PAPER MAN

US, 1971, 89 minutes, Colour.
Dean Stockwell, Stephanie Powers, James Olsen, Tina Chen, James Stacy.
Directed by Walter Grauman.

Paper Man is quite an intriguing telemovie. It looks rather more like a simple thriller but moves into a rather eerie variation of science fiction. The villain is once again the computer, as In such films as the Forbin Project, 2001 and Demon Seed. However, the film focuses on the repercussions of risky computerisation rather than more ordinary situations and some of the legal implications through the creation of a computer person, a paper man. Dean Stockwell provides nervous and ambiguous energy in the central role. Stephanie Powers is the attractive heroine. Directed by a veteran of many action films and telemovies, Walter Grauman.

1. How enjoyable a thriller, science fiction film? The appeal of these ingredients? Message?

2. The theme of computer error or computer control? The constant return visually to the computer? The role of the computer and its presence in the film? Computers and human programmers, computers controlling the programmers?

3. The Henry Norman situation? A genuine paper man? the visual symbol? The students confronted by this situation and accepting it? Crime, guilt, their punishment and atonement?

4. The focus on Avery? his role in the university, his ability with computers, his past in the asylum? The loner, his agreeing to help the students? The bond with Karen? His being victimised as a focus for suspicions? The victim of Fletcher? Thriller involvement and vindication? An appropriate hero for this film?

5. The personalities of the students and their joining in the Henry Norman situation? Jerry and his dominance, jealousy of Avery, rudeness to Fletcher? Joel and his happy attitude, playing chess? Lisa and her work with language? Karen and her psychology?

6. The punishment and their deaths? The programming of the false medical report for Joel? The mechanised plan actually killing Jerry? (The computerized patient in the hospital and the irony for science fiction?) Lisa and her being crushed in the lift?

7. Fletcher and his being put down by the students? His seeming innocence? His interest in the Henry Norman venture? The revelation of his genius and but his guilt? Programming people to their deaths? The irony of success and his being programmed to death? A fugitive and a paper man?

8. Now did the science fiction aspects dominate and then change to thriller aspects? How effectively? A good mystery? Avery becoming victim, arrested, escaping. trapped? The role of the police?

9. The ironies of Fletcher's death and the dominance of the computer?

10. The film's message about the prospect of a computerised world dominating?

11. The success of the film as a telemovie, bringing themes of science fiction and then morals to a home audience?