THX 1138 (1971)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

George Lucas

Writers:

George Lucas (story)
George Lucas (earlier screenplay)

Release Date:

11 March 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Visit the future where love is the ultimate crime.

Plot:

Set in the 25th century, the story centers around a man and a woman who rebel against their rigidly controlled society.

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Drugs | Underground City | Drugged | Hologram

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Robert Duvall	...	THX
Donald Pleasence	...	SEN
Don Pedro Colley	...	SRT
Maggie McOmie	...	LUH
Ian Wolfe	...	PTO
Marshall Efron	...	TWA
Sid Haig	...	NCH
John Pearce	...	DWY
Irene Forrest	...	IMM
Gary Alan Marsh	...	CAM
John Seaton	...	OUE
Eugene I. Stillman	...	JOT
Jack Walsh	...	TRG (as Raymond J. Walsh)
Mark Lawhead	...	Shell Dweller
Robert Feero	...	Chrome Robot #1

Also Known As:

THX-1138 (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality/nudity. (2004 director's cut)

Runtime:

86 min | USA:88 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | UK:15 (video rating) (1988-2003) | UK:X (original rating) | Germany:12 | UK:15 (video rating) (director's cut) (2004) | South Korea:15 (director's cut) | Brazil:14 | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-11 (2004 director's cut) | Iceland:Unrated | Italy:VM14 | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:R (2004 director's cut)

Filming Locations:

Alameda, California, USA

Company:

American Zoetrope

Trivia:

The image of OMM in the confessional booths is a cropped image of Hans Memling's painting, 'Christ Giving His Blessing', dated 1481.

Goofs:

Continuity: SRT's headphones as he gets into car.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Male voice (medicine cabinet): What's wrong?
THX 1138: Nothing. Nothing really. I just feel that I need something stronger.
Male voice (medicine cabinet): If you have a problem, don't hesitate to ask for assistance.
THX 1138: Yes, thank you, I'll be alright.
Male voice (medicine cabinet): Call 3485...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Josh Kirby... Time Warrior: Chapter 2, the Human Pets (1995) (V)

Soundtrack:

Elevator Music

WHAT'S WRONG??? Subterranean Homesick Human.

I'm going to keep it simple..."THX-1138" is no doubt, one of the best sci-fi films ever...and probably one of the most important...it's a strong contender to Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey", and "THX-1138" could easily be a sequel to "2001".

Personally, I think that George Lucas should've went into this direction instead of the direction he chose with his "Star Wars" films, which, many (legions of geeks) would argue, is his best work. But "THX-1138" is significantly a different kind of film experience altogether.

It's not overblown, or over budget, and it doesn't feature any cloyingly cute or overtly annoying characters to make millions of dollars to merchandise. I can't imagine a Robert Duvall "THX-1138" action figure, but if this film was made after "Star Wars" instead, trust me, Lucas would have probably sold it.

Lucas has made a fortune from a franchise of sci-fi films, that are silly and repetitive of themselves, but with "THX-1138", his first film he managed to create something that he has never come close to doing again. If it wasn't for the style, design and fx of this film THERE WOULD BE NO STAR WARS FILMS PERIOD.

It's a shame this film, even after the release of the director's cut, some thirty odd years later, is still underrated and overlooked. Maybe now that it's on DVD, it will find a new larger audience of appreciative fans.

I still prefer the original version over the director's cut, but I still love this film.

BE HAPPY...BUY MORE...this film is a must see!!!