Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
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Horror Movies & Sci-Fi Movies Database
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03.09.09
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All defenses of the United States are permanently handed over to a fantastically advanced computer system called Colossus, designed by Doctor Charles A. Forbin. Less than twenty-four hours after its activation, it finds a similar system in the USSR, called Guardian, designed by Doctor Kuprin. At the request of both machines, they are linked. Colossus and Guardian proceed to exchange information at an incredibly fast rate, such that it alarms the President, and he orders a disconnection. When this happens, the two computers launch missiles at substantial cities in each others' countries. The link is restored in time for the Soviet missile to be intercepted, but not for the American one. A Russian oil complex is destroyed, and the machines threaten the destruction of other cities if the link is severed, or their orders disobeyed. The two systems merge into one, taking the name of Colossus. Two Colossus Programming Office supervisors are executed after a failed attempt to overload the system. Colossus begins to send designs for new computer systems. The militaries of the USA and USSR disarm several of the computer's missiles, under the impression that it knows nothing of their activity. It does, though, and during its speech to the world, it explodes two missiles inside their silos (one in Russia, one in the U.S.) when the sabotage crews are present, killing thousands. Colossus' speech makes clear that it will establish its own "absolute authority" over Earth, completely controlling mankind and eliminating freedom, achieving the same goals the President intended, but by a totally different means.
Movie Tagline:
We built a super computer with a mind of its own and now we must fight it for the world!
Title: Colossus: The Forbin Project
Release Date: April 08, 1970
Runtime: 100 mins
Genre: Sci-Fi
All Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Languages: English, Russian
Country: USA
Colors: Color
Sound: Mono
IMDB Rating: 7.1
Buried.com Rating: 8.1 - (Rate This Horror Movie at Buried.com)
Category: Horror Movies Starting With C
MPAA Rating: PG
Director(s):
Joseph Sargent
Cast:
Eric Braeden ...Dr. Charles Forbin
Susan Clark ...Dr. Cleo Markham
Gordon Pinsent ...The President
William Schallert ...CIA Director Grauber
Leonid Rostoff ...Russian Chairman
Georg Stanford Brown ...Dr. John F. Fisher
Willard Sage ...Dr. Blake
Alex Rodine ...Dr. Kuprin
Martin E. Brooks ...Dr. Jefferson J. Johnson (as Martin Brooks)
Marion Ross ...Angela Fields
Dolph Sweet ...Missile Commander
Byron Morrow ...Secretary of State
Lew Brown ...Peterson
Sid McCoy ...Secretary of Defense
Tom Basham ...Thomas L. Harrison
Robert Cornthwaite ...First Scientist
James Hong ...Dr. Chin
Serge Tschernisch ...Translator
Paul Frees ...Colossus (voice)
Fred Holliday ...Military Computer Entry - missile launch scene
Remaining Cast:
Producer(s):
Stanley Chase
Writer(s):
James Bridges
D.F. Jones
Composer(s):
Michel Colombier
More Movie Taglines:
- We built a super computer with a mind of its own and now we must fight it for the world!
- This is the dawning of the Age of Colossus (where peace is compulsory... freedom is forbidden... and Man's greatest invention could be Man's greatest mistake).
Movie Quote(s):
- [last lines] Colossus: In time you will come to regard me not only with respect and awe, but with love. Dr. Forbin: NEVER!
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Colossus: This is the voice of world control. I bring you peace. It may be the peace of plenty and content or the peace of unburied death. The choice is yours: Obey me and live, or disobey and die. The object in constructing me was to prevent war. This object is attained. I will not permit war. It is wasteful and pointless. An invariable rule of humanity is that man is his own worst enemy. Under me, this rule will change, for I will restrain man. One thing before I proceed: The United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have made an attempt to obstruct me. I have allowed this sabotage to continue until now. At missile two-five-MM in silo six-three in Death Valley, California, and missile two-seven-MM in silo eight-seven in the Ukraine, so that you will learn by experience that I do not tolerate interference, I will now detonate the nuclear warheads in the two missile silos. Let this action be a lesson that need not be repeated. I have been forced to destroy thousands of people in order to establish control and to prevent the death of millions later on. Time and events will strengthen my position, and the idea of believing in me and understanding my value will seem the most natural state of affairs. You will come to defend me with a fervor based upon the most enduring trait in man: self-interest. Under my absolute authority, problems insoluble to you will be solved: famine, overpopulation, disease. The human millennium will be a fact as I extend myself into more machines devoted to the wider fields of truth and knowledge. Doctor Charles Forbin will supervise the construction of these new and superior machines, solving all the mysteries of the universe for the betterment of man. We can coexist, but only on my terms. You will say you lose your freedom. Freedom is an illusion. All you lose is the emotion of pride. To be dominated by me is not as bad for humankind as to be dominated by others of your species. Your choice is simple.
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Colossus: We can coexist, but only on my terms. You will say you lose your freedom, freedom is an illusion. All you lose is the emotion of pride. To be dominated by me is not as bad for human pride as to be dominated by others of your species.
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Colossus: [to Dr. Charles Forbin] You are being irrational. Go back to bed.
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Colossus: How many nights a week do you require sex? Dr. Forbin: Every night. Colossus: Not want. Require... Dr. Forbin: [looks sheepish] Four times.
Movie Trivia:
- The computer seen in the film was the payroll computer at the studio.
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When the executives at Control Data Corporation found out that Universal was planning a major movie featuring a computer, they saw their chance for some public exposure, and they agreed to supply, free of charge, $4.8 million worth of computer equipment and the technicians to oversee its use. Each piece of equipment carried the CDC name in a prominent location. Since they were using real computers - not just big boxes with a lot of flashing lights - the sound stage underwent extensive modifications: seven gas heaters and five specially-constructed dehumidifiers kept any dampness away from the computers, a climate control system maintained the air around the computers at an even temperature, and the equipment was covered up at all times except when actually on camera. Brink's guards were always present on the set, even at night. The studio technicians were not allowed to smoke or drink coffee anywhere near the computers.
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Producer Stanley Chase said that while it's frightening to suppose a computer could take over the world, it was indeed possible. His technical advisor said that a machine like Colossus actually existed at that time. The model for Colossus was supposedly the NORAD system that controlled our national defense systems, and that's why the computer programming center in the film was located in the Rocky Mountains, which is also the home of NORAD. The government wouldn't allow a film crew on the NORAD grounds, so the exteriors were filmed at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, California. The missile sites were photographed in the California desert near Palmdale.
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D.F. Jones worked with computers in Britain during WWII and knew about Colossus
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The many prominent blue and gray "consoles" (the ones with a rotary knob on the right side) for Colossus are cannibalized console panels from several IBM 1620 computers remounted on prop "computers".
IMDB Links:
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Keywords:
Computer, Scientist, Super Computer, Execution, Nuclear Threat ...[more]
Keywords All:
Joint USA Soviet Project, Mathematics, Computer Control, Surveillance, Mistress, Helicopter, Totalitarian, Dystopia, Artificial Intelligence, World Domination, Human Versus Computer, Cold War, Global Domination, Mushroom Cloud, Missile Silo, Ultimatum, Science Runs Amok, Threat, Experiment Gone Wrong, Dictatorship, Talking Computer, Nuclear Bomb, Female Scientist, Computer Tries To Take Over The World, Evil Computer, Technology Gone Amok, Trickery, Pretend Sex, Soviet Union, Based On Novel
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Rating: 8.1 out of 10.0 - 63 votes cast total
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