Westworld (1973)
In writer/director Michael Crichton's futuristic sci-fi
thriller (his directorial debut film), with many similarities to Halloween
(1978), The Terminator (1984), The Magnificent Seven (1960) (Yul
Brynner's Gunslinger character), and Jurassic Park (1993),
with its story of an amusement park with malfunctioning attractions
- remade as a TV series beginning in 2016:
- the opening interviewer promo for three attractions
at the Delos theme park, all for only 1,000ドル a day: "Hi. Ed
Renfrew for Delos again. If there's anyone who doesn't know what
Delos is, well, as we've always said, Delos is the vacation of
the future, today. At Delos, you get your choice of the vacation
you want. There's Medieval World, Roman World and, of course, Westworld.
Let's talk to some of the people who've been there"
- the various announcements to elite Delos visitors
just as their hovercraft arrived at their destination, where guests
took color-coded trams to the resort of their choice: "Expensive
and unusual, Delos is not for everyone. But for those that choose
it, it is truly a unique and rewarding experience... (the female
announcer's ominous words in the background) Welcome to Delos. Please
go to your color-coded tram which will take you to the World of your
choice. We are sure you will enjoy your stay in Western World. While
you are there, please do whatever you want. There are no rules. And
you should feel free to indulge your every whim. Do not be afraid
of hurting anything or of hurting yourself. Nothing can go wrong"
- the role-playing experiences of first-time nerdy visitor
Peter Martin (Richard Benjamin) and his pal John Blane (James Brolin)
at Westworld, acting out archetypal 'western' fantasies: a mock saloon
("new-in-town" Martin ordered a "vodka martini on
the rocks with a twist of lemon, very dry" rather than a whiskey)
and a quick-draw shootout with the Magnificent Seven's cold
and mechanical gunslinger (Yul Brynner) (with authentic blood splatter);
then their bedding down of a pair of honky-tonk prostitutes (one
showed signs of defectiveness in her eyes), an escape-breakout from
a sheriff's jail-cell, a cyborg rattlesnake bite, a rollicking bar-room
brawl, and another showdown at high-noon with the gunslinger in the
middle of the dusty town (resulting in Blane's actual death!)
- the behind-the-scenes views of white-coated scientists
speaking into primitive computer monitors to control the programmed
robotic humanoids, and their repair efforts each night (after a van
picked up malfunctioning, broken-down, damaged or dead robots) to
rehabilitate them; ultimately, the scientists died of oxygen deprivation
when the entire resort's computers began to spread breakdowns (like
a viral disease) among the androids (who became disobedient and began
harming guests) - and the scientists became locked in the control
room after they shut down the park's power
- the lengthy, relentless almost dialogue-less chase
sequence of the beserk, rogue Gunglinger pursuing and stalking Peter,
first on horseback and then into Medieval World; the robot was doused
in the face with hydrochloric acid, resulting in the robot using
its heat-seeking, infra-red senses to locate Peter (this was the
first use of computer digitized (pixellated) images in film history,
to simulate the robot's red-tinted POV); and then the gunslinger
was set on fire with a flaming torch and eventually was charred to
a smoldering crisp and suffered a lethal short-circuit
- the ironic words that ended the film (resonating inside
sole surviving Peter's head) - a replay of promotional words from
a male voice: "Why don't you make arrangements to take our Hovercraft
to Medieval World, Roman World and Westworld. Contact us today, or
see your travel agent. Boy, have we got a vacation for you, vacation
for you - for you, for you, you you you you you you you you (echoing)"