Westworld (1973)

Director:

Michael Crichton

Writer:

Michael Crichton (written by)

Release Date:

21 November 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller | Western

Tagline:

Westworld ...where robot men and women are programmed to serve you for ...Romance ...Violence ...Anything

Plot:

A robot malfunction creates havoc and terror for unsuspecting vacationers at a futuristic, adult-themed amusement park.

Plot Keywords:

Computer | Saloon | Brawl | Futuristic | Seduction

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Yul Brynner	...	Gunslinger
Richard Benjamin	...	Peter Martin
James Brolin	...	John Blane
Norman Bartold	...	Medieval Knight
Alan Oppenheimer	...	Chief Supervisor
Victoria Shaw	...	Medieval Queen
Dick Van Patten	...	Banker
Linda Gaye Scott	...	Arlette (as Linda Scott)
Steve Franken	...	Technician
Michael T. Mikler	...	Black Knight (as Michael Mikler)
Terry Wilson	...	Sheriff
Majel Barrett	...	Miss Carrie
Anne Randall	...	Servant Girl
Julie Marcus	...	Girl in Dungeon
Sharyn Wynters	...	Apache Girl
Anne Bellamy	...	Middle Aged Woman
Chris Holter	...	Stewardess
Charles Seel	...	Bellhop
Wade Crosby	...	Bartender
Nora Marlowe	...	Hostess
Lin Henson	...	Ticket Girl
Orville Sherman	...	Supervisor
C. Lindsay Workman	...	Supervisor (as Lindsay Workman)
Lauren Gilbert	...	Supervisor
Davis Roberts	...	Supervisor
Howard Platt	...	Supervisor
Richard Roat	...	Technician
Kenneth Washington	...	Technician
Jared Martin	...	Technician
Robert Patten	...	Technician
David M. Frank	...	Technician (as David Frank)
Kip King	...	Technician
David Man	...	Technician
Larry Delaney	...	Technician
Will J. White	...	Workman
Ben Young	...	Workman
Tom Falk	...	Workman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Barry Cahill	...	Third Male Interview (uncredited)
Robert Hogan	...	Interviewer of Delos Guests (uncredited)
Robert Nichols	...	First Male Interview (uncredited)
Ty Randolph	...	Girl in Saloon (uncredited)
Leoda Richards	...	White-Haired Woman on Elevator (uncredited)
Paul Sorensen	...	Second Male Interview (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Crichton

Writing credits
Michael Crichton		(written by)

Produced by
Paul Lazarus III	....	producer (as Paul N. Lazarus III)
Michael I. Rachmil	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Fred Karlin

Cinematography by
Gene Polito		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
David Bretherton

Casting by
Leonard Murphy

Art Direction by
Herman A. Blumenthal		(as Herman Blumenthal)

Set Decoration by
John P. Austin		(as John Austin)

Makeup Department
Frank Griffin	....	makeup artist
Irving Pringle	....	makeup artist
Dione Taylor	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Claude Binyon Jr.	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Claude Binyon Jr.	....	assistant director
James F. Boyle	....	second assistant director (as James Boyle)
Craig Huston	....	dga trainee (uncredited)

Art Department
Arthur Friedrich	....	property master

Sound Department
Richard S. Church	....	sound (as Richard Church)
Harry W. Tetrick	....	sound
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Van Allen James	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Charles Schulthies	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Brent Sellstrom	....	visual effects coordinator
John Whitney Jr.	....	automated image processing
Matthew Yuricich	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Stunts
Bobby Bass	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Catching	....	stunts (uncredited)
Louie Elias	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Alan Oliney	....	stunts (uncredited)
Charlie Picerni	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dean Smith	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Wilson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Ziker	....	fire gag stunt (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph A. August Jr.	....	camera operator (as Joseph August)
Doug Byers	....	electrician (uncredited)
Owen Marsh	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Richard Bruno	....	wardrobe supervisor
Betsy Cox	....	wardrobe: women

Music Department
Bill Campbell	....	musician: paino (uncredited)

Other crew
Dick Ziker	....	action scenes coordinator

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM-EMI (1973) (UK) (theatrical)
• Fox-MGM (1974) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• MGM-Fox (1974) (Finland) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Chapel Distribution (1999) (Australia) (theatrical) (New 35mm print - re-issue)
• Neue Visionen Filmverleih (????) (Germany) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Vídeo Arte (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Information International  automated image processing

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (cut) (1974) | Iceland:16 | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | Australia:PG | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1986) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:16 (nf) | Singapore:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Harold Lloyd's Greenacres Estate - 1740 Green Acres Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

When the Gunslinger robot is splashed in the face with acid, Yul Brynner's face was coated with an oil-based makeup mixed with ground Alka-Seltzer. A splash of water then produced the fizzing effect.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Right after John is shot, the Gunslinger says "Draw" to Peter. You can see the Gunslinger's breath (condense) just after saying it, despite the fact that he is an android. The Gunslinger model should not have any significant body heat, as that would have prevented a guest's gun from firing.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Interviewer of Delos Guests: [hosting a commercial] Hi. Ed Ramsey from Delos. If there's anyone who doesn't know what Delos is, well, as we've always said: Delos is the vacation of the future, today. At Delos, you get your choice of the vacation you want. There's Medieval World, Roman World and, of course, Westworld. Let's talk to some of the people who've been there.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "What's New, Scooby-Doo?: Go West, Young Scoob (#3.2)" (2005)

Jurassic Park Version 1.0

Westworld was the blueprint for what was later Jurassic Park. Here, Michael Crichton first envisoned Disneyland, if the Hall of presidents ran amuck. It provided many of the inspirations for later sci-fi films, like Terminator. It was a great blend of action, horror, and comedy.

Richard Benjamin and James Brolin are the heroes of the film, but Yul Brynner is the star. He portrays a robot, based on his character from "The Magnificent Seven." Brynner is the relentless killing machine who fights until the end. With almost no dialogue, he conveys fear with little more than expression and body language.

The film explores old themes, the dark side of technology, but it was ahead of its time in depicting the dangers of computers and automated systems. The effects are dated, but the story holds up well. The sequel, Futureworld, tried to add political intrigue, with less success. Definitely one for the sci-fi fan or collector, or cult movie lover.