Idaho Transfer (1973)

Director:

Peter Fonda

Writers:

Thomas Matthiesen (story)
Thomas Matthiesen (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 June 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

"Can the future be saved by the ideals of the past?"

Plot:

A crew of young researchers escape into the future to avoid the shutdown of their project. They find...

Plot Keywords:

Future | Snake | Backpacking | Psychedelia | Survivalism

Cast

Kelly Bohanon	...	Karen Braden
Kevin Hearst	...	Ronald
Caroline Hildebrand	...	Isa Braden
Keith Carradine	...	Arthur
Dale Hopkins	...	Leslie
Fred Seagraves	...	Dr. Lewis
Ted D'Arms	...	George Braden
Joe Newman	...	Cleve
Susan Kelly	...	Nurse Nora
Meredith Hull	...	Jennifer
Roy B. Ayers	...	Elgin (as Roy Ayers)
Judy Motulsky	...	Judy (as Judy Motolsky)
Kim Casper	...	Anne
Debbie Scott	...	Joanna
Devin Burke	...	Michael

Also Known As:

Deranged (UK) (video title)
Nuclear Escape (Australia) (video title)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Craters of the Moon National Monument - Highway 20, near, Arco, Idaho, USA

Company:

Kathleen Film Prod. Co.

Trivia:

The film was released theatrically in 1973 for only a limited time, as the distributor - Cinemation - went bankrupt during the first week the film was released. Only in 1988 did the film resurface on video, through MPI Home Video. Only this version has Peter Fonda's opening remarks about the environment. Subsequent DVD releases do not include this.

Goofs:

Continuity: After their first transfer, Isa and Karen go out into the lava fields for research. In the first few shots, Isa's shirt is green, but later it is yellow.

Quotes:

Future Girl: Are you sure that was one of them?
Future Woman: Of course it was.
Future Girl: What happens when we run out?
Future Woman: We just put another one in. We won't need another for quite aways.
Future Girl: I didn't mean that. I meant what if we run out of all of them or we can't even find any?
Future Man: They'll figure out another way for us.
Future Woman: We can use something else.
Future Girl: But what if that's too hard or expensive and what if they decide they can't change? We'll use each other then, won't we?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in My Own Private Idaho (1991)

Go get it, go see it.

Well, it appears Idaho Transfer splits the viewing community in half. I, personally, join the authors who conclude that this is a "must see". Not enough praise can be heaped on this exceptional movie, and most of the previous comments fail to recognize the outstanding quality and achievement of this work of art.

What has been criticized or perceived by some -- perhaps being used to the rather typical tempo and intellectual challenge of mainstream "science fiction" like the likes of "Superman I", or even "Star Wars", for that matter -- as the supposed "starkness" or "flaws" or "lack of effort" or other shortcomings of the film, on second look (or thought) will appear not due only to possible involuntary restrictions (budget- or otherwise), but intentional, virtually ascetic artistic aesthetic. Which makes it even better. Easily (as far as I can tell) this movie is one of the subtlest, yet most impressive movies ever made -- in terms of personnel, acting, story, depth, dialog, directing, editing, density, composition, music(!) and emotion. (Not to mention: budget.) And: it is sexy(!). And: it is scientific! (kind of). If there are movies that deserve the term "Gesamtkunstwerk", this certainly is one of them. That, of course, will even include the main titles graphic design.

The original video-box jacket describes it as "being graced with a slow severe beauty" with "a quiet edge of panic" (Jay Cocks, Time), which for some might almost be an understatement. The movie has certainly "haunted" me -- much like movies of a similar breed e.g. "Silent Running" (Douglas Trumbull, 1972). I vaguely remember having seen this movie for the first time, more or less by chance, as an adolescent (yes, puberty) on German public television, and for many reasons it has never completely disappeared in the old depths and memory layers of my emotional brain. Although, I had even forgotten its title for quite some time...

There is a chilling (yet warming) sense of beauty, doom, hope and desire that completely pervades this movie. An incredible texture of intellect and emotion. No single frame can (should) be omitted, every image fits a story. It is not exactly about potatoe(s), or is it? Coincidentally, probably, it is some kind of science fiction. Well, it is all about an ominous future "eco-crisis" (that, true, is never completely explained nor witnessed). But as this movie is also about time travel -- into a future we cannot know, but that we constantly (re-)make AND change today -- how could/should we possibly know exactly what will have had happened? And still, there are sufficient, plenty, hints: fossil fuels? carbon lifeforms? little idiot hands? using everything up? ring a bell? to mention just a few. Every man will find her own...

Even if one might not get philosophical while watching this movie -- there are so many things to enjoy in it. (It is slow paced at times, but not without a reason. It takes its time to show-time.) The cinematography (landscapes!), the special effects (almost unnoticeable, but incredibly effective!). And, really first of all, the fantastic acting (or should one say: just being?) of the entire cast. It needs to be mentioned that Peter Fonda used lay actors almost exclusively (except for Keith Carradine and Ted D'Arms), and every one of them is a perfect fit.

The lead role heroine (Kelly Bohanon as Karen) is nothing short of unforgettable. Total, blissful, unselfconsciousness. Her compelling presence and natural radiance, her beauty and (naked) naiveté, her bitchy defiance and passionate strength, lend a lingering infusion of pure, subtly explicit, sexuality to this movie. Which is, after all, about a project that wants to save civilization (the world!!!) against all odds. A kind of hippies' Noah's Ark. The snake and the apple -- a coincidence, guess not, but artful reference and association... The film snuggles up nicely with the idealism's of the 60s (it was released in 1973). If any dialog sounds cheesy, just think for a moment, imagine, if this was really happening(!?!). Again, some of this "cheesy-ness" is well on purpose (like the language of the hippy-gypsy hitchhiker guy) and carries that budding sense of eco-awareness of the 70s.

There are many more angles to this movie, most of which can't really be described (or understood, for that matter). Well, yeah, really, go get it, go see it! Unfortunately the (DVD) transfer of Idaho Transfer is far from satisfactory, actually, it's not much better than the VHS tape. If you can get a hold of the tape, get the tape (ISBN 1 -55607-244-9)! The extra-plus-bonus is an introduction by the man himself: Peter Fonda. Thanks, for this masterpiece.