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 | drugs | cloning | future | pleasure | 

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 March 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Un mundo feliz

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Samuel Bronston planned to film Aldous Huxley 's novel with David Niven in 1964, but the huge financial failure of his epic and costly " The Fall of the Roman Empire " lead to the collapse of his movie making operation.

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Quotes

Gamma Male: We're not too stupid and we're not too bright, to be a Gamma is to be just right.

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Connections

Referenced in Insoma (2014)

User Reviews

I hated the NBC broadcast, I love the complete version...

When it aired in 1980, I wondered what the heck happened to the promised BNW miniseries with a one-night broadcast that left so much out.

Almost three decades later, due to the miracle of the Internet, I saw the entire version as broadcast by the BBC & then bought the DVD. I totally loved it. The cartoonish Gil Gerard Buck Rogers-ish special effects and the superficial characterization, much disdained, totally fit the "soulless streamlined Eden" of the book.

Btw, back in 1980, I was fortunate enough to buy the PB tie-in, which I still own.

Please put this on official DVD!