LOGAN'S RUN
US, 1976, 118 minutes, Colour.
Michael York, Richard Jordan, Jenny Agutter, Roscoe Lee Browne, Farrah Fawcett-Majors?, Peter Ustinov, Michael Anderson Jr.
Directed by Michael Anderson.
Logan's Run is a pleasing science-fiction film. Its strengths are in its quite lavish sets and its straightforward approach to plot and theme. It does not go for subtlety or depth. Rather, it relies for effect on clearly presenting what it is about - a future hedonist society, youth, ageing and death, totalitarian government, survival, freedom. Its weakness is that it resembles too many recent science-fiction films too specifically, especially Planet of the Apes, Zardoz, ZPG. Michael York is a presentable hero, but the acting value of the film is in Peter Ustinov's old man, living in the ruins of Washington amidst the cats, a portrait of age, both in whimsy and pathos.
1. The basic appeal of science-fiction material? The picture of the future, the comparison with the present? The trappings of science-fiction and comparisons with the present? The message value of science-fiction? How good an example was this film?
2. The basic ingredients of the story: a way of life, a crisis, a chase, endurance, a rescue? How important were the themes of the film? How did plot predominate over themes? Themes absorbed into the adventure structure of the film?
3. Comment on the world of the 23rd Century, in comparison with the 20th? The easy and indolent way of life, the supermarket look of the world under the domes, the way of dress, the way of behaviour, the emphasis on age, the colours for age, the lights in the people's hands? What was the purpose of life in this world?
4. Comment on a world of youth, where death was to be at thirty, the way of life in this society, selfishness, an anonymous government, the police administration, the kinds of rules, the ignorance of the people, the fact that they had not seen age, the sun, ordinary life? The lack of a sense of history? The values of this world, the drawbacks? How does the 20th Century way of life appear in comparison?
5. The initial emphasis on Carousel? The build-up, the enjoyment of the crowds, the issue of people wanting to live on and reincarnate, the dramatics of the auditorium, the echoes of a stadium, of sports events and the Roman Empire? The people involved in Carousel with its ritual? The literally electrifying effect? People's hopes for living on? The fact that they did not seem to live? The fact that Carousel was an enormous deception?
6. Comment on the police, their function, their personalities, the electronic vigilance and administration? The focus on runners? The significance of runners in comparison with the police? The urge to live, the urge to escape, the desperation of the runners? The malice and enjoyment of killing a runner? As illustrated with Logan and Francis pursuing the runner during Carousel? The way of shooting? The callousness of the police with their guns, sport and hunting?
7. Comment on Logan and Francis as typical young men of this society, their personalities, their taking themselves and their jobs seriously, their friendship? The irony of their friendship and their later hostility and Francis's death? Is this inevitable in this kind of society?
8. The importance of Jessica and her not being typical? Her arrival in the sexuality machine? The mystery about her? Of her belonging to a secret group? Her invitation to Logan? The importance of Logan's being tested? The various tests and endurance?
9. The irony of the anonymous commission for Logan to go and penetrate Sanctuary? The symbolism and significance of Sanctuary? The symbol of the key? Comment on the electronic interrogation for Logan. His blind loyalty, his treachery? His pursuit of the louts to the cathedral area? Comment on the youngsters and the hooliganism of the time and their later transformation? The contrast of the various societies within this 23rd century?
10. The significance of the pursuit of the woman runner, Logan being involved in the run, its dangers? The discovery of the network to help him escape to the Sanctuary, the importance of the encounter with Doc and the changing of his face? The crisis and the death of Doc? The escape and the beauty assistant believing in the truth of Logan's mission? Comment on the beauty and the violence of these sequences.
11. The beginning of the run and the sense of adventure, the journey and the quest? The irony of going through the mechanical-looking buildings and factories of a 20th Century world? The danger of the pursuit by Francis? The key and what it would unlock? The importance of the ice, the encounter with Box and the struggle with him? What did this mean?
12. The dramatic impact of reaching the earth's surface, of the discovery of the sun, of cold and warmth, of the need for survival? How well were they prepared for this new world? Its fascination? The encounter with Washington and the irony of seeing Washington in several hundred years' time, Lincoln, the Capitol etc, wading through the pool? An old America contrasting with the new?
13. The dramatic importance of the discovery of the old man? The impact of seeing the effect of age? The character of the old man and his impact on the two? On Francis?
14. How engaging a character was the old man, his living by himself, his memory of his parents, husband and wife etc., his talking with the cats? His lack of fear?
15. The contrast with the dramatic fight with Francis and the inevitability of Francis's death?
16. A new sense of mission and Logan's return? Taking the old man? Jessica sharing the mission?
17. The importance of the interrogation and the torture? The electronics and the holographs? The fact of Logan telling the truth and truth's destroying the machinery with its lies? Torture leading to truth? The fact that the people would not listen? The mockery of Carousel? How convincing was Logan finally and the people believing it?
18. The effect of the discovery of the truth, the young people emerging from the shelter, bringing them to the old nun?
19. How valuable were the science-fiction themes explored in this film?
