Colossus: The Forbin Project

1970

Colossus: The Forbin Project

Critics Consensus

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Colossus: The Forbin Project Photos

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Movie Info

The granddaddy of all "computer run amok" films, Colossus: The Forbin Project concerns a huge electronic brain designed to control the American missile defense system. Colossus' technicians do not count on the computer developing an intelligence of its own. Communicating with its Russian counterpart, Colossus decides to take over the earth, threatening global destruction should anyone try to pull its plug. The film's climax is unsettling, but no more so than the actual state of world affairs in 1970. Colossus: The Forbin Project was filmed in Canada.

Rating:

R
Genre:

Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Directed By:

Joseph Sargent
Written By:

James Bridges
In Theaters:

Jan 1, 1970 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Nov 23, 2004
Runtime:

100 minutes
Studio:

MCA Universal Home Video

Cast

Eric Braeden
as Dr. Charles Forbin

Susan Clark
as Dr. Cleo Markham

Gordon Pinsent
as The President

William Schallert
as CIA Director Grauber

Leonid Rostoff
as Russian Chairman

Georg Stanford Brown
as Dr. John F. Fisher

Willard Sage
as Dr. Blake

Alex Rodine
as Dr. Kurpin

Martin E. Brooks
as Dr. Jefferson J. Johnson

Marion Ross
as Angela Fields

Dolph Sweet
as Missile Commander

Byron Morrow
as Secretary of State

Lew Brown
as Peterson

Sid McCoy
as Secretary of Defense

Tom Basham
as Thomas L. Harrison

Sergei Tschernisch
as Russian Translator

Robert Cornthwaite
as Other Scientist

James Hong
as Other Scientist

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Critic Reviews for Colossus: The Forbin Project

All Critics (8) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (1)

After an excellent beginning, the craven script (based on DF Jones' novel Colossus) develops cold feet, injects some tiresome comic relief, and gradually begins to drag the whole thing down.

Jan 26, 2006

Tom Milne
Time Out
Top Critic
The movie is full of marvelous, absurd dialogue.

May 9, 2005 | Rating: 4/5

Vincent Canby
New York Times
Top Critic
Above-average science fiction.

Apr 9, 2005 | Full Review…

Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic
Taut, well-made sci-fi thriller about a massive computer.

Dec 14, 2010 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

TV Guide
A crisp, well-crafted movie that achieves its effects by calmly stating the facts, with the bare minimum of histrionics.

Aug 2, 2010 | Full Review…

Ian Berriman
SFX Magazine
Harrowing and truly gripping despite an obviously paltry budget.

Apr 9, 2005 | Rating: 4/5

Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com
Will remind you just how much movies from the 1970s differ from the ones making their way to the megaplexes nowadays . . .

Mar 29, 2005 | Full Review…

James O'Ehley
Sci-Fi Movie Page

View All Critic Reviews (8)

Audience Reviews for Colossus: The Forbin Project

Dec 18, 2015

Solid Cold War thriller, only let down by a cowardly ending.

Marcus W Super Reviewer
Nov 16, 2011

Early 70s cold war story concerning Colossus a computer put in place to take control of every desision in event of first strike, they go public, then the ussr have their own version, the two start talking and next thing cause a bit of trouble, Colossus then controls the country, but in a silly way in this film, with some bad moments seen here, a funny scene involvinjg the creator of colossus( Colossus wants him seen every moment so creator invents love interest in his assistent, it ends up with a full on date at house so finally they can be alone and talk about colossus, its all silly but its fun,

scott g Super Reviewer
Jun 10, 2007

Really, really well done "computers take over the world" movie from 1970. Highly recommended if you dig on paranoia fueled sci-fi!

Ken S Super Reviewer

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Colossus: The Forbin Project Quotes

Forbin:

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.

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