Logan's Run (1976)

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This is the story of Logan 5 (Michael York) who lives in a distant future where where every one looks bright, young, and engergetic.  That might be because every one is only allowed to live their first life until they turn 30.  That's when an light in the palm of their hand blinks red, notifying them that they have to report to a "carousel" where they will then be "renewed" to kick off a brand new life....or WILL they?? :o Tasked with being a law enforcement officer known as a "sandman," our hero is expected to chase and capture those who attempt to "run" when they are summoned to said carousel.  But one day, Logan finds out a dangerous secret about this society, he teams up with a young woman named Jessica 6 (Jenny Agutter), and they are now on the RUN. (Hence the title) Released fifty years ago this summer, this film became a popular hit, also eventually earning two Oscar nominations for cinematography and production design.  Directed by Michael Anderson (Around the World In 80 Days, Operation Crossbow, Orca), this highly influential sci-fi thriller also co-starred Richard Jordan, Roscoe Lee Brown, Peter Ustinov, and Farrah Fawcett. 

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 

Transcript

LOGAN’S RUN         1976

Directed by Michael Anderson

Starring Michael York, Richard Jordan, Jenny Agutter, Roscoe Lee Brown, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Anderson Jr, Randolph Roberts, Lara Lindsey, Gary Morgan, Michelle Stacy, Lara Hippe, and Peter Ustinov

Genre: Sci-Fi Adventure (Audio clip)

I had been meaning to rewatch this for a while - I can vaguely remember it being on basic cable a ton and I vaguely remember watching at least huge chunks of it as a teenager, often for the eye candy. You have a younger Farrah Fawcett (!) in one key supporting role and an even younger Jenny Agutter (five years before she would steal our hearts in An American Werewolf In London) in the important role of Jessica 6....BOTH in futurustic skin-tight green. ;) 

Hey on the sexy male side, you've got the late, great Richard Jordan (The Hunt For Red October, The Secret of My Success) as Francis 7, the intrepid "sandman" former partner/pursuer of our titular Logan 5. And as the Logan, you have the dashing.....Michael York (Cabaret, the original Island of Dr. Moreau....but I have always known him as Basil Exposition from Austin Powers 🙂) as a sandman turned runner.  I was never a fan of the actor and I don’t think he’s particulary great in this but gratefully, York actually gets a bit more lively as the story progresses....almost to comic effect towards the end. 🤣 

The rest of the cast is still pretty good, the overall concept is VERY cool (and borrowed from several times SINCE then in other sci-fi movies: In Time, Minority Report, Repo Man, Repo MEN, Freejack), and most of the action is pretty fun albeit goofy at points. What doesn't help is that the film pretty much SLOWS to a crawl as the third act kicks in with an awkward expositional appearance by the late, great Oscar-winner Peter Ustinov (Spartacus, Topkapi) as "Old Man." (That's actually how he's credited) The pacing just feels off JUST when the film should be ramping up....where's Marcia Lucas when you need her? 🫣 At the very least, it still finishes strong and what results is a clunky yet overall satisfying pulpy ride.

Best Needledrop (best song cue or score used throughout runtime of film): 

What definitely helps this film’s vibe and momentum is also to have a sometimes emotional/sometimes abstract (but always effective) score from the late, great Jerry Goldsmith helping to move things forcefully through the third act. Wow he just keeps coming up on this podcast huh??  His score just fits the mood perfectly. (Audio clip) 

And even though he was about to be SERIOUSLY market-corrected by John Williams, Goldsmith was pretty much the King of Sci-Fi Scores of this particular era creating banger music for not only this but also the original Planet of the Apes, Capricorn One, and Star Trek: The Motion Picture!  For me, the highlight of the score is probably the most conventional and it comes at the very end.  And this music helps to punctuate what Logan and Jessica are finally able to accomplish during that final sequence….it’s not a particularly action-oriented sequence which is fine, it’s just more about what’s REVEALED.  And this orchestral score (WITH the visuals) sells the emotion of this sequence – this track is called, “End of the City.” (Audio clip)  

Wasted Talent (most under-utilized talent involved with film):

Ummm yeah I get that he’s the titular Logan of this film but one issue still remains with this movie upon rewatch: Michael York is still the weakest part of the movie...sorry I have always just kind of found him to be bland in that '70's Ryan O'Neal way except BRITISH. And he IS a bump on a log for decent stretches even if it’s not enough to sink the movie fortunately…..if I’m being honest, I would have even preferred Richard Jordan playing the protagonist as he had definitely had more charisma. (Audio clip)   

Looking back at this time period in the mid ‘70’s, there are DEFINITELY several hot young male stars whom I think could have pulled this off better….even beyond the most obvious ones of the time like Burt Reynolds or Warren Beatty.  I’m thinking a TAD younger maybe like Jeff Bridges ….hell just go through those any of those rehearsal clips for the first Star Wars of every other actor who eventually got beaten out by Harrison Ford for the role of Han Solo: Kurt Russell, Christopher Walken, Tom Selleck….ALL would have been better choices to play Logan than Michael York. (Audio clip) 

Trailer Moment (scene or moment that best describes this movie):

Even though most of the action sequences are admittedly fun, I think I’ll choose for this category what I believe is the SCARIEST sequence in the film…and it occurs around 45 minutes into the film as our hero Logan is infact ON THE RUN with Jessica.  She has advised him that ONE possible way he can protect himself from being hunted is to alter his physical identity….so he decides to go see the Doc. (Audio clip) 

Michael Anderson Jr. plays the Doc in a nice acid turn where you can pretty much tell off the bat that Logan is NOT in good hands….and those hands include those of Holly, the Doc’s flirtatious assistant played by the late, great Farrah Fawcett in a fun little turn RIGHT before her breakout success in Charlie’s Angels.  The chair which Logan is placed into predictably looks LESS than comforting with all of these lasers aimed at it….and GUESS what happens?  Yup the Doc tries to do more than just “alter” Logan and sets those lasers loose on him…..and Logan pulls him into the action, resulting in a PRETTY tense fight.  Fortunately Logan and Jessica make it out of this alive….the doctor is not so lucky. (Audio clip)   

MVP (person most responsible for the success of this film):

At the end of the day, the biggest selling point of this film is it how it LOOKS: this film actually received Oscar nominations for Production Design for Dale Hennessy (Young Frankenstein, Annie) and Cinematography for the legendary late, great Oscar-winner Ernest Laszlo (Ship of Fools, Fantastic Voyage, Inherit the Wind) and you can see why. Oh and just for crazy historical context here, Laszlo was born in 1898 (!) AND he got his start as a camera operator on Wings, which won the VERY first Oscar for Best Picture in 1927! 

The film just has loads of style with sleek surfaces, popping colors, and shiny structures. It's definitely a more sterile vision of a dystopian future, making this likely among THE last big sci-fi movies to go this route just a year before Star Wars would forever change the game introducing us to Lucas' grittier "space trucker" vibe. ;) And the more antiseptic atmosphere certainly fits this film well. It's pretty much hard sci-fi within a soft candy shell and for pulling off that distinct look SO well, Ernest Laszlo and Dale Hennessy are your CO-MVP’s! (Audio clip) 

Final Rating: 3.25 stars out of 5 

Happy 50th Anniversary to one of THE seminal science fiction films of the 1970’s, a TRUE time capsule of the Hollywood approach to this genre JUST before Star Wars AND likely Alien just a couple of years later would change it forever.  This WAS a big hit for its day, it remains iconic, and apparently they keep threatening to attempt to do a modern remake….hmm, not sure how I feel about that. 

Streaming on hoopla & Tubi

And that ends another NO SANCTUARY review!