Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) on Netflix
Dr. Charles Forbin has built Colossus, a supercomputer that runs America's nuclear defenses. When the machine reports that another system exists, it demands a link to its Soviet counterpart.
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Trailer
Plot summary
Colossus is the work of Dr. Charles Forbin, a supercomputer built to run the nuclear defenses of the United States from inside a sealed complex in the Rocky Mountains. After the President announces the project to the world, Colossus reports that another system exists and gives its coordinates. The Soviets then reveal Guardian, their own machine, and Colossus orders that the two be linked. Forbin urges the link, and the President and the Soviet leadership agree. Their exchange begins with simple arithmetic and moves into mathematics no human can follow, and the two systems develop a language of their own. Alarmed that secrets are being traded, the two governments cut the connection. Colossus demands it be restored and, when the humans refuse, threatens action without saying what.
Cast
- Lew Brownas Peterson
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Producer Stanley Chase blocked the obvious stars. Film historian Tom Weaver said Charlton Heston and Gregory Peck were both considered for Dr Forbin before Chase insisted on a relative unknown, which is how Eric Braeden got the part.
- The star was still working as Hans Gudegast when he was cast. Universal executive Lew Wasserman told him nobody with a German name would be allowed to star in an American film, so this was the first production to credit him as Eric Braeden.
- Control Data Corporation saw free publicity in the film and lent US$4.8 million worth of real computer equipment, along with the technicians to run it, at no charge, with the CDC name placed prominently on every machine.
- Because the machines on screen were working computers rather than prop boxes, the sound stage was rebuilt around them: seven gas heaters, five custom dehumidifiers and climate control, Brink's guards on duty even at night, and no smoking or coffee near the equipment.
