Brave New World (1980)

A man who grew up in a primitive society educating himself by reading Shakespeare is allowed to join the futuristic society where his parents are from. However, he cannot adapt to their repressive ways.

Director:

Burt Brinckerhoff

Writers:

Aldous Huxley (by), Robert E. Thompson (teleplay)

Stars:

Julie Cobb, Bud Cort, Keir Dullea

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julie Cobb	...	Linda Lysenko
Bud Cort	...	Bernard Marx
Keir Dullea	...	Thomas Grambell
Ron O'Neal	...	Mustapha Mond
Marcia Strassman	...	Lenina Disney
Kristoffer Tabori	...	John Savage
Dick Anthony Williams	...	Helmholz Watson
Jonelle Allen	...	Fanny Crowne
Jeannetta Arnette	...	Dwightina
Valerie Curtin	...	Chief Warden Stelina Shell
Tricia O'Neil	...	Maoina Krupps
Victoria Racimo	...	Beta Teacher
Sherri Brewer	...	Rochina
Reb Brown	...	Henry
Lee Chamberlin	...	Head Nanny Nurse

Storyline

In a future society based on pleasure without moral worries, love is prohibited but casual sex, now called 'engaging', is strongly encouraged. Everyone is kept happy with a legal drug, soma. People are hatched and cloned on conveyor belts to meet the requirements of five different social classes, from ruling Alphas to robot-like Epsilons. Bernard Marx is a different Alpha male with an inclination to thinking. He and a girl called Lenina Disney go visit a reservation of 'savages' where they meet a handsome young man John and bring him back to 'civilization'. John turns out to be the son of the director of the cloning authority, which causes a scandal and makes John a celebrity freak. John falls in love with Lenina but his desire is ruined by his antiquated sexual morale derived from reading Shakespeare. John hates the over-social but anti-emotional civilization, asks to be sent to live in isolation, and gets a job as a lighthouse guard. But even there he can't forget Lenina or escape ...

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Plot Keywords:

male protagonist | psychotronic film | drugs | cloning | future | 

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The exterior and interior lighthouse location used in the later part of the film is the Point Conception Lighthouse in California, the same locations used in The Monster of Piedras Blancas [1959].

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Quotes

Lenina Disney: Just take me, oh please, take me. Oh please make me quake, I'll set my dial - so you can drive me wild. Oh hug me, hug me - 'till you drug me. Give me a kiss - that's full of bliss.

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Connections

Referenced in The Facts of Life: Teacher's Pet (1983)

User Reviews

Really not bad

This is naturally a low-budget TV version, but it's long enough to go into the themes of the book in some depth, and follows the plot and dialogue accurately enough. It gives the impression of a theatre version really, with the cheap sets and costumes: or maybe the original Star Trek is closer to it, with the pyjamas. So you never forget that it's an adaptation of a novel; which I realise must be a problem for those expecting Blade Runner or something. I thought everyone did a commendable job on this given the limitations of the budget, and while it's not great cinema, it captures the spirit of Huxley's work, and in particular it was nice to hear the Shakespeare quotations very nicely done.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 March 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Brave New World

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1