Colossus: The Forbin Project [Blu-ray]

It’s great to see “Colossus: The Forbin Project” having an unanticipated comeback due to interest in its theme since the advent of Artificial Intelligence. Much like “Frankenstein” , it warns of humanity creating something which they cannot control and in this case is very timely in its choice of a supercomputer of sorts taking over the world. The film was a noted box office failure in 1970. You can’t blame Universal, which was totally behind the film and even gave it a relaunch that year with the same disinterest by the public. It might have been a bit too early even though Universal’s equally tech-oriented “The Andromeda Strain” was a major box office hit a year later. Perhaps it was that a viral outbreak seemed more real to audiences because such a scenario could happen with purely earthly origins. Also, computers were not really on anyone’s minds. Rather than being a fact of daily life, computers were huge machines that filled entire rooms and were owned by the government, universities and large corporations.If that sounds surprising, the film gives us a look at real state of the art computers circa 1969. The computers in the situation room were actually new computers lent to Universal by Control Data Corporation. Everything you see there was 4.8 million dollars worth of computers for which Control Data installed dehumidifiers and a climate control system on the set and sent technicians to run it and Brinks Guards to watch it 24/7. Computers in those days were noisy and printers even moreso, though the sounds in the film were added, mostly to announce new messages from Colossus with a certain amount of emphasis. The opening’s vast machine, almost beyond comprehension, through which Dr. Forbin walks, sealing it off is, of course, a special effect. There’s a great moment there when Forbin walks on a bridge from the computer building to the command center. It’s shot from above and is a nice callback to “Forbidden Planet” and Dr. Morbius showing off the enormous machine of the Krell, the instrument of their self-destruction.“Colossus: The Forbin Project” was based on British author Dennis Feltham Jones’ novel, “Colossus” - the title was changed because the studio feared using the novel’s one word title would sound like a sword-and-sandal film. It was originally planned as a star vehicle helmed by Charleton Heston or Gregory Peck. But producer Stanley Chase knew that it would then have to be rewritten as more of an action piece with a heroic arc and that’s not what he wanted. It was a film with a message and he felt a relatively unknown actor should star in it. They chose Eric Braeden, who at that time had mostly played Germans in TV shows set during World War II. He had to change his name to suit the studio’s feeling that someone with a German name could play Nazis but not star in a film (did they forget Horst Buchholz?) so he did it. He speaks with a slight, vaguely European accent and gives a fitting Teutonic chill to Forbin, who sees himself as all science and reason, something which seeps into his design of the computer. That he’s a bit too proud and confident in his creation is underscored when it becomes apparent that from the beginning he’s not quite sure what it can do and if it’s really under their control.His chief aide is Dr. Cleo Markham played as efficient and professional by Susan Clark. It was a good move to show the female lead as a scientist and not just a love interest. A love relationship does develop between Forbin and Clark but it never looms too large as to become a major focus of the film. It was also good that by 1970 the fact that they have a sexual relationship is treated as nothing special. Gordon Pinsent is a vaguely Kennedy-ish President who quickly has to cede authority to Forbin in an area where he himself has no expertise. Anyone who watched television in the 50s through the 80s will recognize CIA Director Grauber, played by William Schallert, from his many appearances including a three season stint as Patty Duke’s dad in her mid-60s TV show. All of the actors here had extensive television credits and had the experience of playing many similar types of characters. Braeden himself went on to a long television career as one of the primary cast of “The Young and the Restless” for the last thirty years and is still in the show as I write this.The film moves along briskly, with major plot developments beginning around fifteen minutes in and not letting up as the scientists and politicians try to outwit a computer that is learning over 200 times faster than anticipated. Connected to missile defense systems, its decisions come with the risk of major destruction if it is disobeyed. Early explanations of its gamma ray perimeter and other self-protection render it unassailable by the military. There are possible influences of future films. The computer defense system scenario is somewhat similar to 1983’s “Wargames” though its situation room has multiple electronic maps, not just “Colossus’” one. When Colossus finds another system (in the U.S.S.R. of course) they link and communicate using math in a two-system exchange that calls to mind Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”. When they finally do communicate, it’s all in ones and zeros. Though the film could have been filmed entirely on one set, it was the 1970s and films were generally shot on location. For this they actually sent some of the principal actors to Rome, where we see Forbin and others near the Tiber.There are plenty of moments in the film that parallel actual developments now. At one point Colossus wants almost all television, radio and communications to flow through it in an attempt at greater control. At another point Colossus installs video cameras in every room of Dr. Forbin’s quarters; who would have thought people would be doing this willingly today, though with no nefarious computer ordering it or announcing a precise schedule of daily activities. In the end, Forbin realizes that Colossus has no idea of privacy or anyone’s need for it. It’s a film that makes more sense today than it did in 1970 when all of this was pure science fiction.

Exactly what I was looking for! Arrived on time and as described

This film is way ahead of its time. Created in 1972 compared to today’s films it really is unique. The story I feel is sold and it tells the story of what we face today or in the coming years. AI does have it boundaries!!

Without a major star or strategy to sell “Colossus:The Forbin Project”, Universal released the film to the market place where it promptly withered and died.Made for a paltry $2 million, the film utilized excellent visual effects provided by Albert Whitlock to make the film feel larger than it was. Aside from some shooting in Italy and location shooting at the Lawrence Science Museum 8n. Berkeley, California, the bulk of the film was shot on the studio backlot at Universal.The original plan was to try to entice either Gregory Peck or Charlton Heston to star in the film but the producers opted for Eric Braeden (best known for “The Rat Patrol” at this stage). A German, Braeden was trying to expand his profile in films and TV, changed his name at the suggestion of Universal.Dr. Charles Forbin has created a new super computer designed to protect America. When the computer Colossus achieves sentience, it threatens to take over the entire world. Things are complicated by the arrival of a Russian counterpart computer.The plot may sound like “War Games” and that’s likely where the writers 9f the got the idea. D.F. Jones novel is adapted by Hames Bridges and the film is directed by TV and film vet Joseph Sargent.Some have complained the film is too dry for a thriller but Imwould argue that dry quality makes the film more believable.The Shout Factory Blu-ray looks improved over the DVD (which was cropped). There is DNR applied which eliminates quite a bit of grain but it is still the best the film jas looked. Color is markedly improved as well with a solid presentation. DNR aside, depth and delineation are also quite good.Audio is presented in mono and English subtitles are available. The Blu-ray is region locked.Special features include a good commentary track (though the one done for the UK release with director Joseph Sargent is not included) with quite a bit of info on the making of the film. Eric Braeden is also interviewed for this set and we get the theatrical trailer.A well made science fiction thriller, “Colossus: The Forbin Project” remains an entertain8ng science fiction thriller. It may be low key but it’s still an entertaining.

A I 50 years ago. Prescient and scary.

This film from 1970 depicts the dangers of AI. 2024 sees the world recognizing subtle levels of AI in the search for "General AI" or what is actually the world's first sentient electronic person. Having read several books recently on this subject, it becomes very apparent that something as alien to us as a living person composed of electrons, that alien might just figure out that humanity as a whole is decent while retarded by the decisions of elitists, and then not like us very much. What is portrayed in this film is realistically happening today with AI is what makes it a modern horror movie. You should enjoy it very much. High creep factor.

... is kind of a cliche but if the shoe fits - Enjoy It!~A tight drama with a very interesting score which reflects a diverse cast in unique roles such as black and female scientists as compared to many films of the time period.~Widely regarded as one of the earliest, if not the first movie to address planetary implications of powerful computers pursuing their own agenda - "2001 A Space Odyssey" being limited to the space vessel Discovery - there is effectively no fat in the film and each scene is played very well.~Splurge on the SHOUT! factory Blu-ray; the dvd transfer is overly grainy. Extras are limited to the theatrical trailer, an audio spot and an interesting interview with Eric Braden.~Enjoy!

Good video quality which is a noticeable improvement in clarity from the streamed version. Good sound quality as well. The movie plot is decent for a 1970 tech movie and has ominous undertones relating to today's explosion of AI. I think Hollywood is working on a "big budget" remake which lends some credence as to the strength of the original version.

Este film lo vi en 1972 y me impresionó mucho. Luego de buscarlo por mucho tiempo, lo pude encontrar.Por desgracia, no el film en si sino la irresponsable manera en que fue transferido a DVD me desilusionó plenamente.Para empezar, al ser introducido el disco en el reproductor, se nos envía directamente a la película y al terminar reinicia, como si fuera disco pirata.No tiene menú, ni lista de capítulos y mucho menos extras, además de que es Full Frame cuando se ve en los títulos que su formato original es 1:2:35, lo que hace que el 95% de la duración de la película uno esta perdiendo el 50% del total de la imagen original.

Ein Film von 1970 beschäftigt sich mit dem Thema künstliche Intelligenz - eine eindringliche Warnung aus der Vergangenheit an alle uneingeschränkt Fortschrittsgläubigen !Unbedingt in Ruhe ansehen...

Película de Culto para los amantes de la informática, para los que crecimos con Tron, Sueños Eléctricos, Juegos de Guerra, Etc, La recomiendo.Doblada al Castellano, calidad de imagen buena.

Il n'y a PAS de piste anglaise en sous-titres contrairement à ce qu'il est indiqué au verso de la jaquette ET sur le site Amazon.