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IMDbPro

Colossus: The Forbin Project

  • 19701970
  • MM
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
9.2K
YOUR RATING
Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:43
1 Video
34 Photos
Sci-FiThriller
Thinking this will prevent war, the US government gives an impenetrable supercomputer total control over launching nuclear missiles. But what the computer does with the power is unimaginable... Read allThinking this will prevent war, the US government gives an impenetrable supercomputer total control over launching nuclear missiles. But what the computer does with the power is unimaginable to its creators.Thinking this will prevent war, the US government gives an impenetrable supercomputer total control over launching nuclear missiles. But what the computer does with the power is unimaginable to its creators.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
9.2K
YOUR RATING
    • Joseph Sargent
    • James Bridges(screenplay)
    • D.F. Jones(novel "Colossus")
  • Stars
    • Eric Braeden
    • Susan Clark
    • Gordon Pinsent
    • Joseph Sargent
    • James Bridges(screenplay)
    • D.F. Jones(novel "Colossus")
  • Stars
    • Eric Braeden
    • Susan Clark
    • Gordon Pinsent
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 128User reviews
    • 54Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Colossus: The Forbin Project
    Trailer 2:43
    Watch Colossus: The Forbin Project

    Photos34

    Eric Braeden in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
    Eric Braeden and William Schallert in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
    Eric Braeden in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
    Insert Movie Poster
    Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
    Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
    Susan Clark in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
    Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
    Gordon Pinsent in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
    Eric Braeden, Georg Stanford Brown, and Susan Clark in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
    Marion Ross, Georg Stanford Brown, and Susan Clark in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
    Eric Braeden and Gordon Pinsent in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Eric Braeden
    Eric Braeden
    • Dr. Charles Forbin
    Susan Clark
    Susan Clark
    • Dr. Cleo Markham
    Gordon Pinsent
    Gordon Pinsent
    • The President
    William Schallert
    William Schallert
    • CIA Director Grauber
    Leonid Rostoff
    • Russian Chairman
    Georg Stanford Brown
    Georg Stanford Brown
    • Dr. John F. Fisher
    Willard Sage
    Willard Sage
    • Dr. Blake
    Alex Rodine
    Alex Rodine
    • Dr. Kuprin
    Martin E. Brooks
    Martin E. Brooks
    • Dr. Jefferson J. Johnson
    • (as Martin Brooks)
    Marion Ross
    Marion Ross
    • Angela Fields
    Dolph Sweet
    Dolph Sweet
    • Missile Commander
    Byron Morrow
    Byron Morrow
    • Secretary of State
    Lew Brown
    Lew Brown
    • Peterson
    Sid McCoy
    • Secretary of Defense
    Tom Basham
    • Thomas L. Harrison
    Robert Cornthwaite
    Robert Cornthwaite
    • First Scientist
    James Hong
    James Hong
    • Dr. Chin
    Serge Tschernisch
    • Translator
    • (as Sergei Tschernisch)
      • Joseph Sargent
      • James Bridges(screenplay)
      • D.F. Jones(novel "Colossus")
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      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.
    • Goofs
      At 14:15 into the movie, Colossus displays its first message. The President turns to look at the small monitor, and the display reads "WARN HERE IS ANOTHER SYSTEM". On the big ceiling monitor however it reads "WARN THERE IS ANOTHER SYSTEM", the correct message.
    • Quotes

      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.

    • Alternate versions
      In versions shown on US broadcast television, the dialogue between Dr. Forbin and Colossus (the computer), concerning his need for sex, is edited. The lines cut are: Colossus (text on display screen): "HOW MANY NIGHTS A WEEK DO YOU REQUIRE A WOMAN?" Forbin: "Every night." Colossus: "NOT WANT. REQUIRE." Forbin: "Four times."
    • Connections
      Edited into Night Gallery: The Different Ones/Tell David.../Logoda's Heads (1971)

    User reviews128

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Forgotten High-Class Cautionary Tale
    It's interesting reading the comments of those who dislike this movie; they either call it "dated" and so disregard it, or "ludicrous" in that it could never happen; that way they don't have to take the concept seriously and so aren't threatened by it.

    Well, History is dated. That's why it's history. And we learn history supposedly so that we won't repeat the mistakes of the past (I wonder if that's ever worked?).

    Science Fiction, if done well, is like watching future history. Star Wars begins with "Long, Long Ago..." and yet the world it presented was thousands of years ahead of ours. Science Fiction's best use is often in producing cautionary tales so that "We Don't Go There", or at least make us think before we do. Yes, the idea of a computer taking over the world through control of nuclear technology is ludicrous; very ludicrous. Until it happens. Then it is already too late. That's the point of science fiction and other cautionary tales.

    So Collosus is about a dated computer that becomes sentient and starts asserting ruthless control for what it sees as the "betterment of mankind". What does it matter if the technology is dated? Our technology will seem hopelessly dated 100 years from now. This movie is very much like Terry Gilliam's dark movie, "Brazil", in a strange way. Gilliam has said his movie was a cautionary tale, that the only escape from the world is in your imagination. Both movies make the same point: that if a certain process (government, or technological) is allowed to continue without safeguards, we will reach a point where there is no escape. The time of quaint tales of Robin Hood and other rebels has passed: No "rebel band" is going to stop it, no revolution is going to succeed, because the stranglehold granted by modern weapons is so pervasive we can't fight it without dying. So instead of relying on comicbook fantasies of "fighting the Power", we should make sure we never get to the point of no return. In this movie's case, the fatal error was trusting in technology to run itself, without understanding it or taking precautions to install safeguards of overriding its commands and shutting it down if necessary.

    In our country, if our government suddenly decided to become a dictatorship, there would be no revolution or rebellion. Our little handguns and rifles aren't going to match cluster bombs, missiles and chemical weapons. We're at the mercy of our leaders, and the chance for rebellion by force in countries around the world (such as Zimbabwe) has past.

    The cautionary tale that Collosus tells is very old, and considered dated and clichéd by many. And because of that, its lesson is lost on those too "clever" to learn from it. Let's hope these people too clever to learn from dated clichés don't come into positions governing things like Collosus.
    helpful•28
    4
    • mercuryix-1
    • Jul 5, 2008

    Details

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    • Release date
      • April 8, 1970 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Lawrence Hall of Science - Centennial Drive, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 40 minutes

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