| Logan's Run | |
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Poster for US theatrical release. |
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| Directed by | Michael Anderson |
| Produced by | Saul David Hugh Benson Unit Production Manager Byron Roberts |
| Screenplay by | David Zelag Goodman |
| Based on | Logan's Run by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson |
| Starring | Michael York Richard Jordan Jenny Agutter Peter Ustinov Farrah Fawcett |
| Music by | Jerry Goldsmith |
| Cinematography | Ernest Laszlo |
| Studio | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release date(s) | June 23, 1976 |
| Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $9 million[1] |
| Box office | $25 million |
Logan's Run is a 1976 science fiction film based on the novel of the same name by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson. It depicts a dystopian future society in which population and the consumption of resources are managed and maintained in equilibrium by the simple expediency of killing everyone who reaches the age of thirty, preventing overpopulation. The story follows the actions of Logan 5, a "Sandman", as he runs from society's lethal demand.
The film version, directed by Michael Anderson and starring Michael York, Richard Jordan, and Jenny Agutter, was shot primarily in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex (including locations such as the Fort Worth Water Gardens and the Dallas Market Center)[2] between June and September 1975. The film only uses the basic premise from the novel (everyone must die at a specific age, Logan runs with Jessica as his companion while being chased by Francis). The motivations of the characters are quite different in the film. It was the first film to use Dolby Stereo on 70mm prints.[3]
In 1977, a short-lived TV series was made, though only 14 episodes were produced. Since 1994, there have been several unsuccessful efforts to remake the film.
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Sometime in the 23rd century, the remnants of human civilization live in a sealed domed city, a utopia run by a computer that takes care of all aspects of their life, including reproduction. The citizens live a mostly hedonistic lifestyle but have been told that in order to maintain the city, every resident must undergo the ritual of "Carrousel" [sic] at the age of 30, where they are vaporized but with the promise of being "Renewed". To track this, the humans are implanted at birth with a Lifeclock crystal in the palm of their hand that changes colors as they approach their "Last Day". To maintain order, the computer has assigned several humans as Sandmen (policemen), who chase after and terminate Runners (those that try to leave the city in order to escape Carrousel).
Logan 5 is a Sandman along with his friend Francis 7. After chasing and killing one Runner, Logan finds an ankh among his possessions. Later, he meets Jessica 6, a citizen who also wears an ankh pendant. Logan takes the Runner's possessions to the computer, where he is told that the ankh is a symbol of a group of people that are helping the Runners to find "Sanctuary". The computer then instructs Logan to find Sanctuary himself and destroy it, and accelerates the color change of his Lifeclock to flash red four years before it is due to do so. In order to escape Carrousel himself, Logan is now forced to become a Runner.
Logan regroups with Jessica and explains his situation. Together, they meet with the underground group that lead them to the periphery of the city. Logan finds the ankh symbol is able to open a door, allowing them to leave the city into a frozen cave, but the pair are tailed closely by Francis. In the cave, they meet Box, a robot designed to capture as much food for the city from the outside. However, Box has also captured Runners that have made it this far and keeps them frozen. Before he can freeze them too, Logan and Jessica escape the robot, causing the cave to collapse and destroy Box.
Once outside, Logan and Jessica notice that their Lifeclocks are now clear and no longer operational. Venturing further, they discover that vegetation has overrun much of the remains of human civilization, and explore the nearby area, once the National Mall in Washington D.C. Within the ruins of the United States Senate chamber, they discover an elderly man, a surprise to them both having never seen a person this old before. The old man explains what he knows has happened to humanity outside of the city; Logan and Jessica realize that Sanctuary is a myth. However, Francis has followed them from the domed city and he and Logan fight. Logan gains the upper hand, and fatally wounds Francis. As Francis dies, he observes that Logan's Lifeclock is now clear, and considers Logan to have been Renewed before he dies.
Logan and Jessica convince the old man to return to the domed city with them. Leaving the man outside, the two enter and try to convince the residents that Carrousel is a lie and no longer necessary. The two are captured by other Sandmen and taken to the computer. The computer interrogates Logan and asks if he completed his mission, but Logan insists that "there is no Sanctuary." This answer is not accepted by the computer, even after scanning Logan's mind. It eventually sends the computer into overload, causing many of the city's systems to fail and releasing the seals to the outside. Logan and Jessica regroup with the old man as the citizens flee the ruined city, curious as to both the new surroundings and the old man.
The score was composed and conducted by Jerry Goldsmith, with orchestrations by Arthur Morton. The score "adheres to two distinct sound palettes: strings, keyboards and abstract electronics only for cues inside the City, and full orchestra for Outside." [4]
The first release of portions of the score was on MGM Records on LP, in 1976.[5] The complete expanded and newly remixed score was issued on CD in January, 2002 by Film Score Monthly.[5]
Roger Ebert gave the film a three star rating, calling the film a "vast, silly extravaganza", with a plot that's a "cross between Arthur C. Clarke's The City and the Stars and elements of Planet of the Apes," but "that delivers a certain amount of fun."[1]
The New York Times was less positive:[6]
| “ | Just why and for what particular purpose Logan makes his run is anything but clear after you've sat through nearly two hours of this stuff. Logan's Run is less interested in logic than in gadgets and spectacle, but these are sometimes jazzily effective and even poetic. Had more attention been paid to the screenplay, the movie might have been a stunner. | ” |
Gene Siskel gave the movie no stars and called it "the worst major motion picture in seven years of reviewing films." Siskel cited what he believed to be "cheap special effects" and "terrible performances with the exception of Peter Ustinov, whose cameo is expanded to a ridiculous length because he is the only decent thing in the movie." Siskel stated his contempt for the film began in the opening scroll with information about the Carrousel and "a half dozen or so other facts but I'll be damned if I could read them in the time allotted so already the audience is angry with the picture."
The film won one Academy Award and was nominated for two more.[7] In addition, the film won a Saturn Award and was nominated for a Nebula Award.
Logan's Run was continued in comic book form by Bluewater Productions and Devil's Due Digital in 2010.
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