Episode 247 · Film year 1970
Colossus - The Forbin Project (1970)
- Special Guest
- Eric Braeden
- Guest Co-Hosts
- Maitland McDonagh, James Kruth, Chris Bricklemyer
Show notes
This is the voice of world control. I bring you an episode of The Projection Booth about Colossus: The Forbin Project, the 1970 Joseph Sargent film based on a novel by D.F. Jones where man enslaves himself via a supercomputer.
Eric Braeden sets the record straight on Piranha, The Rat Patrol, and Escape from the Planet of the Apes.
Eric Braeden sets the record straight on Piranha, The Rat Patrol, and Escape from the Planet of the Apes.
Labels: 1970 Chris Bricklemyer Cold War Eric Braeden James Kruth Joseph Sargent Maitland McDonagh Outside the Cinema
Watch
Music credits
- "Computer Love" - Perrey-Kingsley
- "Colossus (Short Mix)" - Cybotron
Links & resources
- Buy Colossus: The Forbin Project on Blu-ray (opens in a new tab)
- Buy Colossus by DF Jones (opens in a new tab)
- Buy The Computer: An Illustrated History From its Origins to the Present Day by Mark Frauenfelder (opens in a new tab)
- Visit the official Eric Braeden website (opens in a new tab)
- Follow Eric Braeden on Twitter (opens in a new tab)
- Visit Maitland McDonagh's 120 Days Books (opens in a new tab)
- Listen to the Are You Serious podcast (opens in a new tab)
- Listen to the Outside the Cinema podcast (opens in a new tab)
Related episodes
Episodes that share keywords with this one.
The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
Shared: Director Joseph Sargent, Joseph Sargent
Chris Gore
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
Shared: Director Joseph Sargent
Sal Viscuso, Keith Gordon, Duane Swierczynski
The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
Shared: William Schallert, Universal Pictures
Emily Intravia, John Atom
Comments (3)
ejluther What a great episode and an even greater example of why I love your podcast - I had never heard of this film and so I checked it out and really enjoyed it and your episode about it! So much so that I ordered the DVD from the UK (in widescreen and with a director's commentary unlike the bare bones pan-and-scan US DVD) so thank you for the heads up! And here's my main question/response about the ending - when Colossus lays out to Forbin what the future is going to be like between them, specifically how Forbin will come to respect and love "him", and Forbin says "Never." (not once, but twice I believe), all I could think was that Colossus was right. Based on what we've seen about Forbin and not taking the books (which I obviously haven't read) into consideration, I think he will become "Team Colossus" - it's his "baby", after all, and there are parts of the film, even in the midst of all the high-stakes drama, where he's obviously delighted by and even proud of his creation. Of course this was the first time I'd seen it so my impression may change with repeat viewings but, right now, I'm betting on Colossus being right about Forbin - what do you all think? LINK TO UK DVD: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Colossus-Forbin-Project-Eric-Braeden/dp/B00149XOVS/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1449244480&sr=1-1&keywords=colossusMike White I believe that there's a part of Forbin that comes to enjoy being "Father Forbin," raised above the rest of the masses. It isn't until Cleo gets taken away that he really becomes disillusioned with Colossus.
Anonymous Fascinating, thought-provoking discussion on a fascinating, thought-provoking film. I loved the connection made between "Colossus deals in the precise meaning of words" and the word-precise nature of genies & monkey's paw-esque cautionary tales. [I've often wondered: Is there any way to word a wish in such a way that it WOULDN'T backfire?]