In the future, post-holocaust Earth of the year 2274, human beings live in enormous domed cities. They're not allowed to live past age 30; at that age they must submit to a bizarre experience dubbed "Carrousel", which might allow them to be "reborn" if they're lucky. Michael York plays Logan, a "Sandman" whose job it is to hunt down "runners", who are people pushing 30 who are trying to flee the inevitable. Logan is sent on a mission to find a Sanctuary that supposedly harbours Runners, but when everything goes wrong, he and a new acquaintance named Jessica (the ravishing Jenny Agutter) go on the lam.
For its first hour or so, "Logan's Run" is a wonderful 70s trip. It pulls you right in with a real candy store of futuristic images. Obviously MGM spared no expense in making this picture. It's quite captivating, and holds your interest for a while. It's got some very alluring outfits for Agutter; in general, the costumes designed by Bill Thomas are impressive. The action scenes are well done, and there is some fairly shocking (but not THAT gory) violence for a PG rated film.
Then the oppressive atmosphere gives way to a whole second act that is, comparatively speaking, on the boring side, as Logan and Jessica see what life is REALLY is like outside the dome, encountering a senile old man, played to the hammy hilt by Peter Ustinov. This whole portion is not completely without interest, as Logan and Jessica are awakened to a totally different kind of existence (for example, one in which children actually know their parents). Things pick up again once Logans' former friend Francis (Richard Jordan) re-enters the story.
On the whole, this is an appealing saga, one that attempts to appeal to adult intellects as well as dazzling them with special effects and production design. The performances are basically fine; also appearing are Roscoe Lee Browne as a clunky looking robot named "Box" and Farrah Fawcett. That's director Michael Andersons' son Michael Jr. as the character "Doc".
Best of all is the wondrous score by ever-reliable Jerry Goldsmith, which uses electronic noises just as much as any orchestra.
Followed by a short-lived TV series.
Seven out of 10.
For its first hour or so, "Logan's Run" is a wonderful 70s trip. It pulls you right in with a real candy store of futuristic images. Obviously MGM spared no expense in making this picture. It's quite captivating, and holds your interest for a while. It's got some very alluring outfits for Agutter; in general, the costumes designed by Bill Thomas are impressive. The action scenes are well done, and there is some fairly shocking (but not THAT gory) violence for a PG rated film.
Then the oppressive atmosphere gives way to a whole second act that is, comparatively speaking, on the boring side, as Logan and Jessica see what life is REALLY is like outside the dome, encountering a senile old man, played to the hammy hilt by Peter Ustinov. This whole portion is not completely without interest, as Logan and Jessica are awakened to a totally different kind of existence (for example, one in which children actually know their parents). Things pick up again once Logans' former friend Francis (Richard Jordan) re-enters the story.
On the whole, this is an appealing saga, one that attempts to appeal to adult intellects as well as dazzling them with special effects and production design. The performances are basically fine; also appearing are Roscoe Lee Browne as a clunky looking robot named "Box" and Farrah Fawcett. That's director Michael Andersons' son Michael Jr. as the character "Doc".
Best of all is the wondrous score by ever-reliable Jerry Goldsmith, which uses electronic noises just as much as any orchestra.
Followed by a short-lived TV series.
Seven out of 10.