Must-Watch Sci Fi Movies: Ongoing series of posts looking at sci fi and fantasy films that best represent the genre and that should be on your must-watch list.
What Is It?
Dr. Charles A. Forbin oversees the construction of a massive computer he has designed–named Colossus–that will handle the nuclear defense of the United States and make decisions which could be subject to error in the hands of humans. But when it is turned on, it almost immediately informs of a similar computer being built by the Russians, named Guardian. When that one comes online, Colossus starts to communicate with it and cuts the humans out of the conversation. The two machines then start to assume more power and control over the lives of humans, and Forbin must face the threat that his creation has become.
Cast: Eric Braeden, Susan Clark, Gordon Pinsent, William Schallert, Marion Ross
Crew: Joseph Sargent (Director), James Bridges (Screenplay), Dennis Feltham Jones (Original Novel)
Original Release: 1970
Why Is It a Must-Watch Movie?
This is a forgotten classic that delivered a serious approach to sci-fi along with an early look at artificial intelligence. It gave us a well-produced film at a time when sci fi was more often relegated to B-Movie status, and it offered a cautionary tale on the dangers of scientific advancements getting out of the control of their creators.
A Closer Look:
The period from the mid-to-late 1960s and into the early 1970s was an important one for sci-fi filmmaking, as we saw a move away from the industry treating the genre mostly as B-Movie fodder and the emergence of more mature, serious offerings. Films like Fantastic Voyage, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Planet of the Apes, and The Andromeda Strain brought broader appeal and acceptance to sci fi cinema and also helped lay the groundwork for the Blockbuster Era that would burst on the scene in the mid-1970s. Colossus: The Forbin Project hit the theaters right about that time and counts among that company, though maybe to a lesser extent.
The film may not have had the budget of the genre entries mentioned above, but it did not need to rely heavily on special effects, and it did have good production values. It also took a serious approach to its subject and did not veer into the exploitive territory expected from the genre at the time. It is pretty close to hard sci fi for its day, with its intelligent portrayal of computer technology, and certainly counts as speculative fiction. It could also be seen as a predecessor to the techno-thriller, though with less of the action that would come to be expected from that type of film. Basically, this gives us a Frankenstein-like morality tale with a very early look at the dangers of computers getting out of control, and its influence would carry through other sci fi films for years after its release.
Relative newcomer Eric Braeden did a good job in the lead role, providing a cool and calculated mind standing against the ominous threat of Colossus while still letting some of his humanity come through. Susan Clark did a decent job in the female lead role, even if they did not give her much to do. But at least she played another scientist instead of getting placed in the assistant role more common for women at that time, and overall, the movie had a relatively diverse cast for its day. I believe it was set about ten years ahead of the time it was released, based on the video communication technology used, and at least it suggested that the future would not be dominated by mostly white males.
Colossus: The Forbin Project definitely acts as a cautionary tale, and as we are experiencing the emergence of AI, it stands out as a prescient piece of filmmaking from a world just embarking on the computer age. It has not received as much recognition as it should, but this one definitely counts as a classic, and it will certainly touch a nerve for those who watch it or re-watch it these days.
Why Was There No Sequel?
The studio certainly had high hopes for this film when it was released in 1970, but its premiere did not draw a large audience, which caused it to be withdrawn and later re-released on only a limited basis. It ended up not performing well at the Box Office, and that pretty much killed its chances for a sequel. It did end on a rather ambiguous note, and while D.F. Jones later expanded the story of his original novel into a trilogy (the studio may have known he was working in that direction at the time the film was produced), a continuation on the big screen never happened.
The Story Continues
At the time that Colossus: The Forbin Project was released, author D. F. Jones had only written the first book in the series, titled Colossus. That was followed in 1974 by The Fall of Colossus, which looked at the world under the control of a more advanced version of Colossus which has established world peace. But humans lack the freedom they once had, and they plot to overthrow the tyranny of the supercomputer. Note that this book takes a time jump to the 22nd century, but brings over the characters from the first book, retconning those events further in the future than originally indicated. In 1977, the final book in the trilogy was released, Colossus and the Crab. I won’t go into the plot details of that one, though, because that acts as a huge spoiler to the second book in the series.
Should It Be Rebooted?
While the original film counts as a classic, it does look a bit dated these days (especially its techno-dinosaur computers), and the current landscape is certainly ripe to revisit this story. In fact, Universal Studios started work on that in 2007 with Ron Howard attached as director. That stalled, but the remake later gained momentum when Will Smith was attached to the lead role. Nothing has come of that so far, but don’t be surprised if Hollywood regains an interest in the property, especially with the predominance of AI in our lives these days. There are plenty of directions this could take, such as a modern retelling focusing on current technology, or they could do a retro-reboot that acts as a parable on the dangers of scientific achievements getting out of control, like the original did. However, in the present Blockbuster environment, I could see it quickly turning into an action-laden techno-thriller, which would waste the source material and assault us with CGI-overload. But if a medium-budget production were put together that remained faithful to the original book, it could turn into a sleeper sci-fi film.
Interesting Facts:
Among the actors originally considered for the role of Forbin was Charlton Heston which would have extended his list of sci-fi movies from that time (Planet of the Apes, The Omega Man, Soylent Green). Eric Braeden was probably the better choice for the calm and cool scientist role, though, and the producer Stanley Chase wanted a relatively unknown actor in the lead. That freed up Heston to appear in the Planet of the Apes sequel Beneath the Planet of the Apes, and Braeden would go on to appear in the third film in that series, Escape from the Planet of the Apes.
In an early example of product placement, Control Data Corporation offered actual computers to the production, giving the film some authenticity. And each piece of equipment carried the CDC name in a prominent location.
A young director had just signed on with Universal at that time, and he was present for most of the production as an observer. His name: Steven Spielberg.
Where Can You Watch It?
The movie has been released on DVD and Blu-ray, and you can also purchase it on VOD. It is not currently streaming on any of the major services.
