THX 1138 (1971)

Director:

George Lucas

Writers:

George Lucas (story)
George Lucas (earlier screenplay)
(more)

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
Johnny Weissmuller Jr.	...	Chrome Robot #1
Claudette Bessing	...	ELC
Susan Baldwin	...	Control Officer
James Wheaton	...	OMM (voice)
Henry Jacobs	...	Mark 8 Student
Bill Love	...	Mark 8 Instructor
Doc Scortt	...	Monk
Gary Austin	...	Man in Yellow
Scott L. Menges	...	Child #1
Toby L. Stearns	...	Child #2
Paul K. Haje	...	Trial Prosecutor
Ralph Chesse	...	Trial Proctor
Dion M. Chesse	...	Trial Defender
Bruce Chesse	...	Trial Pontifex
Mello Alexandria	...	Hologram Dancer #1
Barbara J. Artis	...	Hologram Dancer #2
Morris D. Erby	...	Hologram Newscaster
Willie C. Barnes	...	Hologram Comic #1
Richard Quinnell	...	Hologram Comic #2
Jean M. Durand	...	Hologram Listener
Scott Beach	...	Announcer #1 (voice)
Neva Beach	...	Announcer #2 (voice)
Terence McGovern	...	Announcer #3 (voice) (as Terrence McGovern)
Julie Payne	...	Announcer #4 (voice)
James Cranna	...	Announcer #5 (voice)
Ruth Silveira	...	Announcer #6 (voice)
Bruce Mackey	...	Announcer #7 (voice)
David Ogden Stiers	...	Announcer #8 (voice) (as David Ogden Steers)
Bart Patton	...	Announcer #9 (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Rigg	...	Computer Operator (uncredited)
Matthew Robbins	...	THX - End scene (uncredited)

Directed by
George Lucas

Writing credits
George Lucas		(story)
George Lucas		(earlier screenplay)
George Lucas		(screenplay) and
Walter Murch		(screenplay)
Matthew Robbins		comic (uncredited)

Produced by
Francis Ford Coppola	....	executive producer
Edward Folger	....	associate producer (as Ed Folger)
Larry Sturhahn	....	producer (as Lawrence Sturhahn)

Original Music by
Lalo Schifrin

Cinematography by
Albert Kihn		(director of photography)
David Myers		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
George Lucas

Art Direction by
Michael D. Haller		(as Michael Haller)

Production Management
Al Locatelli	....	production manager (uncredited)

Art Department
Ted Moehnke	....	property master

Sound Department
Jim Manson	....	location sound
Walter Murch	....	sound montage
Louis Yates	....	location sound (as Lou Yates)

Visual Effects by
Michael Muir	....	technical director (directors cut)
Brad Alexander	....	lead visual effects artist (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
John Andrew Berton Jr.	....	visual effects supervisor (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Richard Bluff	....	digital matte painter (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Dorian Bustamante	....	visual effects (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Ian Christie	....	digital effects artist (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Zachary Cole	....	digital artist (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Lee Croft	....	digital paint and rotoscope artist: ILM (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Chris Crowell	....	digital compositor (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Sarahjane Javelo	....	digital paint/rotoscope artist: ILM (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Ian Jenkins	....	technical director: ILM (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Lars Jensvold	....	visual effects editor (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Gary H. Lee	....	visual effects (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Toan-Vinh Le	....	digital artist (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Hiroshi Mori	....	digital artist (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Ken Nielsen	....	technical director (special edition) (uncredited)
Ben O'Brien	....	Sabre artist: ILM (2004 directors cut) (uncredited)
Scott Palleiko	....	technical director: ILM (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Brian Pohl	....	digital artist (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Evan Pontoriero	....	digital artist (2004 directors cut) (uncredited)
Paul Sharpe	....	digital artist (2004 special edition) (uncredited)
Peter Szewczyk	....	visual effects artist (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Catherine Tate	....	digital compositor: ILM (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Eric Voegels	....	digital artist: ILM (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)
Elbert Yen	....	digital artist: ILM (2004 director's cut) (uncredited)

Stunts
Duffy Hambleton	....	bike stunts (as Duffy Hamilton)
John Ward	....	car stunts
Carey Loftin	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ned Kopp	....	assistant camera
Steve Lighthill	....	assistant camera
William Maley	....	gaffer (as William Mayley)
Ken Phelps	....	key grip
Bernie Abramson	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Caleb Deschanel	....	additional photographer (uncredited)

Animation Department
Hal Barwood	....	animator

Casting Department
Ronald Colby	....	casting supervisor

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Donald Longhurst	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Marcia Lucas	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Dan Wallin	....	scoring mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
Hal Barwood	....	titles
George Burrafato	....	production assistant
Lillian O. MacNeill	....	continuity (as Lillian McNeil)
Nick Saxton	....	production assistant
Stan Scholl	....	production assistant

Thanks
Carl Bernstein	....	thanks (as Cal Bernstein)
Caleb Deschanel	....	thanks
Peter Szewczyk	....	special thanks
Haskell Wexler	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• American Zoetrope
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1973) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (2006) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (director's cut)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD) (director's cut)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (director's cut) (uncredited)

Other Companies

• Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)  special thanks
• City of Oakland  special thanks
• City of San Francisco  special thanks
• Fibre Fab Inc.  special thanks
• Marin County, California  special thanks
• Synanon  special thanks

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:

Co-writer Walter Murch has said in interviews that George Lucas never explained the origins of the character names THX and LUH to him, but he believes that they are deliberate homonyms for sex and love - the two factors that set them apart from society.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the chase scene at the end, it is shown on one monitor that the THX budget is 3,410 units over the budget of 14,000 units (24%). A voice had stated earlier that accounts are to be terminated when they exceed their original budget by 5%. When the account/chase is terminated, we hear a voice say that the THX project is 6% over budget, which would be 840 units, not 3,410.

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

2004 - More Than a Curiosity Piece

This movie has been seen by most film buffs many, many years ago on late night TV. If you are like me, it was an interesting film purely as a reference point for a young George Lucas. If you remembered it at all, it was for the use of white space and the long periods during which almost nothing discernible happens.

Well, it is almost 35 years later (35 YEARS!) and for reasons best known to film and DVD marketers, George Lucas has pulled it out of the vaults. Instead of just transferring the original print to new film stock, Lucas has re-cut several critical scenes; added a tasteful bit of CGI; zipped up the sound track and film score; and, best of all, turned it into the best reason yet for digital projection. Whether this is the original version he had in his head as a 26-year-old or one that he has fleshed out over the years is sort of beside the point. What is on the screen now is definitely worth your $10.

Yes, it is still a bit tedious at times (in a '2001: A Space Odyssey' kind of way) and, yes, the plot holes and infamous continuity issues are still there.

But, Wow! The plot is a weird stew in which an allegorical Adam and Eve story is crossed with 'Brave New World.' (The Catholic act of confession will never be the same after you see it re-imagined here.) The crystal clear cinematography is a revelation. The characters' multiple layers are wonderful. Donald Pleasence's performance as the would-be leader/rebel is downright creepy. The way the camera lingers on a scene rather than quick cutting for effect is a welcome relief. This is adult subject matter and it is not what you expect out of Lucas. You have to ask why he didn't pursue themes like this in later films. (Who knows, maybe the upcoming Darth Vader fest will return us to the dark side.)

Be forewarned, this is not a casual film that you can sit back and munch popcorn while it plays out in front of you. This is definitely art-house fare by a young director finding his chops.

Many of the message boards and most of the reviews of this film point out how many elements carry over to later Lucas films. (C3PO, the climactic chase scene, drones in service to masters, etc.) For me, the touchstone is not for Lucas, but for the Executive Producer, Francis Ford Coppola. Many of the themes explored in THX show up in Coppola's 'The Conversation' three years later. Gene Hackman's Harry Caul character is a clone of Robert Duvall's loner forced to confront a faceless progenitor. See if you don't agree.

Though they are releasing the film to theaters ahead of the DVD release, the place to see it is in a theater with digital projection. Similar to 'Lawrence of Arabia,' much of the action takes place in the far corners of the scene and I can't imagine seeing this on anything less than a very large HDTV screen.