Futureworld
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| Futureworld | |
|---|---|
 promotional poster for US theatrical release |
|
| Directed by | Richard T. Heffron |
| Produced by | James T. Aubrey Paul Lazarus III |
| Written by | George Schenck Mayo Simon |
| Starring | Peter Fonda Blythe Danner Arthur Hill Yul Brynner Jim Antonio |
| Music by | Fred Karlin |
| Cinematography | Gene Polito Howard Schwartz |
| Distributed by | AIP |
| Release date(s) | 1976 |
| Running time | 104 min. |
| Country | US |
| Language | English language |
| Preceded by | Westworld |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Futureworld was a 1976 sequel to the 1973 science fiction film Westworld. It was written by George Schenk and Mayo Simon, and directed by Richard T. Heffron. The cast included Hollywood notables Peter Fonda, Blythe Danner, and Arthur Hill. There is also a cameo appearance by Yul Brynner, who played a deadly robot in the first film. This would prove to be Brynner's last film appearance.
The film attempted to take the plot in a different direction from the Westworld movie, but it was not generally well received by critics.
Futureworld was made by AIP (its predecessor was made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer). Futureworld ran for 104 minutes and had an MPAA rating of PG.
Several years after the "Westworld" tragedy in the Delos amusement park, the corporate owners are planning to open the park again following safety and other improvements. For publicity purposes, a private showing of the park is planned, to which the reporters Chuck Browning (Fonda) and Tracy Ballard (Danner) are invited. Just prior to arriving at the park, however, Browning is given a clue by a dying man that something is amiss.
After some investigation, the two reporters discover that Delos' entire resort is simply a ruse to attract world leaders, the rich, and famous for a sinister plot, intended to allow Delos to take over the world. Guests are given drugged food during their stay (as happens to Browning and Ballard), and during their subsequent unconsciousness, genetic samples are taken. From the extensive genetic sampling, Delos technicians create fully-programmed genetically engineered biological clones who, with murderous intent, replace the wealthy and influential visitors. The two reporters are selected for early termination and replacement, but Browning discovers this fact in time. This results in a dramatic chase and battle between the reporters and their doubles.
Having successfully dispatched their twins, the duo make their way to Delos’ airport. Before leaving they come across the project's chief scientist and tell him that they plan to return to the outside world with glowing reports of the new resort – just as planned.
However, just as they reach the busy departure lounge, and much to the surprise of both the chief scientist and the audience, one of the battered and dying evil clones staggers into view claiming "They’re the wrong ones…", before slumping to the floor. Exasperated, the chief scientist looks on as Fonda extends his middle finger to Schneider and walks to safety, as we hear that the story has been successfully broken to the world. Our heroes are safe and Delos will be ruined by nightfall.
It could be argued that Futureworld resolves the question from the first film about why the robots killed - namely that the evil nature of Delos - and that it was betrayed by the robot's malfunction that switched them to the killing machines they've always been underneath.
Futureworld was the first major feature film to use 3D computer generated images (CGI). CGI was used for an animated hand and face. The animated hand was a digitized version of the left hand of Edwin Catmull, co-founder and president of Pixar. The animated face was done by Fred Parke. The movie also used 2D digital compositing to materialize characters over a background.
[edit] Alternate Versions
For its initial television broadcast, an alternate version of the scene towards the end, where Chuck Browning extends his middle finger to Dr. Schneider, was shot. Instead of extending his middle finger, Browning performs a bent elbow gesture, where the right hand is placed in the elbow crook of the left arm, then the left arm is raised (fist clenched) in a smooth and continuous motion. This gesture is alternatively known as the Italian Victory Salute.
