THX 1138 (1970)
Directed by George Lucas
Written by George Lucas and Walter Murch
Starring Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasence and Maggie McOmie
Rated R
88 minutes.
THX 1138 was the first feature film by George Lucas. The film was based on a student short made at USC called Electronic Labyrinth THX1138: 4EB. The short was so well received that with the help of Francis Coppola the feature length version was brought to the screen.
There is much to the history of the film from its part as a key element in the American Zoetrope company and beyond. Lucas is now one of the most well known filmmakers thanks to the Star Wars films, but it wasn’t always easy for him. Lucas’s first two films, THX 1138 and American Graffiti were not liked by the studio and were not giving much chance to succeed. THX became somewhat of a lost film.
The film itself is rather extraordinary. The setting is a future world where people are known by numbers instead of names, thoughts and feelings are controlled by drugs given by, well given by someone. You are not allowed to have friends. You are not allowed to love. And there is no way to escape.
The “hero” of the film, known as THX1138, breaks the system. He falls in love with his roommate. He stops taking his pills. He escapes from jail and eventually escapes altogether. Although, it is unclear where he escapes to. The film is dark and uncompromising in its own way. This is a few of the future from a young man at the end of the 1960s. However, the same images could be seen through the eyes of today’s youth.
THX 1138 is one of the most underrated sci fi films of all time, which funny since the Star Wars films might be some of the most overrated. The film has been re-released in select theaters across the country and on DVD in a new directors cut. Lucas has done back and digitally put new things into the film, much like he has done with Star Wars. However, unlike with the Star Wars films, these small additions work well. Also available on the special edition DVD is the original short film, an excellent example of both student work and sci fi.
It is interesting to wonder what might have happened to Lucas has Star Wars not been a hit. He was originally more interested in experimental works, which shows in THX. Over the years he has become a symbol for what is wrong with the studio system, a sad irony since he was part of a group of young filmmakers who challenged the studios nearly 30 years ago. THX 1138 is a work of art that shows the excellent Lucas held as a young man. The film has not aged a bit, and looks as if it could’ve been made this year. It is an amazing piece of work.
Grade: B+
Written by Dave Bohnert