderton), Zed's raw nature and virility causes the dysfunctional paradise to unravel into fratricidal warfare. Only by breeding with Zed and giving him all the knowledge of the universe via osmosis is the human race able to survive.

This movie is rich in wild vivid imagery, including Sean Connery clad nearly throughout in only a red suede loincloth. Despite its progressively complex and dated story and message, Zardoz remains intriguing and entertaining. Performances, sound, and visual effects all come together to create a fun and memorable movie-watching experience. Look for it!

Details

Country:

UK USA Ireland

Language:

English Italian Swedish Latin German French Irish

Release Date:

6 February 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Zardoz

Filming Locations:

Brennanstown Riding School, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$1,570,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,320

Company Credits

Production Co:

John Boorman Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1