THE BLACK HOLE
US, 1979, 97 minutes, Colour.
Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms, Yvette Mimieux, Ernest Borgnine.
Directed by Gary Nelson.
The Black Hole is Disney Studios' entry into the 1970s space trend - a creditable job for the fans with all the overtones of Star Trek and technology in exploration, plus a human villain in god-playing Maximilian Schell. The star cast comprising the crew is competent but is overshadowed in acting and characterisation by a variety of robots, evil giant Maximilian, gun-toting military squads and Vincent and Bob (a veteran one-legged robot with a Slim Pickens western drawl). The adventures, explosions, space jargon are as expected plus John Barry's booming score. The last half hour is quite explosive and enjoyable - and a rush through the black hole itself with echoes of 2001 and Fantasia.
1. The popularity of science fiction and its status in the '70s? Admiration for science, the elaborate skills of technology and their being visualised? The mystery of science, its key to solving man's future and his possibilities? Science fiction and the presentation of the future as interpretation of the present?
2. The fascination of space in the '70s, the hopes for exploration, the conquering of space, penetrating the mystery, admiration for the beauty? The importance of the visualising of space in the film - the credits, the black hole itself, the meteors, the journey through the black hole?
3. The significance of black holes and the end of time and space, the theories of their explanation? The challenge to human ingenuity, subduing him to mystery, the journey through the black hole and the effect on each of the characters - the visual impact, the use of their words and echoes? The presentation of Hell and Heaven in the black hole? Maximilian as the giant devil and the flaws, the angelic figures? People surviving the black hole and achieving their longing for immortality? How plausible this interpretation?
4. The qualities of the Disney production - wide screen, the musical score, the presentation of space, the black hole, the meteor storm, the technology and the jargon, the robots and their variety and skills, the large space ship and its halls, gardens, banquet rooms, rituals? The explosions and the smashing of the sets?
5. The variety of robots - the military robots with the overtones of the west? Maximilian as the cruel giant and his killing of Dr. Durand? His confrontation of the doctor? His being in space as a devil-figure? Vincent and Bob and their smallness, their talk, Bob and the western drawl? Comedy elements? The contrast with the humanoids and their appearance, their ugliness.. their loss of human power yet their funeral rituals etc.?
6. The human crew of the space ship - their exploration, the discovery of the hole? The variety of characters and audience identification with them? Their roles in space exploration? Dan: his leadership, knowledge, heroics, attachment to Kate, reliance on Charlie? His working with the robots and the confrontation of the doctor?
Charlie: young man, knowledgeable, the second in charge? His heroics?
Kate: heroine, her capacity for telepathy with the robots, sharing in the adventures?
Harry: the journalist, all talk, weakness, pretending injury, betrayal, death?
Durand: the genius, nervous temperament, fascinated by the doctor and tempted by him, his doubts, the violence of his death?
7. The characterisation of Vincent - his look. skills? Bob and the time off for the shoot-out and the spying? The contrast with Maximilian?
8. The doctor and his power, genius? His clothes, manner? The Germanic tone and the echoes of the fascist leader? His threats, persuasion of Durand and then allowing his death? The confrontation with Maximilian? His not wanting the crew to escape? His decisions about the hole and his wanting to explore it? The shattering of the space ship, the meteors and their destruction? His being crushed? His floating through space? Maximilian made in his image? Maximilian and Hell? The doctor and Maximilian as devil-figures?
9. The technical skill and the bravado in the adventures - the Star Wars style, heroes and heroines. shoot-outs, techniques and strategies, the final escape?
10. The going into the hole - echoes of 2001, the design of the hole itself with Heaven and Hell?
11. The overtones of the tradition of Star Trek and its exploration of space, Star Wars and the battles, space odysseys? An entertainment showing the technical skills of film-makers of the '70s with themes of space?
