Directed by Michael Anderson
Written by David Zelag Goldman from a novel by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson
1976/US
IMDb page
First viewing/Amazon Prime
Box: Overwhelming, am I not?
This malthusian science-fiction film was supposed to be a blockbuster along the lines of Star Wars (1977). Things didn’t work out as planned.
The year is 2274. Mankind has depleted the planet of its natural resources. The survivors of this environmental Armaggedon live in a domed city. The inhabitants are all in their teens and 20’s and life is one round of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Each 30th birthday represents the Last Day of the celebrants. People are named and dressed like their birth year cohort. Each day’s highlight is the Last Day celebration in which birthday heroes mount a Carousel that whips them around in the air and takes them somewhere above the ceiling. The people believe that some people are terminated and others are “renewed”. Unbelievers who flee their birthday party are known as “runners”. They are chased down and terminated by “Sandmen”. Our hero is Sandman Logan 5 (Michael York).
After demonstrating his effectiveness as a Sandman, Logan finds a mysterious ankh symbol. He shows it to a computer which tells him that he must penetrate the Sanctuary where some runners have escaped and destroy it. He is to do this in the guise of a runner. Soon thereafter he meets Jessica 6 (Jenny Agutter) who is scantily clad throughout and they run together. There is a romance going on at the same time.
Logan and Jessica meet up with an ice robot named Box who reveals part of the secret the two have been looking for. Then somehow they get outside the domed city and meet up with an unnamed Old Man (Peter Ustinov) who has a bad memory and spends lots of his time reciting T.S. Eliot’s cat poems. More stuff happens.
This was a big-budget film with state of the art special effects and did reasonably well at the box office. I was definitely not wowed. There is something kind of juvenile about the whole set up with its color coding etc. The movie is not terrible but I don’t think it will last long in my memory.
Logan’s Run won a Special Achievement Oscar for its visual effects. It was nominated in the categories of Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction – Set Decoration.
I was actually considering this one as an off-list movie for 76, but this does not sound promising.
I don’t think you will regret not watching it. My biggest recommendation for 1976 would be The Bad News Bears. I realize that it is very American subject matter so I don’t know what you would think. It is really a very fun movie with Walter Matthau at his peak. I also liked Elaine May’s Mikey and Nicky but I’m not sure you would. So far 76 is kind of a dud for me. There’s all those amazing movies on top but I’m now at the point where I have one week left and none of the movies on my list is exactly calling out to me.
I’ve seen Logan’s Run two or three times over the years, and I find it very entertaining.
I can see that some/most people might find it very entertaining. I either had a bad day or its not for me,
“I’m now at the point where I have one week left and none of the movies on my list is exactly calling out to me.” So time to take the road less traveled?
I’m surprised 1900 didn’t make the list
From Australia – Caddie, and Storm Boy – the latter is unseen but is very well regarded here
Blues music – Leadbelly (unseen)
(I think you had In the Realm of the Senses on the list?? Despite my love of Japanese cinema it did nothing much for me…and I don’t think it’s “you”….I’m a lousy judge though.)
1900 did make the List but it looks to be over 5 hours long. Is it worth it? Storm Boy is also on the list. I might try that out. There is no way I am going to watch In the Realm of the Senses.
Here’s the list of what I haven’t seen yet. 1976 – Not seen list
I split 1900 into two parts and I didn’t have any trouble watching it like that. It’s got some scenes with the Italians beating up on the Fascists as World War II ends, an Italian cinema trope that they do very well!
I know what you mean about 1976. It’s no 1974, that’s for sure!
The link goes to the lot I think not “not seen”. Anyway the ones I know (and a couple I don’t)……..and sorry about typing without checking what WAS on the list
Unseens that I’d watch – Storm Boy & The Signalman
1900 – tough to decide I remember it as being pretty OK but not “must watch” – same with Caddie (note it is NOT Carrie which I’d skip, also skip Realm, The Outlaw Josey Wales**, The Shootist^, The Omen*, Assault on Precinct 13, Murder by Death^, The Man Who Fell to Earth, Squirm [sorry I know you love these awful ones LOL], Logan’s Run – woops too late!) )
* The Exorcist beats it hands down
** The Good The Bad and the Ugly ditto
^ reluctantly
This was a period that, for me, foreign cinema was a big blank, ahhh misguided youth LOL
One that I’d watch/seen Rendezvous – remember that “only 9 minutes”
Lacks any appeal – a personal decision right or wrong Bugsy Malone, Duelle
I did watch Rendezvous and left you a mini-review in a comment. Even though screeching tires are not for me, Paris certainly is. I enjoyed it.
I’m going to give Storm Boy a try. I love Australia but more especially I LOVE pelicans. Thanks.
Woops missed that mini but found it now, thanks…glad you weren’t disappointed by Storm Boy.
Paris, a little oddity for you
Thanks. So long ago. Such a blessing Paris never burned. Stockholm is another fantastic city that escaped bombing.
That reminded me of “London’s Burning” by the Clash…found that tho they did do that what I was actually thinking of was this classic (and yes the song was named with that iconic WW2 BBC opening in mind)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7kCqrlwDtU
If you haven’t heard that then this is their peak hit and absolutely toe tapping and sing along superb
Love that Trump parody! Love, love, love The Clash! Here’s an excellent cover of Rock the Casbah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02Sg9H2T_TQ
I love Jenny Agutter, but there’s a lot that needs to be fixed for this movie to work. Not the least of these things is the fact that the sandmen have weapons that make Imperial Stormtroopers look like marksmen.
Believe it or not, there was a short-lived television series based on this.
(Also, I’m really having a lot of trouble posting on your site.)
Sorry about the posting glitches. Lately, I go to text support and get answers like there’s nothing wrong with your site tell your readers to clear their caches. Seems ridiculous to me. Another person has had luck with switching browsers. And then – poof – the problem disappears without rhyme or reason.