Logan's Run (1976)

Director:

Michael Anderson

Writers:

William F. Nolan (novel) &
George Clayton Johnson (novel) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 June 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Welcome to the 23rd Century

Plot:

An idyllic sci-fi future has one major drawback: life must end at 30.

Plot Keywords:

Runner | Sanctuary | Domed City | Sandman | Escape

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Michael York	...	Logan
Richard Jordan	...	Francis
Jenny Agutter	...	Jessica 6
Roscoe Lee Browne	...	Box
Farrah Fawcett	...	Holly (as Farrah Fawcett-Majors)
Michael Anderson Jr.	...	Doc
Peter Ustinov	...	Old Man
Randolph Roberts	...	2nd Sanctuary Man
Lara Lindsay	...	The Woman Runner
Gary Morgan	...	Billy
Michelle Stacy	...	Mary 2
Laura Hippe	...	Woman Customer
David Westberg	...	Sandman
Camilla Carr	...	Sanctuary Woman
Greg Lewis	...	Cub (as Gregg Lewis)
Ashley Cox	...	Timid Girl
Bill Couch	...	Sandman
Glenn R. Wilder	...	Great Hall Runner (as Glen Wilder)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Denny Arnold	...	1st Runner (scenes deleted)
Joe L. Blevins	...	Last Day character (uncredited)
Roger Borden	...	Sandman Daniel (uncredited)
Dick DeCoit	...	(uncredited)
Chuck Gaylord	...	Cub (uncredited)
Mitchell Gaylord	...	Cub (uncredited)
Johnny Haymer	...	(uncredited)
Richard Kelton	...	Sanctuary Man (voice) (uncredited)
Jessie Kirby	...	Confused City Dweller (uncredited)
Greg Michaels	...	3rd Sanctuary Man / Ambush Man (uncredited)
Bob Neill	...	1st Sanctuary Man (uncredited)
Candice Rialson	...	1st Screamer in Logan's apartment (uncredited)
Johnny Timko	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Anderson

Writing credits
William F. Nolan		novel "Logan's Run" &
George Clayton Johnson		novel "Logan's Run" and
T.S. Eliot		book "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats"
David Zelag Goodman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Hugh Benson	....	associate producer
Saul David	....	producer

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Ernest Laszlo		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bob Wyman

Casting by
Jack Baur

Production Design by
Dale Hennesy		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Dale Hennesy

Set Decoration by
Robert De Vestel

Costume Design by
Bill Thomas

Makeup Department
Judith A. Cory	....	hair stylist (as Judy Alexander Corey)
William Tuttle	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Byron Roberts	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan Brimfeld	....	second assistant director (as Alan H. Brimfield)
Win Phelps	....	second assistant director
David Silver	....	assistant director
John Slosser	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jack M. Marino	....	property master
Charles Sertin	....	property assistant
William Cruse	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jerry Jost	....	sound
William L. McCaughey	....	sound (as William McCaughey)
John Riordan	....	sound editor (as John P. Riordan)
Aaron Rochin	....	sound
Harry W. Tetrick	....	sound
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Stephen Katz	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Glen Robinson	....	special effects
Jay King	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Terry W. King	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Wayne Rose	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
L.B. Abbott	....	special visual effects designer
James F. Liles	....	optical supervisor (as Jim Liles)
Larry Robinson	....	assistant: L.B. Abbott
Frank Van der Veer	....	additional visuals
Matthew Yuricich	....	matte painter

Stunts
Bill Couch	....	stunt coordinator
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunt coordinator (as Glen Wilder)
Phil Adams	....	stunts (uncredited)
Craig R. Baxley	....	stunts (uncredited)
May Boss	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dottie Catching	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Couch Jr.	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paula Crist	....	stunts (uncredited)
Pepper Curtis	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paula Dell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Angelo De Meo	....	stunts (uncredited)
Wayne Dillard	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Donna Garrett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Gaylord	....	stunts (uncredited)
Barbara Graham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts (uncredited)
Whitey Hughes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rosemary Johnston	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dawn Landing	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carole Navarro	....	stunts (uncredited)
Beth Nufer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Regina Parton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alex Plasschaert	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fluir Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Walter Robles	....	stunts (uncredited)
Russell Saunders	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lori Thomas	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mike Washlake	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sunny Woods	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Ziker	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Martin Kashuk	....	key grip (as Martin G. Kashuk)
Don Stott	....	chief set electrician
Ron Anderson	....	electrician (uncredited)
Doug Byers	....	electrician (uncredited)
Scott Hamilton	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Mike Redding	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Gary Stark	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Richard Butz	....	wardrobe (as Dick Butz)
Edna Taylor	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Freeman A. Davies	....	associate film editor (as Freeman Davies Jr.)
Chuck Ellison	....	assistant film editor (as Charles G. Ellison)

Music Department
Harry V. Lojewski	....	music supervisor
William Saracino	....	music editor
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Leon Charles	....	dialogue coach
Lara Lindsay	....	assistant to producer
Don Morgan	....	unit publicist
Christopher Outwater	....	laser consultant
Ray Quiroz	....	script supervisor
Richard Vetter	....	consultant: Todd-AO
Stefan Wenta	....	choreographer

Thanks
Diane Booker	....	thanks: executive director, Texas Film Commission
W.E. Cooper	....	thanks: president, Dallas Market Center

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1976) (France) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1977) (USA) (TV)
• MGM Home Entertainment (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Kenworthy / Nettman Snorkel Camera, The  camera systems (as Kenworthy Snorkel Camera Systems)
• Texas Film Commission  thanks
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)  titles and opticals
• Multiplex Co.  holograms

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Stereo (with Dolby noise reduction) (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | West Germany:12 | Italy:T | Canada:PG (TV rating) | Australia:G (alternate rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Singapore:PG | UK:PG | USA:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | UK:A (original rating) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Dallas, Texas, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The costuming was originally intended to be relatively scanty for all the actors in the film, but it was decided the resulting demands on makeup were prohibitive.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Logan has a tear in his black shirt between his left nipple and left armpit. When they reach the grand hall and are climbing a staircase a long shot of him and Jessica show the tear on the opposite side - it looks as though the film was reversed for that shot (it goes back to the left side where it was originally from then on).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Logan: [tapping on a glass window of maternity room] Wake up.
Francis 7: Logan, you are here. I couldn't believe it when they told me. What are you doing?
Logan: [indicates baby] Logan 6. Well it's not everyday that they authorize a new sandman. I tell you Francis,
[indicating baby]
Logan: that's him.
Francis 7: Well maybe, maybe not. What does it matter? Anyway, he isn't yours anymore.
Logan: [continues tapping lightly on the glass]
Francis 7: All right, you want me to wake him?
[bangs loudly on the glass with his baton]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Simpsons: Kill the Alligator and Run (#11.19)" (2000)

And I Thought Turning 40 Was Supposed To Be the Bad Age....

I must admit that I should be ashamed as a sci-fi fan: I hadn't seen this film until recently, and I wanted to better understand the parody from "Free Enterprise".

But I enjoyed the film.

Watching this film against the more recent glut of sci-fi films, I have to say that they made them a little more original back in the 70's-80's, instead of everything being techno-computer-CG-spaceship fights. A grim look at the downside of maintaining an "ideal", utopian society. When you hit 30, you either have the option of willingly submitting yourself to be killed under a pretense of renewal, or having the Sandmen play with you before they go in for the kill. Neither option seems really appealing. But the idea of one of the killers having to face their mortality is an interesting idea.

A little slow in places (but I did keep wanting to see what would happen next), and some of the special effects look really dated (even to '77's "Star Wars"), but the story holds up well, and it's an entertaining ride overall.

It's truly a classic of the genre, and I wish I had seen it sooner.